Shifting Points...
- Thread starter Picc84
- 19 comments
- 1,615 views
- 10,557
- Columbia, MD.
- Parnelli_Bones
That's funny...you laughed your ass off cuz you're not a newb. 
I mean, did you really laugh your ass off? Never mind, I'm being sillly.
So to answer the question. If you pay attention to where peak power is and how the power-band rises and falls, you'll know when it's best to stay in gear and when it's best to shift earlier. When you go to your settings menu, there's a small graph in the top right corner--and the squiggly lines on this graph represent peak torque (which gets you going) and peak horsepower (the area where the engine will be spinning at its fastest in the shortest amount of time.)
A Viper, for instance, has its peak power at 5,200 rpms, but the redline isn't till 6,000 rpms. You can wait to shift once it's deep in the redline, but to do this means to miss all that mid-range torque, which digs down and propels the car ever so slightly faster. . So in a Viper, I shift an average of 500 rpms early (at 5,500 instead of 6,000).
But I also have a BMW M3. This car's redline is at 8,000 rpms (I think) but peak power shows up just before at 7,800 rpms. So in this car, I'll wait sometimes till the tach needle is as far into the redline area as it'll go. My tach winds up near 8,500 rpms before I shift.
Basically, it depends on the car, how the power band builds (peak torque and peak horsepower), what my limits are (redline and rpm limiter) and are those limits close or far away from the powerband itself. Make sense?
I mean, did you really laugh your ass off? Never mind, I'm being sillly.So to answer the question. If you pay attention to where peak power is and how the power-band rises and falls, you'll know when it's best to stay in gear and when it's best to shift earlier. When you go to your settings menu, there's a small graph in the top right corner--and the squiggly lines on this graph represent peak torque (which gets you going) and peak horsepower (the area where the engine will be spinning at its fastest in the shortest amount of time.)
A Viper, for instance, has its peak power at 5,200 rpms, but the redline isn't till 6,000 rpms. You can wait to shift once it's deep in the redline, but to do this means to miss all that mid-range torque, which digs down and propels the car ever so slightly faster. . So in a Viper, I shift an average of 500 rpms early (at 5,500 instead of 6,000).
But I also have a BMW M3. This car's redline is at 8,000 rpms (I think) but peak power shows up just before at 7,800 rpms. So in this car, I'll wait sometimes till the tach needle is as far into the redline area as it'll go. My tach winds up near 8,500 rpms before I shift.
Basically, it depends on the car, how the power band builds (peak torque and peak horsepower), what my limits are (redline and rpm limiter) and are those limits close or far away from the powerband itself. Make sense?
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- 8,191
- Southern Louisiana
- GTP_Kent
You should have closed the thread as well.
Fact is, peak HP figures don't always represent ideal shift points, redline before, on the spot, or after doesn't matter much either.
Every car has a specific engine and each engine acts differently.
For some cars you've got to shift before both redline and the quoted peak hp rpm. For others you can wait it out until the moment before bouncing off the limiter.
Examples are all over the place you've just got to be a consistant enough driver to test for youself.
- 1,250
I just shift on the line, accelerates best from there.
- 477
- Canada
- potatobreath
To help you figure out shift points, try pressing start on the tuning screen to enlarge the power and torque display. As you approach the right end of the power curve, you may notice power dropping lower and lower. You want to upshift so that the next gear lands you on a spot to the left with adequate power, but not too early that you miss out on the higher power in the current gear.
The following article has been linked before in another shifting thread, but here it is again:
Horsepower vs torque
The following article has been linked before in another shifting thread, but here it is again:
Horsepower vs torque
- 232
to have the best amount of revs, but still get all your powerband, shifting 500 RPM after peak power point provides the best of both worlds. some cars have a very flat power band. like the ford focus rally car. try to keep it on that flat spot. that is it's sweet point.
every car is different. set your gear patterns and ratios up to keep you in you engine's happy place.
every car is different. set your gear patterns and ratios up to keep you in you engine's happy place.
AOS-
Premium
- 28,801
- 'Sauga, ON
i dont use manual but at time i'd like to play with it for kicks. Whenever I shift, i "feel" for it, usually through sound.
downshifting, don't get me started i can't downshift and brake and prepare for a corner all at once, it's too overwhelming..
and for starters, it's "Anyway", not "anyways", you can't go "Any-Ways", but you CAN go "Any-Way".. get it?
downshifting, don't get me started i can't downshift and brake and prepare for a corner all at once, it's too overwhelming..
and for starters, it's "Anyway", not "anyways", you can't go "Any-Ways", but you CAN go "Any-Way".. get it?
- 1,151
- AmuseR1
Thats what i try to do too, but sometimes, if its a long corner, i take a peek at the Tac
Hah! try drifting than! not only are you preparing, but throttle and break control are all the harder! including traction! But its not bad after awhile
haha, its my spanish grammar... lmao
- 232
I watch for the redline for about 2 or 3 races then I just start shifting based on the engine sound.
- 4,007
- Null Island
I choose between:
1: winging it and hoping for the best
2: going as far as possible into redline country
1: winging it and hoping for the best
2: going as far as possible into redline country
Rotary Junkie
Premium
- 9,810
- Canton, MI
- RJs_RX-7
Many cars require a special shift point: The Jag XJ220 doesn't make peak power until PAST the supposed redline, and the 440-6 pack 'Cuda falls off into nothingness above 5000 rpm.
- 24,344
- Midlantic Area
- GTP_Duke
That's awesome! That article was written for me by Ed Lansig so I could put it in the Neon FAQ when I wrote that about 8 years ago. Now it's spread to Allpar and by extension to GTP. Good to see it getting so much mileage!
- 10,557
- Columbia, MD.
- Parnelli_Bones
I wanted to add this: sometimes, I'll stay in gear when I would normally shift; especially if I'm approaching a corner.
For instance, some of the Imprezas have peak power show up a thousand RPMS before the redline. Normally, I'll shift about 500 rpms after peak (with close gearing especially) but if I'm approaching a turn, I'll leave it in gear if it's safe to do so....if I'm not in danger of touching the RPM limiter. It's better this way: now I have one less gear to downshift out of...
For instance, some of the Imprezas have peak power show up a thousand RPMS before the redline. Normally, I'll shift about 500 rpms after peak (with close gearing especially) but if I'm approaching a turn, I'll leave it in gear if it's safe to do so....if I'm not in danger of touching the RPM limiter. It's better this way: now I have one less gear to downshift out of...
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- 232
- 10,557
- Columbia, MD.
- Parnelli_Bones
yup, i do this too, if a corners cominig up, i just wind it out.
Also, in weaker cars....if you are climbing a hill, you may want to leave it in gear as long as you can..straight into the redline (in some weaker cars...not all of them). Otherwise, you'll wind up upshifting into territory that a weaker engine simply can't push anymore....it's out of breath basically.
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