[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]
I think this musta been an "old wife" that told you that one.

 

Actually, it's not only the gas that has me worried. The most important thing is that I HATE making jerky shifts when I drive. I refuse to get an automatic transmission, so I learned how to drive without jerking the car around on a manual. I was thinking that it was kind of an added bonus if I could save gas in the process. This harks back to the days when I drove my Geo Prizm and wanted to get very good gas mileage out of it as best I could.

Although I admit that I will partake in spirited driving here and there, I don't feel the need to VTEC every time I get in the car. I absolutely love this car and I love driving it. However, I've never been one to abuse or punish a car, and I think downshifting into too low of a gear is really unnecessary. I hate getting jerked around and I'm sure any passenger in my car wouldn't like it, either. Granted, I did not know how to rev match properly but I have had a couple of PMs (thanks guys!) regarding the proper way to do it. HOWEVER it does seem counterintuitive to me to spin the engine up high enough so that I can downshift into a lower gear.

Also, just because I bought a $32k car doesn't mean I want to be a gas waster. If I go to a restaurant and order an expensive cut of meat, I'll finish it or bring the rest home. Sure, if I can afford a $40 plate of food, why the heck would I worry about saving them as leftovers? It just seems absolutely wrong to me to waste something even if I'm not wanting for it.

 

Minako

I happen to agree with you. The ability to spend a sum of money and the desire not to waste are not mutually exclusive, nor should they be. I think most everyone, or at least most everyone with common sense would agree. That, however, is not the point that dlq04 was trying to make.

His point, I believe, was that if you are able to buy a car like the S2000 which is aimed at performance and spirited driving, your intention shouldn't be to save gas but rather to use it the way it was intended to be used. He just didn't say it that way.

I agree with his point too. I bought the car to enjoy, and to use the way I think a sportscar should be used. I love downshifting. To me that is the "art" of driving a manual transmission. If I end up consuming a bit more gas than I have to, so be it. It is my enjoyment, and I don't consider that a waste.

This is an interesting discussion, and you are both right.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ralper
[B]
His point, I believe, was that if you are able to buy a car like the S2000 which is aimed at performance and spirited driving, your intention shouldn't be to save gas but rather to use it the way it was intended to be used.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by minako
[B]

Actually, it's not only the gas that has me worried. The most important thing is that I HATE making jerky shifts when I drive.

 

dlq04...thanks for the advice

I am certainly going to be trying this out over the weekend in a nice, deserted parking lot. These kinds of logical and mature responses are what make me appreciate s2ki.

And you are absolutely right about ralper... he is one of my favorite people on this board because he always manages to be diplomatic and patient.

 

To add a little bit more the detriments of "lugging" the engine, here's my little input. Lugging the engines causes violent "snatching" of the cam chains and also can cause tiny cracks to develop in the main bearing surfaces due to the violent pulses transmitted through the con-rods. Over time, and after repeated lugging, the engine will deteriorate quickly. In my opinion, shifting into 2nd gear at 18MPH would be the wise thing to do.