Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 13:09:52 +0100 From: H. <musicboxnopsamrider.co.uk> Subject: Re: Driving a 9-3
>You are serious that you shift from 2nd to 5th gear? Why? >Why not just drive around in the right gear for the road speed? Erm.... that's exactly what I'm doing...... The technique is taught to all Police drivers and the Advanced Drivers in he UK - if you accellerate from a standstill, drop into second, and are then at 40mph, what the hell is the point of going into 3rd, or even 4th? 5th is the correct gear, the car has plenty of torque and can more that handle itself at that speed, so 5th is the logical choice. Otherwise, if you step through each of the gears in turn, you waste accelleration, you drop the revs, thus taking the car below the powerband, and therefore waste time. Moreover putting the car into 3rd gear at 40mph is not only noisy, but utterly wrecks your fuel economy - 5th is the sensible choice for noise, economy, and power. Possibly 4th if you need more instant response. Perhaps I didn't explain myself too clearly, my apologies.