I was driving into work today and it got me thinking...am i driving my car as it should be driven?

Depending on conditions, if i am just commuting to and from work i tend to take it nice and easy and generally change up through the gears at about 25k revs. Also trying to stay in 5th for most of the journey. (to help mpg of course ;))

Sometimes though i do tend to get a little over zealous, say when overtaking a milk float or the like, i tend to drop into 4th or 3rd, press the loud pedal and hit about 5k revs before calming down again.

Outside of commuting conditions i will be a little more enthusiastic with the throttle, changing up from 3-4k revs in most instances.

What i am trying to ask (in a long winded way) is, is this how everyone tends to drive around? Am i "thrashing" the coop around too much? Or perhaps maybe i am more conservative than most?

Just curious

I would say that's definately on the conservative side. I change up much later than 2.5k! and if I'm in traffic at 20, 25, 30 i'm usually in and out of second and third gear. If i'm feeling a bit chilled i *might* bob along in 4th or 5th. If I fancy a sprited drive (and I can do this easily on my everyday route) I change up at about 6.5k revs all the way up to 4th. After that it depends.

I only get abhout 280 miles to a tank of fuel though

If I'm driving normally/commuting then usually change gear at around 3000rpm. If I'm having fun then I won't be changing gear until after 7000rpm. I haven't got this car to be driving conservatively.

But would there be a difference if you were driving my 16v rather than your 20vt?

I don't think i would consider revving to 6.5k!!

From what do you describe you are very conservative! When just driving to a destination i'm quite a relaxed driver, just using full power and 6.5k revs or so whenever the situation is there. I love the acceleration through the revs in 1st, 2nd and 3rd

But when going out for a fun drive it gets a good thrashing usually! I've experienced the limit of the car quite a few times, sliding over 4 wheels is quite fun I've also had it over 250km/h on the speedo loads of times (don't do that as much anymore lately though).

I don't see the point of owning a quick car when you don't use it's full potential every now and then (especially when it costs this much to maintain :D)

I used to rev my 16VT over 6k. Although the standard turbo does seem to fade away much past this.

I pootle to work using very low revs and not a lot of the loud peddle...until friday afternoon when it gets to stretch its legs on the way home :-)

...fortunately I only reach the twisties just as its warmed up nicely!

(and you've got to test the limiter once in a while haven't u!?)

Mines not a turbo either.

I understand it is a revvy engine but wasn't sure what was classed as ragging the out of it or driving to it's potential?

The last car i had went bang in a big way and i was driving that at about 4k revs in 4th gear. (wasn't a coop)

The limiter is there for a reason. Because thats the safe limit.

I have hit the limiter a few times (most likeley to happen in second when you're busy elsewhere - like staying ahead on the road.)but I don't like it. I don't like the way it just kills everything" in my imagination it must be a big shock to things like belts. So i usually keep an eye on the rev counter nowadays, changing at about 6.5 k (which I believe is peak power anyway)

Mmmm…. I drive sedately until the engine is up to 80 degrees. After that I’m a hooligan!

Just joking, once it’s warmed up I guess I change around the 3k rpm mark generally. Getting onto the Motorway on-ramp twice a day I floor it to 5,750 to 6,000 rpm which is great when you leave some nasty Daewoo Matiz in your rear view mirror! Motorway cruising is 6th gear at 78mph indicated, 74mph actual, just under the 3,000 rpm mark.

Around the narrow windy stuff I like lots of 2nd and 3rd gear with blatant disregard for our diminishing global oil petroleum reserves.

Oh and I love 3rd gear overtaking manoeuvres on straights, to really blast the cobwebs out of the exhaustpipe.

I get 330-340 miles out of a tank before the fuel light comes on, meaning there is approx 8 litres left in the tank.

Having a degree in Economics, I can categorically state that it’s a false economy to drive a Fiat Coupé sedately, as the marginal monetary saving made in burning less fuel during the course of the drive is significantly outweighed by the loss in excitement and sense of occasion. Or in layman’s terms, driving sedately on a 20 min drive would save you 25p in fuel, but you would have happily paid 40p for the experience and excitement of a 20 min spirited drive in the 1st instance. You lost 40p’s worth of fun to save 25p.

Mmmm…Economics was always a bit of a conundrum to me!

Nail on head Eldhino! Once she's properly warmed up, I like nothing better than pulling to 6.5k in changes between 1-2-3. Obviously if roads are clear and it's safe to do so.

Then there are track days if I want to drive on the raggedy edge of both my and my cars limits

Ok sounds like i am being maybe a bit too cautious.

As far as i am aware though, if an engine has been used "conservatively" through the majority of it's life wouldn't it be a bit of a shock to suddenly unleash it's potential?

I know that engines will tend to mold themselves to how they are driven early on? Or is this all pie in the sky drivel?

Remember to warm it up properly before you thrash it.

I reckon the oil takes 3 or 4 times as long to reach operating temp as the water.

I hate the word thrash. That implies that the car struggles when pushed, which it doesn't, it enjoys to be driven

Uh, you do know that at 6,500rpm in 3rd gear, you'll be doing close to 100mph on a public road

I don't think i will attempt to "thrash" it but maybe drive it a bit more as it was intended to.

Not in a 16v it wouldn't be, but then i don't think i have any intention of taking it that far up the rev range. Maybe 5.5k at a push but only on open roads and to the conditions.

Correct you are kj83 for a 16v, but Hovedan has a 20vt so it would be up in the 90mph - 100mph range!

I think the original quote is aimed at HoveDan, I know he drives a modified 20vt, perfectly capable of hitting 100 in 3rd gear.

I know, I've done it in my standard coop (at 7k rpm though)... on a private road of course

Yep, mainly on the Newbury autobahn bypass, and hence my caveat too. I do slow down after that acceleration rush.

Fair cop

Shock horror!!!! Do you need counselling?

Go join a stamp club if it bothers you that much, god i hate it when people point out the obvious, its someone else's decision not yours.

really dont get the whole trying to increase mpg thing.

Surely if you want high mpg you get a car designed to do it?

Why buy a high performance sports car, modify to produce higher performance then worry about mpg

Not saying it should be driven like its been stolen but come on, surely the whole point of having a performance car is to enjoy the performance?

Ha, ha, but no I don't need councelling, but I've obviously hit a nerve with you! Hovedan didn't take umbridge with my comment and it wasn't aimed directly at you, so why take a temper tantrum?

Take a deep breath Davie and count back from 5-4-3-2-1. Sit down, have a cuppa tea and don't take things so seriously, seriously! I'm having a cup of tea now and sorting out my stamp collection as I type

I haven't had the car long so still trying to get a feel for it and still trying to find it's limitations.

It is my daily drive so seeing what i can get out of it (mpg wise) was one of my aims just in case i needed to use it that way at some point.

I am all for using the performance of a car as it was made for but i am also sitting on th cautious side of the fence as well (due to past experiences) so was trying to garner information from forum dwellers as to how they run their coops.

Believe me this is not a "what's the max mpg i can get from my coop" thread or it would have been titled so.

My stamp collection needs attention too Daithi... I'll go put the kettle on.
Maybe ring my counsellor??

I really don't thrash my Coupe. Not normally.
When the time comes to overtake, the power is really handy and I think this is where a turbo'd car really shines.
I do drive with more comfort and mildly quicker since refitting standard springs, made a world or difference on the roads where I live, rolls more now perhaps but I'm not going to track the car now, she's my GT.

Hey Karl, didn't know you too were a philatist!!

So the springs made a huge difference eh? I'm still crashing about on the roads on my eibachs! I think I've lost two teeth already this week.

BTW, I got out the sander and the primer and the spray can and gave the wheel arches a going over at the weekend! Not the most professional of jobs but good enough for the next year or so before I finally save up and get the whole body resprayed.

Well, after nearly fifteen years with a 16v, I expect I'm probably the authority on its fuel efficiency?

In town, expect mid-twenties.
On the road - constant motorway particularly - expect mid-thirties.
Mixed commuting - I do fifteen minutes on the motorway and thirty minutes through north-west London - at around 30-31.

Just fill it up at 360 miles whether it needs it or not!

More often than not I drive mine around 2.5-3k. My favourite thing to do when the car's up to temp is sit around 35mph in 3rd and then drop it into 2nd and plant my foot. The sudden surge of torque and the instant head wallop into the back of the seat makes me grin ear to ear. I do this till about end of 3rd then back off normally. Rev wise, what 6.5k...lol!

She does get some abuse bless her but not always!

Not that you'd think it, looking at me (sweet innocent soul that I am), but I long since perfected the art of changing up *just* before the rev cut off on the 16v.

Doesn't seem worth it on the 20vt, though; there's not much left right at the top.