For laid back cruising, and to provide passengers with a smooth ride, not to mention better gas mileage I've been starting in 2nd gear. Will this harm anything in the long run?

Thanks.

I've started from 2nd gear in heavy snow conditions when I want to take power from the wheels on takeoff. I don't think that it causes any problems, but when there's not snow on the roads, i start from 1st. I have a little over 8,000 miles on my car now.

It's not going to hurt it if you're slowly easing into it.

I usually start in 1st then go to 3rd when cruising. When I shift like that the annoying SKIPSHIFT doesn't normally kick in.

Originally posted by dapper24@Mar 10 2005, 09:07 AM
For laid back cruising, and to provide passengers with a smooth ride, not to mention better gas mileage I've been starting in 2nd gear. Will this harm anything in the long run?

Thanks.
I have noticed on mine that for normal crusing it is ok. But if you are doing any high speed starts I have to start in first. I started in second on a take off and she hestiated and then peged the rev limiter. The thing I didn't like was that she wasn't moving all that fast. :unsure: Tires hooked up but slugish start. I think that I might have needed to start off with higher rpms.

Yeah I noticed the same thing Fastgoat. In order to be pinned in the seat in 2nd, you've got to be already on it in first. ;)

Thanks for the feedback!

Originally posted by 04GOATGERM@Mar 10 2005, 01:14 PM
Yeah I noticed the same thing Fastgoat. In order to be pinned in the seat in 2nd, you've got to be already on it in first. ;)
The thing I didn't like was that it was slow and normaly you can wind it out to about 80 in second. That time it happened I wasn't too happy with it. :frankie: Now I get on her in first B) I love the way she can chirp in 1,2,3 :woot: I havn't seen too many cars that can.

It wears on your clutch a bit more, but nothing drastic. When starting in second your going to get lower acceleration because it has less torque multiplacation in 2nd then it does 1st.