Do you have to shift sooner in the lower gears?

Richard

"ray" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
> > This may be a naive question, but please bear with me.
> >
> > I have driven 5 speed transmissions for most of my life and am now
> > upgrading to a great vehicle with a 6 speed.
> >
> > I wonder if other stick shift lovers out there can tell me when and how
> > they like to use the 6th gear? Is there more to it than when you're in
> > cruise control on an interstate?
> >
>
> Well, you use it much like you would the first 5 gears.
>
>
> Seriously.
>
> In my Trans Am, 6th is pretty much a highway only gear. It allows for
> about 1100 rpm at 60 mph and decent fuel economy on the highway. It
> allowed GM to put in a half decent ratio (notice I didn't say the actual
> gears - they're junk) of 3.42 for wicked acceleration. In fact on the
> stock tires I would launch at only 1700 rpm at the strip unless I wanted
> to smoke the tires for 200 feet.
>
> Anyway, 6th is just another gear.
>
> Ray