What RPM to shift at - true story

[funcrew]

A friend of mine bought his 16YO son a rough-looking but good running 318is for his high-school car. He knew I was an E30 guy (S52 convertible) so we all went for a ride in the 318is on a Sunday afternoon. My friend was driving, me in the front and his son (the proud new owner), his other son, and my son in the back, all teenagers.

So we're tooling around, and the new-owner son asks from the back seat, "Mr. Funcrew, what RPM should I shift at?"

Without hesitation, I say, "I generally shift at redline."

Of course, the kid's dad is yelling, "no, nononono, that's WRONG," and my son is laughing his head off, saying "Yeah, he's not kidding." Naturally, the kid is my #1 fan after that, but hey, I was just telling the truth.

[ak-]

lolol.

It's so hard to funnel all the variable answers into a simple explanation.

[dannyyisntt]

When you drive a racecar it's hard to not act like it :D

[ButtJuice]

Lol.

[Lodsin]

A friend of mine bought his 16YO son a rough-looking but good running 318is for his high-school car. He knew I was an E30 guy (S52 convertible) so we all went for a ride in the 318is on a Sunday afternoon. My friend was driving, me in the front and his son (the proud new owner), his other son, and my son in the back, all teenagers.

So we're tooling around, and the new-owner son asks from the back seat, "Mr. Funcrew, what RPM should I shift at?"

Without hesitation, I say, "I generally shift at redline."

Of course, the kid's dad is yelling, "no, nononono, that's WRONG," and my son is laughing his head off, saying "Yeah, he's not kidding." Naturally, the kid is my #1 fan after that, but hey, I was just telling the truth.

Thats the answer I would give if not my car being driven. 318 will need it too!

[Xat1cZ]

You should've turned back and stare straight into his eyes and yell "DANGER ZONE"

like so

[E30_Pare]

I remember when I was that age & asked that question. I think I even posted a thread about redline shifting LOL. My pops reacted the same way & I've been banging gears ever since.

[lambo]

My dad asked me that too when I was in like 5th or 6th grade... and after playing lots of NFS: Underground 2 I naturally responded with "when it gets to the red part." He told me yes, if I'm driving a race car. So, I guess I drive a race car now.

[FredK]

ROFL. Sweet thing is you won't even be going that fast if you redline an M42.

Wut.

[be34st]

If I shift at redline I'll usually skip a gear for the sake of laziness. Other than that I try to keep it between 3400-4000rpm

[slammin.e28]

You're supposed to listen to the engine and not take your eyes off the road.

Once it begins cutting fuel, you hear it, and shift. Easy.

[ELVA164]

You're supposed to listen to the engine and not take your eyes off the road.

Once it begins cutting fuel, you hear it, and shift. Easy.

I usually wait until it starts floating valves, but to each his own.

[evandael]

one time, just one time, I shifted at redline

[funcrew]

You're supposed to listen to the engine and not take your eyes off the road.

Once it begins cutting fuel, you hear it, and shift. Easy.

This. When I taught my daughter to drive our Mazda3, I told her to never look at the tach - cars with rev limiters don't really need one. Now she tears the hell out of it.

[slammin.e28]

I usually wait until it starts floating valves, but to each his own.

Meh, tomato, tomahto. I guess the piston will start closing the valves when the cam stops. No biggy.