I recently bought a new car with a 1.3L engine and am very disappointed in it. I have enquired about a new Corolla because of the 1.8L engine. I have had one before. The salesman replied by email to my questions and said that it now has a 6 speed gear box. I asked how one is supposed to drive a car like that. He replied that it is designed for fuel economy and the lower the revs the better. Well, I know that!!

I only drive around town and seldom cruise so I do not often use the 5th gear I have. I only want more power so that I do not have to change down gears dramatically after I have had to slow a bit. Trying to zoom into a gap in the traffic is tragic unless I change down one or 2 gears, which is ridiculous. The 1.3L is scarily slow to get moving again once the clutch is out and I cannot get used to it.

I don't like automatics because they do not respond instantly.

So, when do you use a 6th gear? Which gears would I not bother to use? When would I change gear? Could anyone who has one of these machines advise me, please? Many thanks in advance.

 

P.S. I have been driving since before a lot of you were born and also hold a medium rigid licence. (I rarely use the 6 gears on heavier vehicles, though it depends on load and conditions.) So, you might just have to use old fashioned vocabulary.

Edited March 4, 201015 yr by Catherine

6th gear is for freeway use just drive it as a 4 speed,slot down to 3rd for over taking,not sure how its geared but you can grab 5th around 80ks..most of all listen to the engine it will tell ya when you need to change..

ps...that dont mean rev the sh!t out of it till there nothing left than change,but you new that...

I am no spring chicken and have been driving for a number of years now. I hold a MC license and have driven trucks with 18 road ranger and 18 and 16 syncro gearboxes and 6 speed auto HR. In town the only time you get to the top gear is on the main highways if ya lucky and it also depends on load size and weight. I drive a 5 speed manual V8 and in town I only use 5th once I have reached 80 ks/hr or around the 2000 rpm mark. I have driven a lot of cars over the years as I use to work in the car detailing industry. Recently I drove a 1L for a guy, this car also has only 3 cylinders and not power what so ever. I found I had to change down frequently even when cornering. Personally not my sort of car.

 

As corka as already mentioned. Listen to the motor it will tell you when to change. If you have a taco you can watch that and it will guide you.

Edited March 5, 201015 yr by RIPbudgies

ps...that dont mean rev the sh!t out of it till there nothing left than change,but you new that...

 

 

Thank you, corka and RIP. So it is still the same as my father taught me, then: drive with your ears.