I've never had the opportunity to drive a 6-speed yet, and I have a question for you all. When and where do you use 6th gear? I normally put my 5-speed into 5th gear around 60mph or so (unless I'm doggin' it and I'll hit 5th at about 80mph) and was wondering how a 6-speed transmissions faired?

Thanks for the insight.

 

6th gear is your "gas milage gear"

If you use it below 55 miles an hour you will most likely bog the engine, so its really only recommended at highway speeds.

 

I use it all the time when I am on the freeway.

Then again, when I am on the freeway I am doing 95-100 mph.

Other than that it is not used!

I LOVE THIS FREAKIN CAR!

 

well actually, besides different hp for different cars 5th=6th for 5speeds and 6. now obviously if you look at most 6 speed cars youll see its geared differently, but thats only because few have the guts of a Z. but if the Z was 6 or 5 gears, the top gear would be identical.

all the extra gear does is allow for a closer gearing, which makes the engine stay in a tighter RPM window.

I quite often skip a shift, often 3rd ar 5th. if you hit 4000RPMs in 2nd, you can go straight to 4th since the gearing is all so close, and if Im looking to get onto a highway, Ill do it in 4th, then shift directly to 6th.

 

You can run fine in 6th only going like 47ish+

did i mention i need gas money?

 

I shift into sixth at speeds above 40 during normal driving. Well, maybe above 45, but still fairly low. Mind you, that's when I'm in my "granny" driving mode. The car still feels like it's got enough to pull if I need to, I've never thought that it was bogging.

It's funny that on hills which I take in 3rd on my Accord, I can easily take in 6th in the Z. While I'm in 6th, I can still out accelerate the same Accord in 3rd.

I don't think this all helps my gas mileage much.

 

I drove from the Seattle area to Eugene, Oregon on Saturday and came back Wednesday (~300 mi each way) for a conference.

With two adults weighting ~390 between us and maybe 60lb of luggage I averaged 24.8 there and back. That includes the driving around Eugene and dropping off my boss (the passenger).

We averaged 80 on I5 (I drove), getting up to 105 a couple of times when there was a large gap (no other vehicles were ahead for at least a mile, and 1/4 mi behind). Mind the gap!

The car handled and ran great though I had a minor accident while I was there and have a bit of a ding and scrape on my passenger door. It goes in next week for repair.

It's funny but I'm contemplating asking for a discount because I want a orange peel paint job on the door...

Anyway, I found the best mileage to be between 2500-2700 or so.

 

I think the best speed for 6th is 90mph+, cuz when cruising under 80mph with 6th, you are actually burning the gear/clutch. My friends new M3's brand new clutch was burned away in less than 2 monthes is because he always uses 6th when he hits the free way, to save gas. BMW dealer suggest "only" to use 6th when 90mph+, to save the gear/clutch, instead of gas. Actually, driving at a consistant speed of 70 on 5th saves most gas. But thats for the new M3 tho, for the close ratio of the new Z...I may be wrong. Feel free to correct me

 

The Owner's Manual states that for best gas mileage you should shift into 6th gear at 33mph! I have done this, and the engine does not bog down at that speed while driving on level roads. You can accelerate away slowly in 6th from 33 without any problem. Very good bottom end for a V6.

 

I fail to see how driving in 6th burns the clutch unless it were slipping.... which it shouldnt be... I use 6th when I know I dont have to go anywhere fast, try to keep revs over 1500 wherever that is, or 2000 if Im in the city and probably have to accelerate.

6th gear is 5th gear, so to say its a highspeed gear is untrue. look at the automatic vs manual, you will see the 6th gear on manual is very close to the 5th gear overdrive.

 

IMO, I always try to keep the RPMS below 2k and above 1.5k.

I use 6th gear alot when im going at least 40mph. This car likes to stay above 2k rpm.

Please note I stay constant in high gear, and there's never a need to accelerate when im at the 40-45mph speed limit.

The car runs smooth and quiet when I cruise 6th gear at 40mph. RPMs stay well above 1.5k.