Engine Drivetrain 2nd Gen S Most liked posts in thread: I've Been Doing This Lately....

"Lugging" the engine is when you grab it by the manifold and carry or "lug" it around

 

FOR ME IT IS 1..2..4..6

 

Thanks for the reply MM!
I'm just really careful and have a couple of non-negotiable rules:
1. Teenagers don't learn to drive shift on my MINI.
2. Teenagers don't drive my MINI even if they learned to drive shift elsewhere, hoping to get to drive my MINI.
3. Teenagers can get a job and buy their own MINI.

I knew about higher gear meaning better gas mileage.
I didn't know that I could skip over a gear.
Except, I don't use first if the car is already rolling in neutral.

What is "lugging" the engine? :confused5:

 

I only occasionally skip gears. Just habit to got through in order.
As far as lugging, if you shift in too high a gear too soon. Hard to explain the exact feeling but basically the engine will feel very week, not good and not fun.

 

I often skip gears while toddling around town. Our cars have torque, I say why not use it.

Years ago I read an interview with Prost & he explained how he often skipped gears. I figured if it was good enough for the world champion it was good enough for me. :smile5:

 

Yup, that's how I maintain high average gas mileage. If the traffic and road conditions are right it's 1,2,5, short on the 1 just to get it rolling.

 

1, 2, 4, 6 here when getting on the freeway.

 

I'm going to give this a try, but I think I might need all of mine. I'll report back later.

Jim

 

I have to shift my other car 1-2-4 in the morning because the third gear synchro is too worn to work when the transmission's cold. :biggrin5:

It's harder to short shift the R53 because it sounds so good when you get on - off - on boost.

 

Yep. Same here.

 

I thought you had to go 1-2-3-4-5-6!
This saves on gas?
It doesn't hurt the transmission?

Love this forum.
Thanks to all posters.
I have learned so much about my car that I would never have known otherwise.

 

In stop and start I just use 2, maybe 3. But 5 almost never gets used for me.

So count me in the 1,2,3,4,6 crowd most of the time.

 

I used to use the 1.3.5 pattern all the time in my '03 since 1st was so tall in that car....

 

Thanks.
I have a feel for this, just don't know how to put it into words.
It's one of those things that you really feel in the pit of your stomach if you do it wrong! :blush2:

 

Thanks!

 

OK, gave this a try and found that it worked great while going down hill. Otherwise I need all my gears and glad to have them.

Jim

 

I thought so.
My husband says that I really know how to put the "lug" in luggage...

 

When exiting the interstate I do that going down, 6-4-2.