Car people: Looking at a car, give your opinion.

[Jesse]

BTW, the i was excited to get the owners manual with the car, only to read things like "Do not skip gears when downshifting, as this may over rev the engine." Hmm, I gathered before I bought the car that downshifting from 3rd to first gear is bad.

But 5th to 3rd is a pretty common downshift, especially if you're passing on a two-lane road. Obviously, the difference in gear ratios between a typical 3rd and a typical 1st gear are much greater than the difference in ratios between a typical 5th and a typical 3rd gear. Using your car for example, going from 3rd (1.18:1) to 1st (3.38) represents a nearly three-fold (2.86) increase in ratio and resultant revs, while going from 5th (0.70:1) to 3rd (1.18:1) is only a 1.68:1 increase in ratio and resultant revs.

 

[RyanS]

When you own a Grand Am, 0-30 is not stupidly fast, it's stupidly slow. When car mags test these, they have 0-60, 0-100, 0-30, drag times between 0-60ft, 1/8 mile, 1/4 etc. He probably has his facts straight as he loves cars way more than I do, but I agree, 0-30 is meaningless when you rev to 5000 in second gear and then throw it directly into 5th gear, then immmediately downshift to make the red light.

BTW, the i was excited to get the owners manual with the car, only to read things like "Do not skip gears when downshifting, as this may over rev the engine." Hmm, I gathered before I bought the car that downshifting from 3rd to first gear is bad.

Heh, a friend works for Porsche and has pics of a Carrera GT that was downshifted from 5th to second. A V10 wailing at some 15000RPMS.
Massive carnage and a repair bill that would make your head explode.

 

[ewurm]

But 5th to 3rd is a pretty common downshift, especially if you're passing on a two-lane road. Obviously, the difference in gear ratios between a typical 3rd and a typical 1st gear are much greater than the difference in ratios between a typical 5th and a typical 3rd gear. Using your car for example, going from 3rd (1.18:1) to 1st (3.38) represents a nearly three-fold (2.86) increase in ratio and resultant revs, while going from 5th (0.70:1) to 3rd (1.18:1) is only a 1.68:1 increase in ratio and resultant revs.

I agree, If I'm only going 60 I will drop to 3rd, but higher than that, it's probably hard on the car if not risky.

 

[cichlaguapote]

You guys don't drop down one gear at a time? Maybe I'm just different, but I drop one gear/feel response and go from there if looking to pass..

 

[JD_MAN]

I will enjoy a spirited pass on the highway though, and racing JDMAN and his Civic Si the next time I'm in Indy. LOL

Whenever you want to go. Maybe we will make it up that way this summer.

Congrats on getting the car that you were telling me about months ago when you were here. Can't wait to see some pics. I don't know if I have seen one of these or not.

 

[ewurm]

I will post some pics tomorrow night.

 

[JD_MAN]

Just got done watching some videos on youtube. Looks like a pretty tough car. It has a lot more torque than mine does.

 

[ewurm]

Seriously, the power surprised me. After I got used to driving manual again, I started smoking V8's off the line. Only downfall is that there is not enough weight in front, and first gear is worthless because of it. You have to gun it and immediately shift to get the full acceleratiion that the car is capable of. Also, if you don't drive nice, the fuel economy sucks. While test driving, I gunned it off the line at every opportunity, and I went through 17 gallons over 180 miles. When you drive appropriately, it gets 29 mpg.

 

[JD_MAN]

It is fun to keep it near the redline, but it does suck when you have to stop and fill it with gas after an hour.

Hopefully, it handles decent in the weather up there.

 

[ewurm]

It is fun to keep it near the redline, but it does suck when you have to stop and fill it with gas after an hour.

Hopefully, it handles decent in the weather up there.

It snowed a crapload today, but it handled ok with the 4 wheel anti-lock. Also, being able to downshift to slow down was useful. It does suck having to buy 91 octane gas though.