mongrelcat

I like to vary RPM a lot, I figure if it's recommended to do so during break-in then it makes sense to do so all the time. On long runs or touring I will switch between 3-4-5 and occasionally 6th every few minutes. I use 6th above 70mph, but only if I'm not stressing the engine i.e., with very little throttle like on the flats or long downhills. I think around 75mph is 2700rpm which seems fine to me, as long as I'm just cruising and not trying to accelerate. Occasionally I'll let the RPMs drop and idle for a bit while cruising but not more than 30 seconds or so.

Probably over-thinking it, but that's just the way I've always driven any car with a manual gearbox.

autobonrun

Steve, that's what's in my car. The original 5th is now my 6th gear, and 3rd, 4th, and 5th are all new. This is the gear set this car should have had originally.

NP993

I would say so! That's quite a routine you've created for yourself...

Duckman

I use mine all the time, too. Even on surface streets. My car has sufficient torque to make it very drivable at low revs and speeds. It's one of the things I love about the 993. Why keep the revs up, make more noise AND burn extra gas needlessly.

When I want power and acceleration, I keep the revs up. If I'm cruising in a relatively high gear and want some oomph, I drop down a couple of gears.

SwayBar

Well said!

ljugete

I use it above 70 mph for cruising on freeway. If I need to pass at speed I downshift to 4th and hit the accelerator baby!

brucec59

Cruising at 2500 RPM is NOT "lugging"! Lugging is putting your foot into it at that speed or lower.

I use 6th a lot on the freeway. Any time I'm over say 60 or 65 and not accellerating. Not only does it save gas, is means less wear on the engine.

brucec59

Try 3rd. It's a real kick in the pants at that speed.

ljugete

Ditto, but I usually will down shift only 2 gears when passing at speed.

Juha G

The original 6th gear, never! (It's not in the gearbox anymore). I do use the current 6th gear (which is the original 5th gear) almost every time I drive the car. Anywhere above 50mph I move up to sixth.

I completely agree!!

Stealth 993

I use 6th all the time, but I'm usually cruising around 70mph,
6th gear is different between the C4 & C4S, the C4S seams to have a slightly shorter 6th

timothymoffat

Same gearing in both but you make an interesting point. My 95 C2 and my 97 C2 should read identical as mechanically they are. Speedo calibration is probably the culprit. 3000RPM in 6th gear is/should be 81 mph, give or take 1 mph for tire variance. My 97 reads very close to this, my 95 on the other hand reads about 88-90 mph or fairly optimistic. I've noticed this on a few 95s.

Stealth 993

It feel different at well. I can't see the speedo being that far off. A few hundred RPM in 6th is a big difference in speed. I just thought maybe the C4S had the turbo trans, or they change the gearing between 95 & 97.

Jake G

In the short time I have owned my 993 I have used 6th gear quite a bit. Above 2K RPM the engine holds itself well and seems to have enough torque.

Jake

os993

I re-geared my box several years ago and went with the Euro 6th rear (I forgot the ratio #).

For me, taking the stnd 5th gear and putting in 6th gear spot didn't make sense to me. Driving 80mph+ in stnd 5th gear, IMHO, is too high in the RPM department.

The Euro 6th ratio is perfect! I'm at around 3200 RPM at 80mph! Very useful indeed (and I'm in sixth almost daily!).