There was a nice set of torque curves for the stock MCS, showing shift points on the pre 2005 MCS, but at what RPM's for each gear do people who track their 2005/2006 JCW MCS shift?

Before I had the JCW installed, I'd run up to 6000-6500 RPM's and shift, but since I had the JCW installed, it "feels" like I should shift sooner, especially going from 1st to second (The only thing I don't like about this car is launching it; once in second gear, its a breeze, but getting from a standstill through first into second is an adventure). When I bring the RPM's to 6000-6500 and shift from first to second, it feels like there is a significant jump in torque going from first to second (maybe this is my perception), so much so that I'm thinking maybe I should be shifting sooner from first to second. Once in second, holding the RPM's out to 6500 doesn't seem to be as much of an issue--when shifting to the next gear; there isn't such a wide disparity in how the car feels like its pulling. I haven't timed any of this, so I'm only going by perception--which admittedly could very well be wrong.

So for the track, at which RPM's are you shifting for each gear, particularly from 1st to 2nd?

 

do you have one of those lil shift light thingies on your dash?
that should tell you

 

At an autocross I like to get into 2nd ASAP. Usually around 4000.

 

Thats kind of what I suspected--it feels like I'm holding it too long in first since the JCW was tacked on. In autocross you're probably not getting out of third gear (maybe not even out of second)--if you do get out of second, where are you shifting at?

 

If you are shifting from 1st to 2nd on the track, you have much more important problems to address.

 

No, not really, not for a time trial, when the launch is important. Its a relatively esoteric question, as it happens only once during the entire run (at the start), but I don't see how that means I have more important problems to address.

Thanks for your help (or lack thereof). Its posts like yours that always make me a bit hesitant to post here....

 

I have yet to get out of 2nd gear at an autocross. Even at Atwater where they have the room to lay out a big course, I'll stay in second. The amount of time (a second or two maybe) I might get into 3rd isn't worthwhile, and the extra shifting isn't helping my times.

 

Whew. Muy sensitivo, hombre. Note my little winking smiley emoticon guy. Meant that as a joke, partly at your expense to be sure. I don't doubt you are one heck of a driver. I just meant that, time trials aside, being in first gear on most tracks means you are probably a bit under the pace.

Yall gots ta chill.

 

I saw the smile before I read the comment, so thats the context with which I read it.