I just use all the gears. If it is there I use it.

I think you can damage the clutch more if you lift it while you jam hard on the accelerator to get a power lurch. If you are smooth, I think it is OK to shift gears. Also heel-to-toe on down shifts is easy on the gears and clutch. Kind of like extra synchro-mesh.

 

I don't generally skip gears, except that I skip 5th pretty routinely when I'm merging on the interstate and want to get up to speed quickly. In that case, I'll leave it in 4th until I'm up to my final speed and then go directly to 6th. There's a pretty big RPM drop between 4th and 6th, but since I'm not accelerating any further after the upshift to 6th, there's no danger of lugging the engine.

 

This is interesting !!! So you guys are saying skip the second gear altogether?

 

I don't usually skip on the way up, but I will on the way down (like if I'm in 4th and making a hard turn I may want to come out of the turn in 2nd, before gearing up again).

Starting in 2nd seems a bad idea though, unless your on a down hill and have a good roll going.

 

I too skip 2nd .

 

I usually shift from 3rd straight into 6th. But I would never by-pass 1st on a regular basis.

 

1-3-5-6
I agree. Been driving for 32 years. This works the best. I don't know how folks go through clutches as fast as they do. I have an 05 GTO with 400 horses, 76,000 miles and I'm still on the original clutch. And that even includes quite a few smokey burn outs and several track sessions on a very large road course. I just don't understand it.

Regards,

Pat

 

It depends on conditions. Torque needed, speed needed, flat, uphill, downhill, there is no right answer. It all depends on the conditions. You can't say always miss the gears.

Not much traffic, not much acceleration needed, not merging etc. sure.


Pat

 

I'm a 1-3-5-6'er too, but with a Cooper hardtop, the motor lacks the torque to shift earlier and keep the revs down. Seems like I have to rev it out a little more before grabbing the next gear. My previous car, a Lexus IS300, had more horsies and had more torque than my MINI, so the 1-3-5 (no 6) was quite economical and smooth.

I imagine the Cooper S would be a much easier 1-3-5-6....

I never start in second gear. Rowing the shifter is about the only exercise that I ever get!!!

 

I too use the 1-3-5-6. But as state earlier, it depends on the conditions/environment. Safety, economy, and care of your car. That's what you have to look at. You decide.

 

I agree. I think over the long haul if you do it a lot the clutch will wear faster. Just my opinion.

 

Hey - I have an '05 GTO also. That's a car that can be really scary to start out in 2nd with - stomp on the gas, dump the clutch, and be Very Careful with the steering wheel.

Why is it I need another new clutch again?

 

Isn't it a great car? For the money I don't think you can get a better value. A friend of mine had the 04 which had the 350 HP motor. He had it for 2 weeks before he wrapped it around a light standard. He wasen't hurt but the car was totaled. He was on a sweeping right hand turn and dropped a gear and punched it, the rear end came around and that was the end of that. He swears he does not remember.

I'm older and a lot more cautious. I try to keep my hot rodding on the track. I still miss gears on my goat.(Purposefully) It has the 2nd gear interlock that I have never bypassed. But I also go from 2nd to 4th a lot and from 4th to 6th a lot. Of course that is on a Sunday or freeway driving. My goat is my everyday driver so I have learned to save gas. I get about 17.2 in town if I keep my foot out of it. 14 if I drive it like it's meant to be driven. On a freeway trip with cruise and 6th gear I get about 24.5 MPG. (This according to the cars computer.)

Pat

 

Yes, Yes You people better wake up!

 

Yes, Yes it will wear it out You people better wake up. But I'm sure your deller likes to hear this

 

I ruined a clutch doing this, so I don't do it any more.

 

It's hard on the clutch.