driving below 2800 RPM = trouble?

[Perfectlap]

You get great gas mileage keeping the revs low and driving smoothly (no herky jerky braking or throttle). I just spent the whole weekend driving it like uhh a Porsche. I'd say my gas mileage took a good 35% hit, at least. Keeping it above 3K requires a great deal more downshifting than I realized. Need to brush up on my heel and toe shifting! LOL

[Brucelee]

Einstein used to like to do thought experiments. Lets do one with this.

Driver A sets out for cross counrtry trip, 3500 miles on the Interstates. To make this fun, he simply gets in, drives at 75 MPH and about 3000 RPMs.

Now, Driver B is sure that this low RPM crap is for the birds. He knows his car should be meant to be driven faster, at higher RPMs.. Anything less that 6500 RPMs will ruin his race intended Boxster, even though it is a stock Box. Hey, Porsche is a racing company right?

So, off he goes. Now, in this experment, there are NO speed limits, so he can run at 6500 RPM the whole way. He can use any gear he wants, so he choose to cruise in sixth grear, which maybe nets him about 140 MPH????

Anyway, off they go.

Now, who gets there first? Well, if both engines hold up, clearly driver B if he choose to go faster than 75 MPH.

Now, whose motor was STRESSED more? which car's oil ran hotter during the entire trip? Which motor would have worn more, even if we can't measure it right now? Which oil is still fresh as a daisy after 3500 miles.

What do you think?

[Paul]

Porsches are made to be driven at 6500 rpms all day long. And they do so in Germany everyday of the year.

The car will last longer than most of us have left, so enjoy it.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by Paul

Porsches are made to be driven at 6500 rpms all day long. And they do so in Germany everyday of the year.

The car will last longer than most of us have left, so enjoy it.

Actually I never said they woudn't. The assertion made here is that they will NOT drive all day long at say 3000 RPMs and that the 6500 level results in less engine wear and risk of IMS implosion.

[pbanders]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

You get great gas mileage keeping the revs low and driving smoothly (no herky jerky braking or throttle). I just spent the whole weekend driving it like uhh a Porsche. I'd say my gas mileage took a good 35% hit, at least. Keeping it above 3K requires a great deal more downshifting than I realized. Need to brush up on my heel and toe shifting! LOL

This is why I quit commuting in my Boxster (that's what I use the Fit for). I found myself starting to thinking about gas mileage, tire wear, brake wear, etc. That's the last stuff I want to worry about when I drive my Boxster.

If reasonable but spirited driving helps keep my IMS healthy, all the better. If it doesn't, and my IMS blows anyway, despite regular maintenance, then I'll deal with it then.

BTW, the great part about my Fit is that I can drive it flat-out on my commute and nobody around me can tell! And it still gets over 30 mpg when I'm thrashing it.

[Perfectlap]

^ Yeah I rented a Prius once. Drove from Orlando to Miami never going slower than 90 mph. I was passing Corvettes and Mustangs who were saving gas in the middle lane...oh the irony. When I arrived at my destination I managed 30+mpg.

agreed, saving less than a grand a year on gas by short shifting and keeping the revs low really looks silly in light of possibly causing a $8,000 emergency engine transplant.

[Paul]

IMO Porsches are toys, enjoy them or get rid of them. Many days the best part of my day is the 30 minute commute in each direction. That's why I drive at least one of my Porsches year round. This year it was the 3.6, what a blast when I floor it.

I must admit, however that since this is the most powerful Porsche I've owned, I cannot floor it from a dead stop unless I use second gear from a stop, since the acceleration in first is not manageable even with traction control, 265x18 tires and a LSD.

I'm currently looking for a 3.8 X51 for my 01 2.7.......

[Perfectlap]

^You can do that with an 00-02? I thought the electronics made it tough?

Man if me engine ever went, I'd certainly consider that. 381HP? Eat those Carreras for lunch.

EDIT:
"Hans Hoffman, Ruf’s technical guru in Dallas, advises anyone with a pre-2005 Boxster contemplating a 3.8S conversion that the main wiring buss for the ECU is completely different, and they are better off trading up to a later model Boxster"

[Paul]

If it can be done on a 98, it can be done even easier on a 01 since it already has Can bus and eGas. My 98 is running a 7.8 motronic.

[Paul]

I like your 18" 5 spoke wheels, tell me more and where to find a set.....