When to shift

[justjesus]

you have to experiment to find what works best for you, your location, etc.

Myself, in So Cal, I shift 1st to 2nd at about 3k, and 2500 for the rest of them. I'm getting 41 mpg (cruise freeway at 60mph when it's clear, 65 when moderate traffic) and it doesn't feel slow shifting at that range.

[matti]

I shift at about 2,000 rpm for all shifts. Where I live, I rarely have the need to accelerate in any meaningful way. My last tank was 45.2mpg, with approximately 60% highway, 40% city.

[vaironl]

I shift first at about 2.7k but I can't figure out why the car seems to be needing more power... I'm confused and don't know if I'm letting the clutch out too quickly or if I'm shifting too slowly. I guess time will tell.

[CrankyOldMan]

Originally Posted by vaironl

I shift first at about 2.7k but I can't figure out why the car seems to be needing more power... I'm confused and don't know if I'm letting the clutch out too quickly or if I'm shifting too slowly. I guess time will tell.

That has more to do with the power curve of the engine. The 1NZ doesn't have much oomph below 2k, but gets a nice torque bump around 4k. The only way to hit the power band in second gear is to wind it up to 5.5k in first and shift fast--otherwise the engine will feel like it's bogging down when you mash the pedal.

Tooter was kind enough to document multiple pulls when he was installing his custom intake. Horsepower is the one that's almost a straight line up and to the right, torque is the other one.

[07liftback]

I don't have a tach on my liftback but I shift really early. You want to shift late enough that you're not lugging the motor but you'd like to shift early enough that you're not just high revving the motor. This will also be heavily dependent on the level of incline or decline.