you can change from 6th to any gear, such as 2nd, without going through all the gears. its called a block change, your instructor should have taught you that. so if you see heavy traffic ahead you just change diretly into the gear that suits your speed when you change, if you slow quickly then block change down the gears.

which gear you use depends on your speed, the road conditions and the incline. you cant say "'as soon as i get on the motorway" because that motorway may be up a big hill, have traffic doing 5mph, etc etc.

i know you're new to driving but gear selection really is common sense. you select the gear that is appropriate for the speed and conditions. if you're going down a motorway at 70mph then 6th is the correct gear in almost all situations.

 

Wow! Great first car!

Just use whatever gear "feels" right at the time. There is no hard and fast rule for being in a certain gear at a certain time. The engine shouldn't be labouring - i.e. struggling along at low revs and nor should it be screaming it's head off like you are in a Grand Prix - unless you are really wanting to get a move on of course!

I would suggest as a guide keeping it around 3000rpm while you get used to the car. This gives you the most flexibility if you need to accelerate out of the way or if you need to suddenly slow down you won't suddenly be at the point of stalling.

The advice to get in sixth will be to save fuel but for the time being I would aim for getting used to the car, it's performance and it's gearbox!

 

Agree completely! Ricks knows best!

Apologies, 2nd post in 30 mins, but am happy to have found this forum and have some questions !

Cheers

If you are apologising for 2 posts in 30 mins then a few of our members certainly have a lot to answer for. :lol:

 

OMG I sound like a complete idiot!
I do know how to 'block' change but I was taught in Switzerland and they seem to prefer the steady slow up and moving through all the gears 90% of the time. Now when I need to break suddenly I just do this quickly! (wrong? dangerous?)

(first car was a 20 year-old volvo estate, so I've earnt this one!)

Hope you don't think I'm not using the car properly, was just curious if 6th was for higher speeds. I do use it but have hesitated about using 6th as it has stuck on the 5 > 6 change, which has feaked me out and I prefer to do all my 'trying out' and getting ot know the care on clear, empty roads, not busy motorways....!

 

Now when I need to break suddenly I just do this quickly! (wrong? dangerous?)

realistically you cant change through 6th 5th 4th 3th 2nd & 1st quickly enough, especially in an emergency, so it is not a good idea. i was told i would fail my test if i did not block change when it was appropriate because it is dangerous if you dont lbock change, so i did it on my test, and passed.

 

My current car is the first one I've had with six gears and it does feel a bit odd at first. If you don't like going from 6 to 5, try going 6 to 4. It can feel more definite if that makes sense.

 

i drive a 5speed and a 6speed car on a daily basis, once you get used to it you dont even notice the difference, but i do find myself trying to select 6th in cars that dont have a 6th gear

 

same here - it gets particularly tricky when reverse in the 5sp car is located in the same place as 6th in the 6sp car - luckily I've managed to avoid going from 5th into reverse so far.

 

block change?
i didnt even know it had a name! did this loads of times during my test, as as soon as i was out of traffic there was a lot of stop/starting when getting up to speed but getting caught by the lights!

 

my 2.5 v6 alfa has a bit of torque.. i can move from 20 mph in 5th gear, 30mph from 6th

the car will pull away from 1k revs regardless of gear you are in as long as you are rolling of course

I rarely go over 4k revs even to fend off them peski puxo's

 

the car can do it without stalling, but that doesn't mean its a good idea to labour the engine. selecting a more appropriate gear is better because it saves petrol and gives you greater control. at 1k rpm you're almost idling in gear!

 

my point being, you dont have to worry so much about changing gear when slowing for traffic

 

thats true, i leave it in top gear until i'm almost stationary before changing down to 2nd.

 

I normally change into 6th gear around 40mph, but the A-roads are always quiet when I leave for work at 5am !

 

Don't worry about changing down - get a feel for the self centre of the gearstick - it will usually centre over 3rd and 4th so when changing down from 6th push forward while maintaining a bit of pressure on the (for a right hand drive) left side of the gear stick. To jump from 6th to 4th whilst braking just push down from 6th and let it self centre over the 3/4 position and pull it down to fourth.

Jug is right about labouring the engine but if you are cruising at 50mph you will be fine in 6th if you are light on the throttle.

Enjoy the 6 speed, ,it is at it's best when accelerating hard up through gears!

 

Welcome to the forum, no need to apologise for two posts.

The V6 is a great engine, and shouldn't complain about being put in 6th from about 30mph upwards.

As for the motorway admittedly I have the 3.2 but you will probably have little need to change down if you are looking well ahead, the V6 has the torque to pick up speed fine in 6th when cruising at motorway speeds. Though it sounds better if you drop it to 3rd and floor it