Weissy

I have read some threads here about test cars and what not and there seems to be allot of concern about redlining the engines. Was just curious how hard the average driver drives there car. I have a 02 boxster s with the 997 s on order. In my boxster I almost never push the engine over 4500-5k rpms. I also use 6th gear almost exclusively on the highways. Am I pampering my car????

j09333

Why would you do that when the car can handle up to redline?

Simply put, for me, if I pushed too hard, and if there is a concern of the condition of engine, then I will rebuild it when it hits more than 100,000 miles.

I hope your boxster is still pumping same hp as it was new.

I guess you missed alot of what the car is meant to do for 2 years?

Moogle

during warm up phase, i shift at 3000, after about 10 minutes, its usually at operating temperature, after that, its at least 4-5k. after that during hard driving, i shift near redline.

you are babying it too much, its a car, drive it like it was meant to be.

once i break in my incoming p-cars, i intend to drive just as hard (relative to the cars' redlines)

fahren affair

"...I almost never push the engine over 4500-5k rpms."

maybe you should ask yourself wether or not, you really need a porsche

Weissy

I love my porsche and I can't wait for my new one as well. Just never really beat on it thats all. I can tell you one thing for sure. Drive home tonight will be record time and alot of fun!!!

Its_Lobelt

If you drive your car hard from day 1 then there is a high possibility that your car will have more than the advertised power. For example I have heard that couple of people with GT3's who drive their cars hard dynoed considerably more RWHP than the people who babied theirs. I for example drove my G35 hard from day one and dynoed 257 rwhp. Other people witht he same car who babied theirs dynoed 220-235 rwhp on the same dyno day. So drive it like you stole it except when its cold.

4 Kurves

Might be something too that. My mechanic who personally works on a multitude of GT-3 tells me that mine is far stronger then most. Unscientific of course but I drive my car hard and in the last few months have driven almost exclusively on the track where redline is usually always the shift point.

Weissy

I was more wondering about people who drive ther cars every day as aposoed to you lucky track guys.

pcarfan944

Your the kind of person i'd like to buy a used car from.

rss997

I only hit redline when I see a cop in my rearview mirror!!!!!!!!!

Anir

Josh,

In my experience, Porsches drive better following "Italian tune ups". Please don't be afraid to get on it.

I've only used 6th gear in my 993 a few times, when I was feeling particularly lazy on the highway, or was redlining in 5th at the track.

RonCT

I use 5-8,000 RPM in my M3 every day. The engine is designed with an 8k redline, which probably has a real buffer to 9k. I don't race or speed (much - maybe 9-14 over), but I have fun getting to the higher band in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

On the track, it's a different story - between 5 and 8k the whole time. 4 x 25 minute sessions is a lot of time at WOT. Burn through 16 gallons of fuel a day - about 6 MPG (vs. 21 average city highway).

These fine-tuned German engines were designed to be used up there... The mechanical music is so wonderful - couldn't imagine a day without it (meaning, shifting at 3-4k all the time).

AeroGT3RedWing

Why do you drive a porsche? If you want to shift at 4-5, get a dodge? They redline somewhere around there.

Weissy

Well before you guys kill me too much..... The boxster S was my first real car. Now with my 997 S on order this is exactly why I asked the question. It just didn't really occur to me that shifting out of second at 6500 rpm was exactly the healthiest thing for the car. However the Boxster S got me hooked on Porsche so now that my 997 S is getting closer I look forward to driving it properly.

mooty

once my car passed 500 miles and warmed up, i almost never shift below 6000 rpm. do it a few times and you will get addicted to the high rpm rush. warm it up properly, oil change often, drive it hard and be happy with it.