How to pass someone on the interstate in our ms3's

I will glance at the tach. If it is below 3000 RPM (where the engine really starts to make power), I will drop down one gear.

[quote author=WangsHatch link=topic=67913.msg1170377#msg1170377 date=1169836318]
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
[/quote]

You wanna know what's fun? Drop it to 4th from 6th while revving it up to 5k; then let off the clutch fast (do not let go off it!). YOU'LL BE PUSHED AGAINST YOUR SEAT LIKE IF YOU WERE IN THE SHUTTLE. :shock:

Try it from 4th to 3th, it's even better at slower speeds.

man I can't wait till I get mine broken in, I'm at 468 right now and am really anxious to really let her rip.......not much longer now since the weather has been better so I will be doing much more driving

Man, I highly doubt you would ever need to drop it down to 4th to pass someone on the interstate. I drive an 06 Civic Si (which may eventually be traded in for an MS3 if the issues are worked out) and only drop it to 5th and I already have enough to pass someone comfortably. How many MPH is the end of the powerband (~5500RPM) in 5th gear for the MS3s?

[quote author=Arapino link=topic=67913.msg1172611#msg1172611 date=1169969371]
Man, I highly doubt you would ever need to drop it down to 4th to pass someone on the interstate. I drive an 06 Civic Si (which may eventually be traded in for an MS3 if the issues are worked out) and only drop it to 5th and I already have enough to pass someone comfortably. How many MPH is the end of the powerband (~5500RPM) in 5th gear for the MS3s?
[/quote]
round 120mph

With the CPE MS3 CAI installed, I leave it in 6th, then give it just enough gas to hear the turbo spooling, and the sucking of the air being hear, then go right by them. And like above, hit the brakes when I see I am going way too fast.

[quote author=leofaye link=topic=67913.msg1169992#msg1169992 date=1169819275]

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

There's hardly ever a need to drop to a lower gear as the car has so much power. But if I have to, 5th is it.

^^agree there, if going uphill and passing, 5th is the way to go. Of course, FL has very few of those.

[quote author=leofaye link=topic=67913.msg1170789#msg1170789 date=1169848661]
YOU'LL BE PUSHED AGAINST YOUR SEAT LIKE IF YOU WERE IN THE SHUTTLE. :shock:
[/quote]

i sure hope not! the shuttle doesnt accelerate very fast (only 0.74g)

[quote author=bani link=topic=67913.msg1172970#msg1172970 date=1170006368]


i sure hope not! the shuttle doesnt accelerate very fast (only 0.74g)
[/quote]

Says who?

http://www.vibrationdata.com/space/Shuttle.html

3g is the maximum design value, and only briefly felt during main tank separation. for most of the trip it's a lazy 0.74g, something shuttle astronauts have repeatedly stated publically.

if the shuttle was doing 3g all the way up, it would leave earth orbit...

It seems our highways all have different PSLs. Up here in upstate NY it's 65, but I see others have 75. My statement of dropping into 4th is barely efficient at 65 because you're already at the top of the power curve. If I was in a 75 mph area, I would think to drop no lower than 5th.

.2
Carraig

6th is all you need. 4th and your showing off. I actually raced someone starting from 80 up to 120 and won all in 6th gear. Actually wasnt racing, they were stalking my bumper and I "evaded" them. I never thought about dropping a gear.

as many have said. it's really only necessary to downshift to 5th to pass. but by me experience in the past 3000 miles. if im easily driving (6th) and need to show off, i go to 4th to at least get that turbo up quick and then power shift into 5th to keep up the pressure. i have played with this alot. if i know i am going to pass someone on a 2 lane. i put it in the proper gear and keep it at a high rpm for a second or two then punch it and shift in the next second and bam your gone quicker than down shifting into 1 gear higher and putting it to the floor. this thing is fun!!

[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
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$%^.
[/quote]
Are you like 16 or something? Get ready to have your ass handed to you by someone soon.
Ever heard of road rage ? If you screw with people like that you are asking for it.

[quote author=flyrevs link=topic=67913.msg1176728#msg1176728 date=1170179618]
[quote author=naxxal link=topic=67913.msg1170083#msg1170083 date=1169824849]
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$%^.
[/quote]
Are you like 16 or something? Get ready to have your ass handed to you by someone soon.
Ever heard of road rage ? If you screw with people like that you are asking for it.
[/quote]

I have seen that unfold in front my very eyes ...
not a pretty thing to witness ...

g'luck

Setting MS3 "Egos" aside, 6th is a CRUISING gear, look at the ratio. Even in an 2006 STI, there's not much torque felt in 6th and that cars got a nice turbo.

For all those people passing in 6th... I wonder why you don't bother downshifting to make the pass quicker.

Maybe people don't realize the risk of driving side by side with somebody in a gear that doesn't allow an easy escape if needed...

I used to drive a sportbike that does 0-100mph in 6 seconds. Even then, bikers downshift to pass so that they are in powerband for safety reasons.

[quote author=HouRman link=topic=67913.msg1221971#msg1221971 date=1172093624]
Setting MS3 "Egos" aside, 6th is a CRUISING gear, look at the ratio. Even in an 2006 STI, there's not much torque felt in 6th and that cars got a nice turbo.

For all those people passing in 6th... I wonder why you don't bother downshifting to make the pass quicker.

Maybe people don't realize the risk of driving side by side with somebody in a gear that doesn't allow an easy escape if needed...

I used to drive a sportbike that does 0-100mph in 6 seconds. Even then, bikers downshift to pass so that they are in powerband for safety reasons.
[/quote]
Do you have the speed3? It still has a lot of torque in 6th. If I am already at 65+, there is no need for me to downshift to 5th to pass.

[quote author=Midak link=topic=67913.msg1222271#msg1222271 date=1172099537]
[quote author=HouRman link=topic=67913.msg1221971#msg1221971 date=1172093624]
Setting MS3 "Egos" aside, 6th is a CRUISING gear, look at the ratio. Even in an 2006 STI, there's not much torque felt in 6th and that cars got a nice turbo.

For all those people passing in 6th... I wonder why you don't bother downshifting to make the pass quicker.

Maybe people don't realize the risk of driving side by side with somebody in a gear that doesn't allow an easy escape if needed...

I used to drive a sportbike that does 0-100mph in 6 seconds. Even then, bikers downshift to pass so that they are in powerband for safety reasons.
[/quote]
Do you have the speed3? It still has a lot of torque in 6th. If I am already at 65+, there is no need for me to downshift to 5th to pass.
[/quote]Model: Mazda3S GT PZEV Sedan ATX 5sp, hence the need to drop down a gear

[quote author=leofaye link=topic=67913.msg1169992#msg1169992 date=1169819275]

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. Exactly what I do.