[k4hscorpion]

If your going to pass someone on the interstate with our cars (doing 75 mph in 6th gear), what gear do you guys drop down to? A friend of mine told me to drop down to 4th skipping 5th gear. Does anyone do that or do you guys just drop down to 5th. Sorry for the dumb question as I have only been driving a standard for a month now. I'm guessing I should be rev matching before letting the clutch out when downshifting from 6th to 4th or should I just drop the clutch immediatly? I'd like to get more input from you guys before trying it. I looked up shifting tutorials but non of them explain how to pass someone on the interstate (quickly). Oh and my friend can't show me since he's in Iraq now.

 

[leofaye]

[quote author=k4hscorpion link=topic=67913.msg1169987#msg1169987 date=1169818786]
If your going to pass someone on the interstate with our cars (doing 75 mph in 6th gear), what gear do you guys drop down to? A friend of mine told me to drop down to 4th skipping 5th gear. Does anyone do that or do you guys just drop down to 5th. Sorry for the dumb question as I have only been driving a standard for a month now. I'm guessing I should be rev matching before letting the clutch out when downshifting from 6th to 4th or should I just drop the clutch immediatly? I'd like to get more input from you guys before trying it. I looked up shifting tutorials but non of them explain how to pass someone on the interstate (quickly). Oh and my friend can't show me since he's in Iraq now.
[/quote]

I keep it in 6th and use the torque and already-built boost to launch me down the highway.
SOMETIMES if it's tight I drop it to 5th but NEVER had the need to go all the way down to 4th yet.
my 2 cents

 

[carraig]

I usually just stay in 6th because you can pass adequately fast without downshifting. That being said, if I'm showing off for a friend or just feel like smoking someone I'll drop down to 4th and then quickly shift up to 5th as I hit 5500 RPMs or so. One thing to note, though, is that our highways are 65mph so I'm usually behind some slow-body at 65 when I pass.

-Carraig

 

[Midak]

[quote author=leofaye link=topic=67913.msg1169992#msg1169992 date=1169819275]
[quote author=k4hscorpion link=topic=67913.msg1169987#msg1169987 date=1169818786]
If your going to pass someone on the interstate with our cars (doing 75 mph in 6th gear), what gear do you guys drop down to? A friend of mine told me to drop down to 4th skipping 5th gear. Does anyone do that or do you guys just drop down to 5th. Sorry for the dumb question as I have only been driving a standard for a month now. I'm guessing I should be rev matching before letting the clutch out when downshifting from 6th to 4th or should I just drop the clutch immediatly? I'd like to get more input from you guys before trying it. I looked up shifting tutorials but non of them explain how to pass someone on the interstate (quickly). Oh and my friend can't show me since he's in Iraq now.
[/quote]

I keep it in 6th and use the torque and already-built boost to launch me down the highway.
SOMETIMES if it's tight I drop it to 5th but NEVER had the need to go all the way down to 4th yet.
my 2 cents
[/quote]
+1
In 6th gear, going from 75 to 90 is a matter of seconds.

 

[kokemon23]

Agreed, it's almost never necessary here for me to downshift on the highway. If you do need to, I would suggest just going to 5th as it will give you all the power you want. Like carraig said, if you really want to wow someone, 4th is fun

As far as rev matching, if you don't match the revs and just drop the clutch, it will actually slow you down and give you that jerk (especially if you go down to 4th), so I would recommend always matching revs when downshifting.

 

[k4hscorpion]

I agree the car has more than enough power in 6th gear. It's amazing to me (coming from a regular mazda 3 sports at). This morning I was cruising along on the interstate in 5th gear. I speed up and wanted to shift to 6th. For some reason I dropped down to 4th and holy crap (first mistake while changing gears). It scared the crap out of me but man did she roar! Rev matching has been my focus and I'm getting pretty good at it. Thanks for the input for a newby!

 

[CosmicBlueMS3]

Ill goto 5th to get to the higher HP area of the power band sooner. 4th is a waste since you will be beyond the peak torque and hp midway through the pass.

 

[naxxal]

HM, you guys are talking about Manual tranny right? I have auto and if i wanna pass someone on the interstate 5th gear (top gear) is too slow, so i know that 2nd gear has 6500rpms and it is 60mph, and at 85mph 3rd gear is at 6500RPMS, knowing this simple speed interval i will know what gear to shift to pass someone, most of the time if some asshole just cut me off and drove next to me carelessly i will get mad and catch up with him and cut him off, and eventually slow his ass down, and at 75 mph i will drop from 5th to 3rd, than to 4th untill i catch that F$%^. So, anyways, i prefer staying in 5th but i have noticed it takes about 10-15 seconds to go from 65 to 80mph. :x

 

[TRU-BOOST]

[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
HM, you guys are talking about Manual tranny right? I have auto and if i wanna pass someone on the interstate 5th gear (top gear) is too slow, so i know that 2nd gear has 6500rpms and it is 60mph, and at 85mph 3rd gear is at 6500RPMS, knowing this simple speed interval i will know what gear to shift to pass someone, most of the time if some asshole just cut me off and drove next to me carelessly i will get mad and catch up with him and cut him off, and eventually slow his ass down, and at 75 mph i will drop from 5th to 3rd, than to 4th untill i catch that F$%^. So, anyways, i prefer staying in 5th but i have noticed it takes about 10-15 seconds to go from 65 to 80mph. :x
[/quote]you dont have a turbo....apples and oranges !!!
6th is all you need to PASS....in a RACING situation i would drop to fourth, the top of the powerband will come up quick so be ready to push to 5th.
some will so only down to 5th, i choose 4th because the turbo will spool instantly, and then when i powershift 5th, i am haulin ass!!

 

[Judd]

wow, road rage much? I'm glad you live far away from me.

[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
HM, you guys are talking about Manual tranny right? I have auto and if i wanna pass someone on the interstate 5th gear (top gear) is too slow, so i know that 2nd gear has 6500rpms and it is 60mph, and at 85mph 3rd gear is at 6500RPMS, knowing this simple speed interval i will know what gear to shift to pass someone, most of the time if some asshole just cut me off and drove next to me carelessly i will get mad and catch up with him and cut him off, and eventually slow his ass down, and at 75 mph i will drop from 5th to 3rd, than to 4th untill i catch that F$%^. So, anyways, i prefer staying in 5th but i have noticed it takes about 10-15 seconds to go from 65 to 80mph. :x
[/quote]

 

[Coulda]

you have an auto...just put your foot down and it does everything for you...no worries at all!

 

[mattleegee]

15sec from 65-80?
Im glad i dont have my Mz3 anymore :lol:



6th gear is what i use, anywhere above 55mph, it out accelerates most cars
But if racing or a heavy metal song is on or something, i go to 4th/5th for some grin/wow factor

 

[mellman]

[quote author=Judd link=topic=67913.msg1170173#msg1170173 date=1169828453]
wow, road rage much? I'm glad you live far away from me.

[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
HM, you guys are talking about Manual tranny right? I have auto and if i wanna pass someone on the interstate 5th gear (top gear) is too slow, so i know that 2nd gear has 6500rpms and it is 60mph, and at 85mph 3rd gear is at 6500RPMS, knowing this simple speed interval i will know what gear to shift to pass someone, most of the time if some asshole just cut me off and drove next to me carelessly i will get mad and catch up with him and cut him off, and eventually slow his ass down, and at 75 mph i will drop from 5th to 3rd, than to 4th untill i catch that F$%^. So, anyways, i prefer staying in 5th but i have noticed it takes about 10-15 seconds to go from 65 to 80mph. :x
[/quote]
[/quote]

Same here...wtf man - thats ridiculous

 

[cbogey88]

What the heck were you drivin, lol. I know 5th isn't the best to accelerate in, but we have a pretty mean 5th gear in the mz3. I think you're overestimating. It probably takes me less than 5 seconds to hit 80 from 65 in 5th...

Sigh, I wish I had a MS3, lol I envy you guys with turbos.

 

[noobinacan]

[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
HM, you guys are talking about Manual tranny right? I have auto and if i wanna pass someone on the interstate 5th gear (top gear) is too slow, so i know that 2nd gear has 6500rpms and it is 60mph, and at 85mph 3rd gear is at 6500RPMS, knowing this simple speed interval i will know what gear to shift to pass someone, most of the time if some asshole just cut me off and drove next to me carelessly i will get mad and catch up with him and cut him off, and eventually slow his ass down, and at 75 mph i will drop from 5th to 3rd, than to 4th untill i catch that F$%^. So, anyways, i prefer staying in 5th but i have noticed it takes about 10-15 seconds to go from 65 to 80mph. :x
[/quote]

you're the jerk who waits till the last second to merge right ?
yup..must be you.

 

[mndsm]

I don't miss that from my car, thats for sure.

 

[speed3me]

I would thinkg that 6th and 5th would be powerful enough on the Speed3. If you are going pretty fast and shift to 4th it's going to toss your passenger through the windshield (unless you match the RPM's). This car has a lot of torque in 5th and 6th (and almost no turbo lag)... 4th doesn't seem necessary to me.

 

[WangsHatch]

MS3's 6th gear acceleration at highway speeds impresses me. My WRX had nothing in top gear, always had to downshift. I'll wait until breakin is over before I experiment with downshifting to 4th. I bet it will be fun. Muahaha

 

[Oatmealboy]

If the guy in front of me is going *VERY SLOW*, then I'd downshift to 5th... Otherwise, I'd leave it in 6th, then hit the brakes because I'd see that I'm approaching 100mph... heh!

 

[mndsm]

6th is usually sufficient, and safer, but down to 4th and rocketing through traffic is much more fun.....