When I'm cruising I'll keep the RPMS between 1500 and 2000. Anything below 1500 starts to bog. If I need to accelerate I'll downshift as required. The engine has a decent displacement, so it can handle the low RPM's pretty easily.

Also, bogging the engine will definitely depend on both RPM and throttle position. The lighter you use the throttle, the lower in the RPM range you can cruise without bogging. If you're heavy on the throttle, you'll want to stay higher in the RPM range.

Either way, it's best to drive in the manner that you feel most comfortable.

-D'oh!

 

Wait, there is no 7th gear.

Yah, I think Frere's point is not to jump on the gas in a high gear at low rpms and also to stay away from very high rpms. My division was a little off last night and the mid-point range is actually 2,200 to 4,400 rpm.

Torque maxs out at 4,800 rpm, as I recall. Shifting around that point makes sense, if you are trying to accelerate. The "car guys" on NPR say that repeating full throttle acceleration is the fastest way to wear out an engine, I assume because of high rpm operation with high inertia forces when you floor it.

Of course, you have to get to mid range rpms somehow and operating at high rpms is sometimes desirable. However, you can see why so much money and time go into building engines for racing - they're always operating at high rpms and racers replace their built engines frequently. Look at what the professional racers and engine builders on this site are doing to the Z's in order to race them - drive train and suspensions. A stock Z isn't designed for continual racing. What are its limits and how much will it take? Certainly it is designed for the occassional excursions of spirited driving. But, if you drive it like a racer, without investing in the mods to support that, I think you'll find the limits.