What would you guys do?

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani) 01/21/2017 at 16:31 • Filed to: Manual, BMW

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So it got me thinking: the gearing of the 328i is such that both 5 and 6 are overdrives.

If you’re cruising on 6th gear on the highway at 100+ km/h / 60+ MPH, had to slow down to say 80 km/h / 50 MPH and accelerate again, e.g. to avoid some idiot merging into your lane, would you:

Downshift to 5, accelerate, then back to to 6

Downshift to 5, then 4, accelerate and back to 5 then 6

Skip shift to 4, accelerate then skip shift back into 6

I seem to do the first scenario the most (since Kristin is only a 5MT with 1 overdrive only), but it seems like it’s bad to lug the engine in overdrive, especially for turbo engines. Maybe I should get used to downshifting through 2?

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 16:48

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Just downshift into third without rev-matching, dump the clutch and pull a sick dorifto, yo!

But seriously, I guess I would do the third scenario

Phatboyphil > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 16:52

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I’d do number 3. Get a little bit of engine braking and rev matching in higher gears is pretty easy.

404 - User No Longer Available > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV 01/21/2017 at 17:06

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Yeah... but this isn’t Saudi Arabia and I’m not driving a Camry, so no, I’m not drifting on a highway. :P

Old Red Wagon > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:07

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Depends on the speed really but in my GTI I usually downshift into 4th in the scenario you gave. With a turbo engine, like you mentioned, I don’t like to lug it.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:10

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Normally once I hit the highway, unless my speed drops below 50 or I really need a burst of acceleration, I leave it in 6th. If I was going to drop, I’d drop to 4th then back to 6th. If I’m really aggravated, I might drop to 3rd.

Noah - Now with more boost. > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:19

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my current ride is an auto but in my E24 I’d always skip 4th and go from 3rd to 5th. the third option sounds good

DasWauto > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:25

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I usually hit every gear on the way down but I’ve only had a 6-speed for about a month. The WRX runs higher revs (2000rpm at 80mk/h) in top gear than my Golf did (1500rpm at 80km/h) and is more powerful to boot so downshifting to pass isn’t really necessary.That said, I do it anyway for the smile factor. Usually 4th at highway speeds, 3rd if I’m feeling frisky and want to absolutely rip by someone.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:27

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50-60 I don’t need to downshift.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:29

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1, but I drive lightly at highway speeds. If I needed/wanted to accelerate quickly, I’d do 3 (or skip to 4th, then move up through 5th back to speed).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:34

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What you should do is give me one of those overdrive gears since you have too many and I have none.

404 - User No Longer Available > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/21/2017 at 17:36

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So... uh... if I already have too few how would I be able to give you any??

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 17:38

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Ninja edit

E90M3 > DasWauto 01/21/2017 at 18:07

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I really like using 3rd to pass people on the highway, especially when they take exception to me under taking them.

DasWauto > E90M3 01/21/2017 at 19:27

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It’s obnoxious but so fun that I don’t give a damn if they think I’m an ass. 3rd is also really good for giving me a 20+mph speed advantage by the time I’m alongside; it gives them little time to get angry about it, let alone do something about it.

E90M3 > DasWauto 01/21/2017 at 19:29

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I was next to this F250 once, and you know how the truck squats when you floor it? Well they did that, and I just depressed my pedal more and I walked away. 3rd at 70 mph is like 6k, so it’s got all the power there so it just pulls.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 19:38

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5th gear is rarely used on my Mazda5. Usually it’s a two gear downshift followed by a two gear upshift. And many times when entering the freeway I’ll zip it up to redline and then do a 3-6 upshift.

wafflesnfalafel > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 22:44

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skip shift to 4th - you are human, you get to make the decisions. I 1-3 and 2-4 skip shift all the time. And those few 6-4 down shifts with required strong throttle blip are awesome. Quick, smooth, loud, fast.

404 - User No Longer Available > wafflesnfalafel 01/21/2017 at 22:57

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you are human, you get to make the decisions.

But for some the choices are P, R, N, D, L...

So we can safely conclude those who drive automatics are not human. *snickers*.

wafflesnfalafel > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/21/2017 at 23:07

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I have no problems with folks that are comfortable with machines making their decisions for them... :)

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/22/2017 at 03:08

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In my 350Z I’d go 6 > 4 to pass someone, and then 4 > 5 > 6.

However, that thing seriously needed another overdrive, cruising in 6th at 3000rpm to go 120km/h got real old real fast.

Thankfully I’ve replaced it with an old vette that needs 3800rpm to hit the same speed and occasionally has interior bits rattle apart

John Dyste > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/22/2017 at 23:54

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I clutch in, up to 5, down to 4, clutch out. I’m probably doing it wrong but haven’t been to a real driving school yet.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 404 - User No Longer Available 01/23/2017 at 18:13

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Well my GTO 5th and 6th are both overdrive, but then again I have tons of reserve torque and just stay in 6th and accelerate.