This is the first manual transmission vehicle I've ever owned. At red lights it seems like I'm having trouble keeping up with some of the ricers, I attribute this to inexperience. At what speed or RPMs should I shift?
eg. 1st = 35 mph or 4000RPM, 2nd = 50 mph....etc.

 

You wont blow the ricers off the line in a stock MCS..gearings all wrong.
You'll be able to easily eat them alive in the twisties!

 

1st gear in the MCS is a wee bit tall, though I personally like it like that. In my view, slow off-the line speed has more to do with not have the blower revved up enough than with tall 1st. Trick with MCS is you need to rev the engine fairly high before engaging clutch, or else the blower needs its sweet time to come up. In my experience, the best launch technique is this: rev engine to 3000 or even 3500 rpm, and drop the clutch.
This will also work better if you deactivate DSC+T first, since if you spin the wheel the traction control will reduce engine power.
All of this is a bit tricky, so be careful and it's at your own risk. It's not that hard to smoke a clutch, waste some tires, or crash!
Most of all, IMHO, drive carefully and with respect for others!

 

there is no reason, imho, to call these people who hop up their hondas (weather tastelfully or not) ricers



_________________
2003 MCS CR/B, pckg #1, #2
1995 lexus sc300 pearl white
2002 suzuki gsxr 750 yellow

 

ok, I'll admit it.. this is a shameless thread bump 'cause I too am interested in knowing everyone's opinion as to optimum shifting technique.
We've got the launch down, now at what rpm does one need to upshift for maximum acceleration/performance?
4,000? 5,000? Redline?

 

well, my MINI hasn't actually arrived yet (booked on the Tosca, 3/26/03) but i decided to share this piece of info:

i'm not sure if it's due to the quick clutch on the MINI, or my comfort driving my worn out Suzuki Samurai's spongy soft clutch, but when i did my first MINI test drive i stalled in first gear in the dealer parking lot!

 

Not to steal andy@rosstech.com's thunder.....

Here's some more info:



...and a discussion on this matter can also be found here.

R

 

great post PDX, I'm glad I had a chance to look at the table!
Thanks!

 

>>there is no reason, imho, to call these people who hop up their hondas (weather tastelfully or not) ricers

Sorry, it's their own term. Not mine. I hope they don't mind me using it.

 

>>there is no reason, imho, to call these people who hop up their hondas (weather tastelfully or not) ricers
>>
>>
>>
>>_________________
>>2003 MCS CR/B, pckg #1, #2
>>1995 lexus sc300 pearl white
>>2002 suzuki gsxr 750 yellow

Some people are just wrapped a little too tight!