In normal and even spirited driving (not much difference), I find myself going from 4th to 6th (bypassing 5th), as I've pretty much reached my cruising speed in 4th. With 5th and 6th (IIRC) both being OD ratios, I just go to 6th and "motor on."

Am I just getting old, and tired of tilling? ;-)

No, I'm not looking to join the "Hypermiling MINI Owners Club" either. Over-sized right foot prevents that.

 

I use fifth much of time to keep the RPMs a little higher as I will like the instant spool-time to make a pass on divided highway routes.

- Erik

 

the mini turbo motor is so flexable in its power delievery that i tend to go 1-3-5 and maybe into 6 depending on final speed and conditions, ie interstate or 2 lane

coming down, it is usuall 5 (or 6)-4-2

i think i would be happy with a 4 speed

my engine seems to be happy at 2800-3200 rpm

scott

 

You don't have roads with 45-50 mph speed limits? Or do you just drive at 70 all the time regardless? I agree, I typically skip 5th getting on the freeway but will use 5th on expressways.

=LJ=

 

Watkins glen intl. just before turn 2. Go to fifth then WOT all the way up the ess to the 200 marker before the bus stop, approx 128-132 mph before hard brake.

I tend to use all the gears including 5 most of the time, up shift and down shift.

 

I use 5th gear a lot, like when in a 35-45mph speed limit, or climbing a long grade.

 

I rarely skip gears, so 5th is used on a regular basis.

 

I find that my 5th gear is almost useless, it never seems to pull as hard as my 6th gear . I don't skip over it, but I rarely stay in 5th for more than a minute or so.

 

Nice!

 

I use 5th everyday on the hilly back roads on the way to work every day. 6th is reserved for highways.

 

Me too. Even on the not so hilly. Up to about 65mph. I like the sound of the higher rpms and figure it helps keep the carbon from accumulating. I'm in 6th only at higher speeds or road trips on cruise control.

 

Agreed,

Often skip 5th but I definitely use it when cruising ~40mph or faster in situations where speed is changing (heavy expressway traffic). Also nice for really steep hills where 6th doesn't have quite enough torque in a N/A car.

 

Skip 5th a lot. Funny, was just thinking about this the other day.

 

Use it a lot to force myself not to speed on the roads close to home

I have a "close" relationship with my local law enforcement team which force me to play nice

 

Sure wish the 05 Cooper I just bought this weekend had a sixth gear. It begs for another gear at 75 mph, running nearly 4,000 RPMs. And I drive a lot of interstates. Probably could get 42 mpg out of that baby, if she had a sixth gear in that tranny.

Oh well, pros and cons with every model of MINI.

 

+1

 

Yep, that was one of my three biggest regrets that I had with my '05 Justa (the other two were bypassing on heated seats and skipping the clearbra). The engine never missed a beat and didn't burn a drop of oil throughout my ownership, but it always seemed to be working pretty hard out on the open road.

I have and enjoy that 6th gear now, and the other two too.

 

I usually hover at around 50-60 mph on most roads and the traffic lighting system is a real dunce. Because I could easily wind up having to stop from 50 mph, then go all the way back up to 50, I find myself shifting 1-2-4-6 all the time and then downshifting 6-4-3-2. Years of trial and error show that this maximizes my fuel economy. Does anyone else shift this way?