Originally Posted by DRW (Post 120704)

Since you have a manual trans, use about 3/4 throttle and shift as early as you can without lugging the engine. If you're accellerating too quick using this method, shift earlier. If you need to accellerate quicker, shift a few hundred rpm higher.

Skipping gears isn't great for FE because you have to rev the engine a little higher in the low gears, which is a double hit to FE since you're spending more time in a lower gear, and you're reving the engine higher than optimal.

In my car I try to shift around 1500 rpm. This gives me plenty of accelleration for normal driving conditions, and I don't hold up anyone behind me. Accellerating and shifting this way feels odd at first, but you'll get used to it.