hi folks

i put out a thread two months before recieving my mini asking for advice regarding manual driving since i had never done so.

Well Im pretty good at it now (4 months later) but have a question. Since I own the MC base model im trying to maximize taking off after a full stop. My question is, IS THE CAR DAMAGED IF YOU CONSTANTLY HIT 4RPM before switching to 2nd gear.

I find that switching to 2nd takes longer time than taking off on 1st and then switching. Confused? Basically= does the car get affected if you take off and reach the 4 rpm?

 

I AM confused! Are you saying that you start in 1st gear but don't shift to second until 4000 RPMs???? If so, that's fine. You can take it close to redline if you wish. Usually, closer to redline most smaller engines would experience some stress but the MINI (at least the S) seems VERY comfortable at high RPMs. It loves to rev!

Now if you're talking about revving to 4000 rpms in neutral when u are stopped and THEN putting it into 1st by dropping the clutch, you won't hurt the engine but you'll need a clutch within a year. But I think you're talking about the first situation above. Let me know if this helps.

 

That's actually a very interesting question, and not one that people who are entirely accustomed to driving a manual might ask. What you're basically asking is "where are the shift points?" And the answer is that it's different for every car/engine/trans configuration...and eventually you get to a place where you just "feel" it.

Of course, there's a more scientific explanation than that and it has to do with the torque and power curve of the engine in comparision to the gearing. For some insight on what other MCO-ers have said about this (comments are scattered around everywhere), check out this thread on "Driving by Tach."

A quick answer though, like greatgro notes, is that it's fine to reach 4000rpm before upshifting from 1st to 2nd (and subsequent gears). Don't rev to 4000rpm before dropping the clutch into FIRST unless you are into smoke Every once in a while that can be fun...

 

THANKS JSUN AND GREATGRO, I tried to ask the question without it being confusing but you both answered my question. I was mainly concerned that if I reved it up to 4000 before I upshifted that the engine or something would be ruined. but after reading your responses and the thread Im thinking that its okay to do so.

 

Also its interesting how when I first drove the car I was curious as to why the rpm display was more at eyelevel than the speedometer. Now after driving manual for a while it has come to my attention that its actually alot more important and now realize why its where it is. I never look over to the speedometer as much (could be trouble)as the RPM display... its definitly important on a manual car.

 

I'll just add one note -- and this has been covered in other threads too...but if you are terribly concerned with gas mileage, you will want to upshift at the lowest possible RPM and then get to the highest reasonable gear as quickly as possible. This leads to a somewhat less than "stimulating" driving experience, but if you want to get the EPA advertised mileage, you'll need to approximate this.

Turns out of course that many of us are willing to sacrifice 5+ mpg for a few more rev-induced smiles. :smile:

 

I was getting ready to post until I read jsun's last post. The key is what kind of gas mileage do you want to get. I don't have mine yet, but I would think the owner's manual would point out the optimum efficiency shift points. A good dealer person could help you there too.

jc

So far driving MCS from the dealer has been driving it like I stole it, but I am sure when my baby gets here, I will drive regularly a tad saner! Or maybe not!!!!

 

good point on gas mileage. I have found that when i do drive over 4rpm before upshifting that i use ALOT more gas. Ill have to experiment more with that.

Thanks guys