Minok

And yet Porsche is recommending, nay, nudging you on a continual basis to do just that. The upshift indicator that they so keenly felt needed to be added to the instrument display, if adhered to, will have you driving with the revs staying well below 2k RPM until you are in 6th gear, unless you are under heavy acceleration. The computer knows the power reserves the engine has, and what the current power/torque needs are.

Shifting at the computer recommended points gets you around 22-23 mpg, and from what I'm remembering reading, matches somewhat with how the PDK engine shifts (for casual driving).

I'd not consider that lugging... lugging is something you can feel, a condition when the gear is too high for the RPM and throttle demand. Driving 1,700 rpm in 6th on a flat road is not lugging.

MUSSBERGER

I'm usually shifting like this. I wish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5lkZz1S5TU

Edgy01

Periodically Porsche is forced by the US DOT to add aids to get us to produce higher economies from our engines. Back in the 1980s Porsche put a very bothersome upshift arrow in all their cars (and the majority of owners figured out how to pull the tiny light bulbs out of those because they were such a distraction). With the 997.2 cars Porsche is doing it again, with a subtle upshift arrow. It's there to tell you where you CAN shift but many would not endorse that early a shift. Remember, Porsche is trying to keep their fleet average up (MPG) by including that device. It has nothing to do with the optimal usage of the peak power band.

I'm sorry if my inputs appear to be preaching but I have to fall back to my earlier comment questioning this question in the first place on a Porsche forum. I would assume most 911 drivers have been driving manual shift cars for many years before they take on the 997. But then, the 997 buyer of today is probably not the same buyer of the 911 back in the 1960s, 1970s or even the 1980s. Porsches were once enthusiasts' cars, driven by auto enthusiasts. I don't know what the makeup of 997 drivers is today. But it's not what it used to be.

asu_lee

Really? You are going to tell what to think?

Quadcammer

what kind of tool revs to 6k in heavy traffic?

Do you realize that everyone is looking at you like you're a jackass.

I rev my 993tt to about 2000rpm before shifting in traffic, maybe 3k around town in light traffic.

There is a time for revving it up and there is a time to drive like you aren't a pre-pubescent 12 year old.

ADias

I know some grandmas who shift higher.

Para82

Edgy- I know you've got a wealth of knowledge on these cars, it's just that your delivery pisses me off sometimes but i'll get over it.

Also, i'm actually fairly new to driving high performance sports cars, in fact believe it or not the 500hp Shelby was the first manual transmission car I owned and was what I learned on. I couldn't even drive it off the showroom floor when I bought it! I told Ford if i'm going to make this purchase then they need to bring in thier SVT tech to teach me how to drive it. True story.

I'm only 28 but definitely long way from Schumacher!

John Velasco

come on I just never shift: like I said. So what that means is that at 6500K I am only at 39 MPH see...

John Velasco

So Para 82 is that your Mustang and your dad's 997? Just a thought.

John Velasco

and remember I just don't care...

Para82

No my Dad is dead. I'm a college dropout combat veteran who was in the right place in the right time. Demand is high for these skillsets overseas so i've been taking advantage of it.

John Velasco

here here...

aggie57

Funny how I just replied to another thread about this.....I use anything from 1000rpm to the redline. Cruising in traffic in 6th, 1000 is fine and changing up at 2000rpm is also fine. The only thing you need to watch is how much throttle you use. The newer DI cars need almost none to maintain speed.

And please no-one lecture me, tell me I'm ruining my engine and shouldn't be driving a Porsche. When the traffic opens up, more revs of course and my car often see's the high side of 6000-6500 including regular visits to the track.

997, esq

+1. And, fwiw, I am a person who loves sports cars and driving. There is no need to rev the engine excessively when you are cruising down a boulevard at 35 mph. You are just making noise, burning gas, and spewing carbon unnecesssarily. When driving hard, I shift a couple of hundred rpm short of redline. Driving well is contextual...

go-C4S-injune

+1 agree w/ aggie57 and 997, esq. in fact i cant believe i am wasting my time replying to this thread thrice. I must be bored out of my mind or just love all you porsche fanatics.