ten0rman wrote:Actually, one day I did an experiment: at 60mph in 6th, change into 5th. All ok, now change into 4th. Still ok, so now change into 3rd. Still ok, but somewhat noisy. I can't remember what the theoretical max speed in 3rd is, but it's well in excess of 60mph
Beginners' stuff. About 20 years ago, my wife and I hired a brand new Renault Clio in Spain. Being a Renault, it had a faulty gearchange - the return spring on the gearstick wasn't there, so there was always a bit of doubt as to which gear you were about to enter.
Sooooooo, coming down the motorway from Malaga, I slipped it down from 5th to 4th at (ahem, about 110 kph, officer), and found myself in second gear instead. It was screaming like a banshee, and the engine braking effect was really quite impressive.
Swift change of plan/gear ensued.
The following day, I took a wrong turning near Seville and ended up on a single-track quarry road, where my sump hit a rock in the middle of the road so hard that it knocked the car right out of gear and stopped the engine dead. And there we were, lost in the middle of a mountain range with about an hour of daylight left. It was with some trepidation that I turned the key and engaged first gear. All good. The hire company got its car back with no visible damage. Phew. Tougher than it looked. But would I buy an ex-hire Renault?
BJ