To be an imitation stick driver? Sorry for being negative but I dislike the paddle shifters A LOT! Just my two bits.

The paddle shifters are there to give you more control on your gearing and save a bit on gas I do believe.

FreshSe-r wrote:

yea well i figured since its there in my car i should toy around with it, so should i follow that recomended shifting chart in the owners manual?

I believe the recomended shifting chart in the manual is the top speed in every gear...so no, you shouldn't.

SE-REN wrote:

you cant even red line the damb car with the paddle shifters it sucks. It automatically changes the gears for you.

Not compleletly true.  Between 1 and second gear, it will automaticly put you in 3rd after a certain amount of time at red line.  After that, you can stay at redline, till you decide to shift. 

I use my paddle shifters mostly during autoX.

I drive a spec, so I don't have paddle shifters, but as far as that suggestion for shifting in the owner's manual...I wouldn't follow it. I tried doing the suggested shifts in my car, and the car just felt like it had a huge load on it and sounded like it struggling. Kinda like what an average person would do if someone put a refrigerator on your back and asked you to walk. 8 > 17 > 25 > 36 > 51. What is that? a shift every 1-2 seconds? Talk about not letting the car breathe at all. I usually shift between 3000-4000 rpms, and that seems to get me around, and doesnt sacrifice mileage at all. I can get almost 300 miles to the tank doing that, so i consider that alright. Thats just my .02.

lol, if u think 3000-4000 is high, you should see my dad drive. He drives a 02 mustang gt, and his redlines at 5600. Its only a five speed, but from first to second, and second to third, he shifts at like 5000rpms. He still gets more than the sticker at the dealership said he would get.

I just can't imagine someone shifting at 2000 rpms, especially after i shift, my shit is above that. I've tried shifting at 2000rpms, and im in 6th at like 40mph. The car feels like it has 0 power when doing that. Thats my opinion though, If you prefer to drive that way, and if you feel your mpg is benefiting that way, then by all means drive that way. Everyone has their own style.

ATeamM wrote:

3000-4000 is kinda high. optimal for milage is around 2000-2500 but do what feels good for ya I guess.

whysoSERious wrote:

lol, if u think 3000-4000 is high, you should see my dad drive. He drives a 02 mustang gt, and his redlines at 5600. Its only a five speed, but from first to second, and second to third, he shifts at like 5000rpms. He still gets more than the sticker at the dealership said he would get.

I just can't imagine someone shifting at 2000 rpms, especially after i shift, my shit is above that. I've tried shifting at 2000rpms, and im in 6th at like 40mph. The car feels like it has 0 power when doing that. Thats my opinion though, If you prefer to drive that way, and if you feel your mpg is benefiting that way, then by all means drive that way. Everyone has their own style.

Sorry if this is too off topic, but what is the lowest RPM that is healthy for our motor.

I ask because I usually shift at 3K for 1st and second, then 2.5K for the rest.  Reason being that the RPM's drop 1K for the first 2 shifts, and then ~500 after that.  (02' 6spd btw).

I find that If I shift at 2KRPM like some suggest, it really struggles in the next gear @ 1,500 RPM.

I have to wonder, how low is too low?

To get back on topic and offer something useful to the OP:

I leave my Mazda6 in automatic 90% of the time.  The only time I kick it over to 'manual' is a) holding in gear when going up hill and b) passing on the freeway.

Thanx guys, your imputs has been very helpful, im jus gonna toy around with them and see how it goes from there...

When I shift at 3200rpms, the engine just feels really light, and smooth. The shifter like...glides into the next gear. I find this to be my ideal shift point. Sometimes if I'm in 5th gear, and find myself not really accelerating all that much, I'll pop it into 6th just the drop the rpms a little further.

ATeamM wrote:

Marcatarkon wrote:

ATeamM wrote:

3000-4000 is kinda high. optimal for milage is around 2000-2500 but do what feels good for ya I guess.

whysoSERious wrote:

lol, if u think 3000-4000 is high, you should see my dad drive. He drives a 02 mustang gt, and his redlines at 5600. Its only a five speed, but from first to second, and second to third, he shifts at like 5000rpms. He still gets more than the sticker at the dealership said he would get.

I just can't imagine someone shifting at 2000 rpms, especially after i shift, my shit is above that. I've tried shifting at 2000rpms, and im in 6th at like 40mph. The car feels like it has 0 power when doing that. Thats my opinion though, If you prefer to drive that way, and if you feel your mpg is benefiting that way, then by all means drive that way. Everyone has their own style.

Sorry if this is too off topic, but what is the lowest RPM that is healthy for our motor.

I ask because I usually shift at 3K for 1st and second, then 2.5K for the rest.  Reason being that the RPM's drop 1K for the first 2 shifts, and then ~500 after that.  (02' 6spd btw).

I find that If I shift at 2KRPM like some suggest, it really struggles in the next gear @ 1,500 RPM.

I have to wonder, how low is too low?

To get back on topic and offer something useful to the OP:

I leave my Mazda6 in automatic 90% of the time.  The only time I kick it over to 'manual' is a) holding in gear when going up hill and b) passing on the freeway.

If your just cruising around you shouldn't be worried about it struggling. actually you should be light enough on the gas pedal that you don't notice it but I'm also in a small town, I under stand how in big cities you have to get on the gas to get in traffic in a lot of places. I say speeding up for traffic ya shift at a higher rpm casue you got to get movin faster but if you just cruisin around in light traffic shift it lower and take it easy.

yea i most of the time i shift 1500-2000 rpm
im just light on my gas pedad because im not in hurry most of time(one more ticket for and i loses my driver licesnse ) and gas to high for me lol
and yes there time i had to speed up quicker and then i shift like 3000-3500 rpm amd sometimes at 7000 rpm 

If your Idling at 1000 rpms, you have a problem.  500 rpms - 800 rpms depending on engine temp, and outside temp.

all cars idle high at start up when it's cold... but it drops to 500-800 once at operating temp

whysoSERious wrote:

I just tried going from 1-6 doing shifts between 1500-2000rpm. The car sounded like it was going to die, and my passenger was just like "wtf are you doing?".
I'll stick to the way I drive. (don't mean to sound like an ass)

its kool you drive the way you drive
im just saying the way  i drive...i just tap or just press alittle on my gas pedal and i dont really take off fast