what are your ideal rpm shift points? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Tony986 · 11-04-2006, 04:04 PM

Just wondering what you guys consider the optimal rpm range to shift from
1-2, 2-3, etc

Do you guys also go to floor with the clutch on each up/down shift or just depress until you get a good bite?

CJ_Boxster · 11-04-2006, 04:09 PM

3500 to 4200, the higher the gear, the higher i accelerate before upshift., Unless im under a tunnel then i let the rpms slowly reach 5000 in 3rd gear then i stump the accelerator to heard my intake noise echo in the tunnel off the other cars and cement.

blinkwatt · 11-04-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony986

Just wondering what you guys consider the optimal rpm range to shift from
1-2, 2-3, etc

Do you guys also go to floor with the clutch on each up/down shift or just depress until you get a good bite?

For everyday driving I shift at around 3,200 RPM.

I used to put emphasis on making sure my foot is down as far as possible when shifting,and still do. I have only grinded gears twice in my Boxster. Both on dates...
Although I have noticed that the car is forgiving if your clutch pedal isn't depressed 100% of the way,just don't a habit out of it.

11-04-2006, 04:18 PM

I like to drive around in 1st gear at 6000 RPM before taking off in second. This really seems to annoy the people waiting for the bus as I grin while driving past them.

deliriousga · 11-04-2006, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

For everyday driving I shift at around 3,200 RPM.

Hey Blink...you need to get in the habit of letting her go a little higher before shifting. The high compression engine wants higher rpms to keep it clean. I'll post a thread on it with a little more info, but you really should try to stay around the 4Krpm mark.

blinkwatt · 11-04-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deliriousga

Hey Blink...you need to get in the habit of letting her go a little higher before shifting. The high compression engine wants higher rpms to keep it clean. I'll post a thread on it with a little more info, but you really should try to stay around the 4Krpm mark.

Oh trust me,I make up for it....I have some on-ramps right by my house that have turns!

super66 · 11-04-2006, 08:22 PM

I've noticed that the shifts are the smoothest when you take her to about 4200......so as a daily driver the lowest I shift at is 4200......

djomlas · 11-04-2006, 08:38 PM

4200 seems to be a very good shifting point for me on daily bases.

Tony986 · 11-04-2006, 04:32 PM

these are higher ranges than i was expecting. have any of you had trouble with gearbox wear?

i just bought a used 986 and when i was having problems with 2nd i tried to get porsche to repair the box but when the dealer pulled the rpm report porsche said that the car showed too much activity in the upper range and would not repair the box. i am in the midst of fighting with the dealer to take it back (nj law says they have to take it back within 90 days but of course they are trying to find any reason not to).

so i am now curious as to how "pampered" the gearbox/engine rpm's have to be in order for porsche to be pleased with how you are treating the car.
i was shifting in the 2,500 range and i thought i was taking it easy on her but sounds like higher ranges are not disastrous.

blinkwatt · 11-04-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony986

these are higher ranges than i was expecting. have any of you had trouble with gearbox wear?

i just bought a used 986 and when i was having problems with 2nd i tried to get porsche to repair the box but when the dealer pulled the rpm report porsche said that the car showed too much activity in the upper range and would not repair the box. i am in the midst of fighting with the dealer to take it back (nj law says they have to take it back within 90 days but of course they are trying to find any reason not to).

so i am now curious as to how "pampered" the gearbox/engine rpm's have to be in order for porsche to be pleased with how you are treating the car.
i was shifting in the 2,500 range and i thought i was taking it easy on her but sounds like higher ranges are not disastrous.

These are higher revving engines=its ok to keep it in higher RPMs,3k-4k for daily driving. If you look at the manual it should say the recommended shifting points.

If the dealer is saying that the car has too much activity in the higher RPM range tell them you want to know how many times its hit redline.(they can only see how many times the car has hit redline,not where its driven RPM wise every second it's ever been turned over)

Good Luck!

Paul · 11-04-2006, 04:49 PM

Once it's warmed up it depends whether I'm driving to work or enjoying the twisties.

Between lights while driving the last leg of my trip to work (45 mph), I usually punch it in first, then shift into 4 th at about 6000 rpms.

In the twisties, I usually floor it and try to keep it under 7000 rpms in first and second.

BTW I ALWAYS push the clutch to the floor!

deliriousga · 11-04-2006, 05:17 PM

Ideal for me:

1-2: 6500rpm
2-3: 6500rpm
3-4: 6500pm
4-5: 7000rpm
5-R: 700rpm (jk)

Of course, with the wife in the car shifting is far from "ideal".

Racer Boy · 01-03-2020, 12:58 PM

Tumbleweedmageddon occurred about 200 miles away (or a four hour drive) from where particlewave lives. There are no tumbleweeds on the west side of Washington state!

piper6909 · 01-03-2020, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

Tumbleweedmageddon occurred about 200 miles away (or a four hour drive) from where particlewave lives. There are no tumbleweeds on the west side of Washington state!

Oh Good I wasn't sure where he moved to. But what I saw on TV was NUTS!

Rob175 · 01-03-2020, 01:52 PM

986jon.......are you serious about that video? If I wanted to get a Master's Degree in Physics or Mechanical Engineering I'd go back to school.......seriously, just drive the dam car and have fun. I'm sure he knows what he's talking about but it's a "snooze fest" video. Next time I can't sleep maybe I'll watch it again...lol.

A presentation like that will take all the fun out of a manual transmission sports car!...LOL

986jon · 01-03-2020, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob175

986jon.......are you serious about that video? If I wanted to get a Master's Degree in Physics or Mechanical Engineering I'd go back to school.......seriously, just drive the dam car and have fun. I'm sure he knows what he's talking about but it's a "snooze fest" video. Next time I can't sleep maybe I'll watch it again...lol.

A presentation like that will take all the fun out of a manual transmission sports car!...LOL

The video has 1.3 million views! Can’t be that bad. Watch his later stuff; the production quality gets much better. BTW, I drive the hell out of it—it’s a race car.

SMK Shoe · 01-03-2020, 04:06 PM

A friend of mine also with a 2000 base Boxster, think that maybe driving these engines into the higher rpm range actually is better for the engine. Kinda thinking that the higher RPM's help keep oil splashed all over in the engine. Maybe babying the engine, not driving it a lot and shifting lower RPM's ( like a regular car 1800-2500) is harder on the engine. I believe in keeping it well above 3500 rims for all shifts once the engine is warmed up. Never that high for the first few minutes. usually 2500-3000 till the temp is close to 180.

Nine8Six · 01-04-2020, 05:06 AM

When, especially "where", to shift has not much to do with science but an acquired skill imo. Each car is different in that respect...

Rob175 · 01-04-2020, 05:52 AM

I shift usually around 3,200 to 3,800 RPM if I look at the tach......but to be honest I seldom do in everyday driving. I mostly shift by sound and feel....lots of experience helps. Perhaps I "baby" my 20 yr old 98' Boxster with only 85,000 miles but that's the way I roll. It's my summer top down weekend ride.