Jeff Ward

Hi All, So my wife is running errands with our girls this evening, so there I was, unsupervised, free to get dinner on my own. What a chance to run downtown in the Porsche and get a big ol' cheesesteak sub!(not so many opportunities with a vegetarian wife, I can tell you). In going to the sub shop, tootin' around in third gear at 30 mph, I look down at the the tach to see I'm running just at 2000 rpm, or even below. I'm shocked because the earlier Porsches I've owned all sounded like shifting rods were clanging together back there somewhere if you tried to run at 2000 rpm or lower. This is my first 964, and I've just driven it a few miles, not really much in town at all.
So were do you all run your cars just easing around town? I'm not doing any damage am I?
Jeff Ward 94 964 Cab
(The girls still aren't back so I think I'm going over here by the fireplace and sing a couple choruses of ***-by-ya.) <img border="0" alt="[byebye]" title="" src="graemlins/wave.gif" />

Rich W

In the supplement to my car's owner's manual, it states that one should occasionally accelerate briskly from a stop to ensure top performance.

I use that particular passage to my advantage from time to time..

My car has been laid up so long, I can't remember exactly which RPM range I was using, but somewhere around 2500 rings a bell.

Off the top of my head, the only problem that jumps out is carbon fouling. However, if you use the passage loosely quoted above, you should be OK.

eion

No matter where I am (unless I'm driving past my neighbours' houses at 2am), I like to try and keep it at around 4000 revs - this gives me room to slow down if I need to, or speed up if I need to.

Jay H

Jeff:

I usually dawdle (is that a word?) around town at about 1100-1500 rpms.

Jay
<a href="http://www.jays911.com" target="_blank">90 964</a>

Jeff Curtis

From my motorcycle days, I tend to keep it in a lower gear...keeping the RPMs up. This was a safety issue on motorcycles, allowing the rapid acceleration or decel in the course of avoiding a potential incident.

...truly, good advice, good practice.

I know that I come around the bend on my street in second gear...of course - doing 25MPH and the RPMs are a bit over 2K, just perfect.

I go down the highway often in fourth gear, if being forced to stay at or about 55MPH...I only go into fifth if we're moving strong, above 55MPH.

I truly believe that the Porsche flat six can handle and/or was built to handle staying in the higher RPM range.

Besides, that's where most of your torque is!

SO, to anser your question Jeff W. - the scenario you painted out has my opinion swayed to DOWNSHIFT! <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

scupper

I never let the RPMs drop below 2000 for any extended period of time. Typically, they are at 2500 or even 3000. I find third gear just perfect for country roads where speed limits and heavy traffic cause many slow downs and speed ups - The old SC was more comfortable in 4th, but the C2 seems to thrive and dance along in 3rd.

Chuck
93 C2

Andy Roe

Would I be right in saying that by having higher revs, it is actually better for the car - higher revs equals less stress on the engine/gearbox rather than lugging the engine?

Apologies if I'm being a little thick, just that the sound of the engine is much nicer at higher revs!!!

Andy

johnfm

If I tootle - never below 2000 rpm. Usually stay in 2nd around town, and try to change to third at about 4k rpm. Open road, I hit 6.5k daily!

Mr. C4

Jeff,

Why bother about what figures the RPM show at low and mid range, more interesting is when it get's close to the redline! Drive your car at the RPM where it feels "natural" and performs best. I don't think I'm the only one who doesn't even look at the rev indicator while cruising around town, couldn't be bothered!

Ciao,

Johannes E.

Herbie

As I told in an old thread, when Porsche engineers designed Tiptronic, put in it the better choices.

I think for a perfect driving, you have to shift at the same points.

When in "D", normal driving, it shifts up at about 1800 - 2000 rpm.

Wsp964

Actually I do not really like to cruise along in the lower RPM range (2000 - 2500) as the gearbox makes an odd "clac" noise each time I accelerate.

The car doesn't drives smoothly either in those lower ranges.

Somebody with the same symptoms or is it just me or my flyweel ?? <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" />

Some follow up would assure me .....

Thanks guys

Mr. C4

Wsp964,

I have the same syptoms and I believe it is normal. Have you ever heard what the Euro RS sounds like? Man, initially you think there is something wrong withthe car, it's that bad!

Ciao,

Johannes E.

Christer

I don't have those symptoms at all. Sorry.

Andy Roe

Wsp964 & Mr C4,

Do you find that the noise only happens if you accelerate hard? This is what is happening with my car & my spanner told me that it was my flywheel!

Andy

Bob Haase

I like to keep my 964 breathing... I seldom let her drop below 3,000 RPM's anywhere. Sure she makes more noise at the higher RPM's, but they gotta hear you coming, right?