How often do you redline it & a story of newfound joy

[pothole]

Originally Posted by Topless

Ummm, I guess I generally avoid redline (6500). Sometimes I will hover above 6k for a bit at the end of a long straight when I don't want to upshift just before a braking zone. My sweet spot is 4-6k and I tend to do all my performance driving there. I think max torque on my car is 4800 and it feels like it falls off a little above 6k so that is where I usually reach for another gear.

Yup, pretty much my findings exactly. I change up at 6k - it will rev out reasonably well 6k, but it is beginning to go off just a little, so I prefer not to wring it out all the way to the limiter. as you say, 4-6k is where it's at in the 2.5.