Don't go by mph ratings. If you don't have a tach, go by sound (which you should be doing anyway.) Listen to when the engine begins to strain (around 3500 rpm on) and then shift. You always know if you shift too early because the engine bogs down and makes a lot of low end sound. Some people are naturally inclined to shift out of gears too early. My girlfriend does this in her A4 and it drives me nuts so I do most of the driving. I also knew a girl who never used first gear. From a stop or a red light she would accelerate away in second. That drove me nuts too. So don't shift too early. Let the car wind up a bit, it likes too plus you use more horsepower.
As shifting becomes second nature, you will only go by sound. I rarely look at my tachometer. Have fun.
As shifting becomes second nature, you will only go by sound. I rarely look at my tachometer. Have fun.
