Miata Mailing List: May 1997, Message #32
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From: 	"David C. Scott" <dscott@mindspring.com>

Subject: Revs Newbie

Date: 	Thu, 1 May 1997 08:27:51 -0500



OK, guys. Am I taking this month's Miata Magazine article on "Gear

Changing" too literally? If I read it correctly, the recommendation is

to keep the revs up. Makes sense. However, when the author says - "Find

out what rmp your engine delivers maximum torque (5,500 rmp for a stock

engine) and at what rmp it develops maximum power (6,500 rmp when

stock). Then keep your engin turning BETWEEN these two limits for the

best performance in any gear" - I get confused. Based on how my '96 M

Edition "feels", I'd never get into fifth gear if I follow that advice.

I seem to be running at about 4,000+ rpms in fifth gear at 70 mph. To

run between 5,500 and 6,500, it seems I'd need to be going 90! And

running between 5,500 and 6,500 at the lower gears sounds as though the

engine is working terrifically hard. I know the Miata is engineered to

shift ideally at 5,000 rpm and that "feels" right. So, oh great and wise

Miata mavens, (1) when cruising "in town" at, say, 35 to 40 mph, in what

gear and at what rpm should one be and (2) what about superhighway

driving? Sorry if this is a hopelessly uneducated question but - hey -

either I'm reading this article wrong or I need to get used to a

different feel when driving! DCS