Beach_BumS2k

This is my first post. I just got an '03 S2k about a month ago, with about 50,000 miles. Love it to death.

Just wondering though, when you all are just casually driving around town in your S2k's, what RPM do you shift at? I usually change gears between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM, occasionally 3,000 or more. Sometimes I'll even skip gears, this thing is geared so close.

Before I had the S2k, I had a 2003 Mustang GT, and then a 2004 Dodge SRT-4 Neon. So as you can imagine, the first time I took the S2k out on the interstate, I was scared to death. I was used to the 5 speeds in my old cars... my SRT-4 would turn about 2,500 RPM at 70 mph, and the Mustang would barely turn 2,100 at 70. But a look down at the dash showed my S2k turning 4,000 RPM at 70 in 6th gear?! But then I realized this was completely normal. In my old cars, 4000 rpm was nearly 3/4 of the way up the tach.


Oh and another quick question, while I'm here... kinda off topic but...
the OEM hardtops for S2000's, how exactly do they go on? Do you just retract the soft top and then put the hardtop on the car?

darkfx

regular driving i shift around 4k

soozookabluS2k

around town i usually shift around 3500-4000 rpm. I dont think you should skip gears either, not good fo ryour tranny

stooken

I shift at about 2,800-3000 RPM. If I'm the first car at the stop light then close to 3,500RPM.

As far as the hardtop, I'm not too sure but there's any installation kit.

Beach_BumS2k

well, for example, if I'm in 2nd, I won't just put the shifter in the 4th gear gate if I want to skip 3rd... I'll push the clutch in, put the shifter in the 3rd gear gate, then while still holding the clutch in, pull the shifter down into 4th gear.... which doesn't hurt the tranny at all. I'm still technically rowing through every gear, just not engaging them. It makes for alot less clutching in city driving sometimes... especially for how close the gear ratios are in this car.

soozookabluS2k

^^OOO gotcha thats cool. First gear feels very long to me then 2 and 3rd r very short

WyattH

I shift around 3000rpm also. My damn T1R 70r is too loud but my 4.57s rev up too quickly. Shafted twice.

Yah, the OEM hardtop just sits on some catchers when the softtop is down.

stooken

That's okay to do? Sometimes I want to skip a gear like you as well but I wasn't sure if I should or not. So I'd shift to 3rd, clutch it back in and shift to 4th again.

Beach_BumS2k

Yep, it's perfectly fine. The only thing you'll really hurt if you went from say 2nd gear directly to 4th, is the synchros. But just hold the clutch down, put the shifter in the 3rd gear gate without releasing the clutch, and then release it when you pull it down into 4th. This doesn't hurt the car at all... and actually puts less wear and tear on the clutch if you do alot of city driving.

xviper

Depending upon what you do right after the shift, you may be getting dangerously close to lugging the engine. I'm not sure what you are trying save or accomplish by short shifting this dramatically, but in the long run, nearly lugging the engine all the time, could come back and bite you in the ass. Don't compare this engine with those that have big torque down low and a redline where the S engine begins VTEC.
Be careful how you skip shift. I see by your later description that you're doing it OK, but most people don't skip shift right and blow their syncros in not time at all.