[san rensho]

For me, the rpm range I drive at is a function of engine load. Low engine load, low rpms, high engine load, high rpm. And engine load is determined by how far the throttle is open. Throtle barely open, very little load, throttle wide open, high engine load. So, if I'm in stop and go traffic, I have no problem in going in first gear at 1-2k rpms, since the throttle is barely cracked at all, the motor is almost idling.

Now, when I'm on the freeway and slicing and dicing through traffic, I always keep the rpms at 4k or above, because when I am going to accelerate, I'm going to open the throttle wide. If I were at 1.5k rpms and opened the throttle wide, the engine would be seriously lugging.

That being said, in city traffic, usually 1st and 2nd gear, I stay in the 3-4k range.