sluggish over 75MPH

[Rondor]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Thanks Dot, it is fun to learn about our cars. It is most definitely nice to get information on them and not get laughed at because you may not know every liitle tid bit or detail.
I too am curious to know next what sluggish is after 75MPH.
There is not a lot of gearing to this car, it is a street cruiser not a quarter mile monster. I found it to be decently responsive when driving at highway speeds, "passing gear" kicks in just about the same as my Town Car's did. My 03 will jump from 65-68MPH to 102MPH when I stomp into "passing gear". I love the smile Kim gets on her face when it sets her back in the seat-Cheshire Cat Grin. A trip to a diagnostic computer may be in order to tell if your car is sick, or an over/under estimation of performance is going on.
2nd Mate Banar

Right-ON

[BITWTB]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I'm only 55, but I'm somewhat sluggish.

Only over 65 does one begin to feel (slightly) sluggish.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I have select shift...and do not know how to use it...out of fear, I've never even tried. Yep, I'm embarrassed....

Don't be.

It's mostly worthless anyway.

About the only thing I ever use it for is a those really rare hilly situations where a lower gear might offer some relief for the brakes in a really long down-grade situation where excessive "riding" of the brakes would otherwise be required.

The T-Bird is no racer anyway, I think we all acknowledge that, and most all of us cruise these cars rather than beat on 'em with hard acceleration runs from a standing start.

But even so.....

From a standing start your car will find the right gears and shift 'em at the right point on it's own for the fastest possible "0-" run. Any attempt to do better manually with the select shift will challenge any driver to avoid the rev limiter. Shifting too soon or hitting the limiter just once, between shifts, all but guarantees the driver just blew it in the effort to do better than the transmission can do on it's own.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Don't be.

It's mostly worthless anyway.

About the only thing I ever use it for is a those really rare hilly situations where a lower gear might offer some relief for the brakes in a really long down-grade situation where excessive "riding" of the brakes would otherwise be required.

The T-Bird is no racer anyway, I think we all acknowledge that, and most all of us cruise these cars rather than beat on 'em with hard acceleration runs from a standing start.

But even so.....

From a standing start your car will find the right gears and shift 'em at the right point on it's own for the fastest possible "0-" run. Any attempt to do better manually with the select shift will challenge any driver to avoid the rev limiter. Shifting too soon or hitting the limiter just once, between shifts, all but guarantees the driver just blew it in the effort to do better than the transmission can do on it's own.

After 50 years of driving stick shifts aggressively, almost exclusively, and sometimes in competition, my experience with my Bird supports Steve's comments 100%. After a period of trying to duplicate the manual experience with the selector, I now only use it in long downhill grades. It's counterproductive at stoplights.

[HKS]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Dot,

The transmission was the same for all 4 years but the gear ratios changed in 03-05 along with higher horsepower (280HP).

Let me know if I am right here.

HKS

Basically you've got it. The transmission was the same for all 4 years, just a different shifter (SS) was available from 03 to 05, and the basic h pattern was stock/standard.

The 03s had the "E" problem and apparently cured during 03 but the 04s and a few early 05s needed an additive to make them shift correctly. Most 05s that I know of have been problem free.

[jerrym3]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

With all due respect, I use it frequently on both cars.

I use it a lot on gear downs, or when I want to stay in a slightly lower gear for better acceleration without having to nail it to force a downshift.

True, from a standing start, it's not much of an advantage, but I don't do too many full throttle standing starts anymore without a reason.

I was a clutch person all my driving life until I realized that my wife was never going to drive a standard shift-period.

Last standard shift car-1985 TurboCoupe.

[HKS]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

I drove a sluggish VW Bus for 30 years. My left knee is worn out from shifting.

I only use the 2002 transmission when I need to downshift in the mountains. Flipping it from 5 to 4 is all that is needed most of the time.

No more stick shifts for me. But I still know how, when I test drive another car for some reason.

HKS

With all due respect, I use it frequently on both cars.
I use it a lot on gear downs, or when I want to stay in a slightly lower gear for better acceleration without having to nail it to force a downshift.
True, from a standing start, it's not much of an advantage, but I don't do too many full throttle standing starts anymore without a reason.
I was a clutch person all my driving life until I realized that my wife was never going to drive a standard shift-period.
Last standard shift car-1985 TurboCoupe.

[Rondor]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Automatics have been faster in 1/4 mile racing for over 40 years in in all but the top fuel classes

[Fordguy]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Automatics have been faster in 1/4 mile racing for over 40 years in in all but the top fuel classes

But what fun is that???

[Rdlagray]

Re: sluggish over 75MPH

Well I sold my Harley, so the SS is a lot of fun on the hilly mountain roads of Va. If you don't get smooth with it it probably isn't much fun.