DrJerryrigger wrote:Geetings,
So I haven't been driving stick for long, but first learned to drive on one, so I've been frustrated by the lack of control for many years now. So;
The car '04 matrix, 1zz-fe and a w59 (1.8l straight four and a 5speed).
Mostly I just drive to work, and back 7 miles each way. Two stop signs, two lights one two right hand turns and one left....and the opposite on the way back (what's the opposite of a light?) It's mostly 30 & 35 zones and a little bit of 25 when I'm almost there (FYI I drive 5 over like everyone else.... I mean my speedometer is off, in MA it can 9mph off legally). I also drive a mile or so to get lunch, often more "city driving" at that time of day. I end up driving on the interstate and some 45-55 mph highways a little on weekends.
So how I drive; I shift at about 2800rpm and try to give the throttle 80% (so I'm getting up to speed rather quickly) then it put it fifth. So I usually don't hit fourth at all. In 25 zones I often go from second to fifth. The thing that confuses me is; fifth feels right for maintaining 30 on flat ground, where is the gear for 40 or 50?
I'm a bit late to this party, and realize the conversation has diverged a bit, but I'd like to go back to the OP...
As someone who has owned a few 4-cylinder, 5-speed toyotas, I can say that 2800 RPM for a shift point isn't that unreasonable at all (most of the Toyota 4 bangers I've had the pleasure of owning run a bit high on the RPMs), but I am a bit surprised you're not struggling for power in 5th gear at 30mph...? I would think at that speed, I'd be using 3rd gear for acceleration, 4th gear for cruising.