At what RPM's should I switch while racing?
 

When casually driving i switch at about 2000 - 3000 RPM's.... when me and my buddy run our cars on back streets or stop lights, i usually try to listen to the engine and make it as smooth and fast as I can. What are some sugestions on when i should switch and is it different at each gear?( its a 87 NA ):hf:

The word "switch" is new to me (as far as shifting goes) but if you're gettin it; I'd shift at 7k.

I think 7K is a pretty good shift point for most S4 n/a's.

mine likes 7.5K if i'm racing

It all depends on mods. I shift my 90 GTU at 8600 when Im racing.

On my 91, it rarely sees under 5k when just driving around. When racing, she sees about 7800 RPM before I shift.

If you are trying to win shift @between 7 - 7.5 rpms for the 89-91. There is no power above that with the stock intake manifold and AFM, I am still waiting for Mazdaspeed to dyno his car, in order to see if there is any gain above 7.5K. Now if you just want to beat the shit out of the car (no it won't hurt the engine), & have fun.....SHIFT @ THE BUZZER :)

ya but you don't shift at max power, you shift after it. if max power is 7000, and when you shift it drops 2000rpm. chances are you have more power at 7500 then 5000. so you shift from 7500-5500, instead of 7k-5k. so your avg. power is higer.

I shift at 7200-7300 when I am racing, when I am going to the store, when I am going out to see friends...you get the idea.

I see your point!

Thanks!!

Whoa! I was just trying to help a brotha out. I figured my reply would be the only one. But since were are on the subject; alot of things can effect this answer. Does he have a light weight flywheel? Does he have an exhaust? Does he have any mods? Is his motor ported? Can he afford to break things? What freakin elevation is he at? I personnaly think 7k is as good as any rpm to shift. I would like to see the robot man that can shift at exactly 7300 rpms out of first gear; christ by the time your brain tells your arm to move you'll already be at 7400.

your sayin you cant shift at 7300 rpms is you want to, i just watch the tack its not that difficult

The idea is to anticipate the shift. You plan ont he shift before 7300, so you can hit it perfectly.

Shift point does depend on mods. 7K is a pretty good place to start for S4 cars. As the mods start to sttack up, the number goes up.

When your eyes read the tach at 7300, by the time you actually make the shift I'm betting that the rpms are more like 7400 or even 7500 depending on how fast your car revs. I know in my car once I get up in the 7k range in first gear the tach's moving to fast to even make sense of it.

I'm new here and I am getting ready to put together a 1987 TII, and from what I've been reading here I think I am going to love this car. Hope its as nice as a 1993rx-7 turbo?

200hp @9300 shift and hold on...

if you can watch the tach move in 1st gear you don't have enouh power! :D

That rev limiter comes really quickly in 1st. By the time I hear the buzzer, its time to shift at 8500.

Samps, I will say it again. You anticipate the shift, so that when you execute it, you are at 7300 rpm. That does not mean wait until you see 7300 to do anything.

Re: At what RPM's should I switch while racing?
 

Umm, that kind of driving may be good for gas milage, but bad for your engine (your casual driving). Shifting that low an rpm will build up carbon, which will do damage. I never shift below 4000, usually at 4500 just so I can make sure to use the secondary injectors to keep them working.
You may be saving gas, but you are wearing out the engine. Rotary's LOVE to rev! "Drive it like you stole it".
Sean

I'm glad that a few other people have realized that the tach is moving to fast in first gear to possibly make a very accurate gear change according to rpm. I do understand the anticipation method; but that is still not 100% accurate. I know you can shift in the general range of maybe 200-300 rpm. In other gears you should be able to make more accurate shifts.

scathcart... thanx for the advice... thats all i needed to hear, thanx everyone else that wrote in to help me out !

I disagree. I can hit the shift at exactly 8500 rpm indicated pretty much every time. I think once you know your car pretty well, it is pretty easy to anticipate the shift. Having a good sense of time and rhythm doesnt hurt.

shift when that light tells you to shift

1-2 shift: 6.8kRPM
2-3 shift: 6.5kRPM
3-4 shift: 6kRPM

Yah i concur with rexryder ... Ever since i got my shift light, i dont go back... Just set that baby to 7000, and when the blinding lights comes on hit that mofo like theres no tomorrow... thats what i do...i think gary coleman would approve...