Turbo S shift points

[mira4]

Bought a 04 Turbo S but no factory data on RPM/ shift points or best cruise information for this 6 speed. Anyone know about this?
mira4

[Billsbug]

Do what I do, shift at redline!

Most people shift and cruise at around 3000-4000rpm, so use that as a guideline.

BTW, do u have the OEM in-dash CD stereo or is it cassette??

[mira4]

No. Previous owner spent about $7000.00 for total Alpine,
IVA D300 with CD, DVD, 12 CD remote, GPS, Blue tooth Cell set up
and hugh woofer under spare tire. Try figuring out all that. No CD to program GPS tho. I heard they cost about $500 bucks.

Thanks for response.

[Billsbug]

I'm looking for a 2004.5 Turbo S inidash cd Monsoon HU. Do u think he still has it? I have $$$ to spend!

BTW, post up a photo thread of ur S under Photos: New Beetles.

[VW Lady Bug]

Lady performs best in the higher gears, so I shift her up as soon as I'm approaching 2500 rpms.

I take back roads to work at between 40-50 mph, and usually am in 4th or 5th gear. now, with all the stop signs, it's a lot of shifting, but it makes it all the more fun!

for highway driving - get it up into 6th ASAP! (and don't let you clutch foot fall asleep when you have to downshift on the exit ramp )

[Billsbug]

The difference in the 5 and 6 speed tranny gearing is amazing. My 2nd gear redlines at 65 mph, 3rd gear redlines at 102 mph, so I don't use 4th til I'm at at least 80 mph, 5th is for 90+ cruising on the highway only.

[mira4]

Appreciate all the threads. I just refilled my tank for first time. 28MPG. Manual says ok to run 6th gear at low RPM. So I have been running mostly town trips in 5th and 6th, around 2000RPM. I miss a lot of 3rd and 4th shifts. 2004 1.8 turbo 21000 miles. What do you think?:

[dnyed]

My car would bog if I had it in 6th at 40. She never gets into 6th until 60.

I shift at 3,000, or more if passing.

[Billsbug]

I really don't understand your fixation with the low rpm's, is it to save a few $ on gas? The lower u run the rpm's, when u need to accelerate, the faster u'll burn up the crappy OEM clutch.

[noR]

Not really Bill. As long as the clutch isn't slipping already, accelerating from low rpms shouldn't make it slip.


I'd shift at 4K when passing, 3K for daily driving.

And for top acceleration I believe you want to shift at about 5, 5.25K for all but 1st gear, 1st you'd run up to redline.

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by Billsbug

I really don't understand your fixation with the low rpm's, is it to save a few $ on gas? The lower u run the rpm's, when u need to accelerate, the faster u'll burn up the crappy OEM clutch.

Don't forget that the TS has a bigger, beefier clutch from the factory--I wouldn't call it crappy.

[Billsbug]

Mine went out at 16K.

[turbos03]

mine's still going strong at 59,000...

[Billsbug]

Originally Posted by turbos03

mine's still going strong at 59,000...

That's cuz, according to my service advisor, VW 'fixed the clutch issue' on the '03 S, I had an '02.

[Turbo_S_DJ]

When I'm around town.....I get into 6th on occasion....but mainly only on the highway....

[LadybugEwa]

Originally Posted by VW Lady Bug

Lady performs best in the higher gears

I find that strange The low gears are where the torque's at - at least in my 5spd...
Can the 6spd be THAT different? Or maybe our ideas of performance are different
Could you clarify? This has been bugging me

[Turbo_S_DJ]

The Six Speed is very close ratio......but the engine has alot of power, so even if I'm cruising in 6th and need to pass.....I push down the pedal and it just goes! The get up and go is just amazing.....5th & 6th are considered final drives.....but they don't feel like it when you need to get going

[vdubbugman53]

Originally Posted by noR

And for top acceleration I believe you want to shift at about 5, 5.25K for all but 1st gear, 1st you'd run up to redline.

shift at red line in all gears for fastest acceleration, that way when you shift your more in the meat of your power.

but to be on topic i shift at 4k or so for DD

[VW Lady Bug]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I find that strange The low gears are where the torque's at - at least in my 5spd...
Can the 6spd be THAT different? Or maybe our ideas of performance are different
Could you clarify? This has been bugging me

i have more pick up shifting in the lower gears, but struggle to maintain a cruising speed (hilly area with lots of curves and 25 mph zones). once i get her up into 4th she smooths out and coasts - and i don't feel like i have her stuck "in between" while trying to keep under the speed limit (we have an insane amount of speed traps in our 25 mph zones - i have 4 tickets for going 30 in 25s!)

my perception may be swayed because of the type of driving i do... i prefer coasting and highway to the local traffic.

[Motown Philly]

I remembered reading this a while ago, but if you want to optimize your shifts points, I think this guy has done the math.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3580757

Later...