Bash

I change at between 6,900 and 7,000 revs......but then my car has done 41,000 miles. If I had an STi I would change up at 8,000. I had TonyB as a passenger at Donnington and his car is the same mileage as yours I believe(99MY) and he commented on the free revvingness(!) of my engine.

Best regards
Benny
97MY

 

Excuse my ignorance, but I thought that the '99 gave max power at 5600 revs. Is there a need to take it higher?

Thanks,
Sonu...

 

Well said Sonu. Most unmodified UK cars seems to have peak power around 5,600 to 6,000. Modified ones tend to be a bit higher - around 6,300. So as you say there's little point going much above this. In fact at low'ish speeds, fastest acceleration will be achieved by changing earlier than 6,000 to keep in the high torque band around 3,500 to 4,000rpm.

 

Sonu- you are right!

The power band between peak torque and peak power on the scooby is from 4000 rpm (torque) and 5600 rpm (power), the idea is that you stay within this power band (maybe upto 6000rpm is acceptable) but after this peak power the power curve will flatten out until eventually you feel like you're slowing down!

To go fastest always stay in the power band, you will then find the engine on boost at all times, and hugely responsive, all of a sudden you're a superstar!

 

Boring!!

All the way is far more fun!

You guys are right to say what you have if you intend to stay at the high revs but when going from 1st to 2nd and 3rd you have to go all the way for the sound!!

p.s. Mine's a company car

[This message has been edited by Benny Boy (edited 25-03-99).]

 

Benny Boy,
you are very lucky to have a Scooby as a company car . Are you allowed to modify it?

Thanks,
Sonu(would never thrash his Scooby too much )

 

Benny boy, you're right aboutthesound effects of course, but would you be as quick as someone who does it 'the right way' round a track?

 

Yes, peak power is at 5600rpm, at least on paper for a UK-spec car. However, when you change up you are also changing the gear ratio, which effects the amount of power/torque going to the wheels. Because of this you probably get better performance by going past the peak power point to the redline before changing up.

 

I'm with MarkL on this one. The change in gear ratio has far more impact on acceleration than where you are on the power curve - especially when going uphill. Mind you, I find the sound argument more convincing!!

 

I found my 98MY very reluctant at high revs just after the running in period. I nearly stopped bothering, I was so disappointed there was no top end rush like on my old 205GTi. Gobsmacked at the mid-range push, but it should getter even better at the top.

I've now done 10K miles, and it is feeling a lot looser. Quite happy to take it all the way now. Even bounced it off the rev limiter a few times (naughty, naughty - but you get there so quick!). Heres hoping it will still loosen up some more!

 

OK, so I am right on paper, but in the real world I also find it better to go for about 6000rpm (mainly because it gets there so quickly), and yes the gear ratio argument is correct also, but is designed so that when you go up from a gear @ 6000rpm it is then slotted in at the bottom of the power band (but still in it), which is why you don't feel the lag in a full pelt straight line acceleration in any gear other than first!

Obviously this changes when you are up and down the box through corners, where it is best to stay in the power band so that when you pull out of the corner your throttle response is instant!

[This message has been edited by iaindean (edited 26-03-99).]

 

Prior to my Scooby Sport downpipe my 22B ran out of puff at arround 6200.
Infact this was so pronounced that I even wondered if my rev limmiter was set artificialy low.

Now it pulls all the way to the red line and it is difficult to change gear quickly enough;-)

I hope the next Power Engineering day post SUL ECU reset confirms the gains that are apparent when driving the car!

 

On a track it is all about power and torque does not play such an important role.

If you can exit a corner in 3rd @ maximum torque (approx.3100 rpm depending), then you should be in 2nd caning the nuts out of it ready for a change.

Benny

 

A slight diversion but in connection with the previous reply.

If any of you guys have Gran Turismo, just try using a car with manual and then auto gears.
With automatic gears often on certain uphill staights leading to a bend, the car will change up to say 3rd gear then get bogged down, while using manual gears and staying in 2nd means the car stays on the boil and the corner can be taken much faster and you exit at a higher speed even though you are in 2nd and not in 3rd as with automatic gears.

I wouldn't recommend any GT style moves with you road going Scooby,though!!

 

Hi Bash,

Put a Scoobysport Back box and Ramair filter in and the breathlessness will go away. When I fitted them to my 96MY it felt like a new car.