I searched the forums and couldn't find my answer so I'll pose my question here.

I've driven a variety of manual transmissions over the years the most recent the 00 VW Beetle I traded in on Saturday for my 09 Fit. I drove the car shifting where I found appropriate and gave me the acceleration I needed. While reading the owners manual last night I find that according to it I'm shifting at way low rpms. ie I shift into 5th at 35 mpg on flat ground where as the manual says I should shift at 53.

So my questions are

1) Other than slower acceleration is there any draw back to shifting at slower speeds. ie will it damage the engine/tranny

2) Where do others shift? I can't believe I'm alone.

Thanks in advance.

 

i dont own a GE, but 5th gear at 35mph you are in the wrong gear, it is perfectly fine to do that as it won't hurt the car in anyway, it not good for couple of reason such as...you gas milage will be sacrificed, and for me it's pretty dangerous to not be able to have instant power to accelerate away from things you barely have time to react to...this little car has no torque, you need some rpm to get it going!

 

Shift points in owner manuals are generally the maximum speeds allowed by rpm limits in each gear.
Actually, shifting at any rpm greater than 2000 rpm (so after the shift the rpm doesn't fall below 1600 rpm in the higher gear) is fine PROVIDED you don't lug the engine, that is, cause it to strain by shuddering or wheezing.
Its the need for torque that controls the issue so you have to have enough torque to still turn the wheels easily. Shifts on uphill grade always needs a higher rpm before shifting. Going downhill, naturaklly,you can up shift at lower rpm.
35 mph is right at the minimum rpm in 5th so you better be going downhill or on a real nice level smooth road.

 

I find myself shifting between 2000 and 2500 on flat ground. The car doesn't shudder or wheeze and as I stated previously this is on flat road, typically 2 lane back road with a speed limit of 45 without any/little traffic around. So nothing to accelerate to avoid, if anything its stopping quickly to not hit deer. Even more typical situation is coasting through the housing development where the speed limit is 35. As for fuel economy I don't know if I trust the car's numbers (only have 90 miles on the car) but its 38 mpg and climbing with each commute. On the interstate or going down on ramps I understand needing more available torque, but these situations don't need it.

Thanks for the replies.

 

It all depends on the amount of acceleration desired.
I am often in 5th at 35 MPH taking my 8 year old to school. But I am just cruising not accelerating and on level ground. (and sometimes I go from 2nd or 3rd straight to 5th gear.....which is similar to what the auto tranny would do)
On a freeway on ramp I might rev to 4000 or higher.
It seems to me 'drive by wire' and the ECU won't really let you lug the engine anyway.
In thinking about it, I never go by MPH shift points, it is always by the amount of acceleration needed, going up hills etc. These engines dont make much power at lower RPM, but with so much of driving you dont need to accelerate rapidly anyway (so I am shifting at 2200-2800 RPM).

So to bottom line it, I just rev it to whatever is needed to get the job done.

 

I shift between 3500-4000. The Fit is too damn slow to deal with NJ traffic if I shift between 2 and 3000

 

I usually shift close to around 3k RPM, though sometimes if I'm feeling speedy it'll be closer to 4-5k. If I'm feeling a little more conservative and would like to take my time (and save on a little more gas) it'll probably be 2.5-3k. Anything lower is WAY too slow and is probably making the car work harder than it should, and anything higher is more or less the same, at least that's how I feel

 

Drive it by feel & use the fuel consumption gauge.

 

Using the fuel gauge, it's actually beneficial to be in 5th gear around 40mph. I do this all the time on roads around here and get GREAT gas mileage for city driving.

Obviously if I need to pick up speed though, shifting to 4th is better.

 

i keep my rev's in the 2500-3500rpm area. 2000 and below it's just boggin' the engine.

 

I've owned several MT cars and i also find the 09 Fit's gear ratio a bit strange. My last car was a 92 civic hatchback and the gearing was TOTALLY different to the 09 fit. I asked my dealership about it and the car is simply geared differently. It's perfectly normal to shift this car at higher rpm and you're most likely not used to it. i know that it took a bit of getting used to in my case. I'm used to my cars cruising at around 2-2500. the fit is built to rev much higher. the fit cruises at around 3200 in 5th at 65 mph. I think you'll find it strange for a bit but let the high rpm shifting grow on you and VVVRRRROOOOOOOIVTECHMMM!! It's more fun

 

shifting at that low rpm is fine if the engine doesn't lug. I also have the car in 5th gear on city streets at 35 mph if it's level ground.