Driving/Shifting Technique for turbo cars (MS3 specifically)

[RPI-Speed3]

My new MS3 is my first boosted vehicle. Since I've been driving it I am trying to learn the proper way to drive/shift for maximum performance keeping the car under boost. I know the boost comes on around 2700rpm and stays high until around 5700rpm. I've run into situations where I'm waiting to pass someone and I tend to hover around 3700rpm in 3rd. Sometimes when I do that, then I floor it, the boost doesn't really kick in. I guess I'm looking for some seasoned veterans who have been driving boosted cars for awhile to chime in on shifting technique to maximize boost and power under passing, maneuvering situations.

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

Your probly not gonna feel it as strong as when it comes on lower in the rpms. The turbo is already mostly spooled at that range and is more smooth, just as fast just doesn't fell like it.

 

[RevLimitLaunch]

well to aid to this thread, ill first add that mazda engineers recommend for a quarter mile run to "pop" the clutch at 2900 and shift at 6000 after that. but thru much experience of driving turbo cars (all dsm's) and the ms3 if you slip the clutch at 3k youll get the best possible launch with minimal wheel slipage off the line if you do it right. i wish i could run at the track but up here (nh) our track isn't open til april. now to answer the question as to the turbo lag it seems your describing, downshift and floor it lol.

 

[shark77]

Roll into the throttle, or you can brake boost. The idea is to fully spool the turbo and take advantage of the power curve under boost. If you are rolling around at 3000rpm's and punch the throttle, the turbo will spool later into the RPM band, thus narrowing your power curve. The lower the gear, the harder it is to get the turbo to spool ideally, because RPM's will obviously run up quicker, thus not allowing for a full spool across the rev range.

Keep the engine under load, by shifting to a higher gear. It will create some lag, but you will get the hand of god effect because boost will build in the lower RPMs.

 

[RevLimitLaunch]

ahhhh the illustrious brake boosting....you have no idea how many times someone thinks they can win from a roll because of turbo lag from a car. brake boosting to racing is like picasso to art...errr maybe not but its the best thing you can do lol.

btw---and i don't think shifting into a higher gear will get him to feel any faster passing cars, being in a lower gear will give you less rpm's to go thru but that uh kind of is the point when it comes to going fast. you can sit at 3k in 4th and wait to get to redline or you could do the sensible thing and downshift to 3rd, get to the top of the gear, go to 4th and get to the top of the gear, this way being much faster.

 

[RPI-Speed3]

Thanks for the input all. This may all be in my head, but I will admit this is all my "feel" of the car. It could be the car is accelerating just as fast but it just doesn't feel fast to me. I just want to make sure I'm maximizing the available power, regardless of how it feels to me. Question being, would it be better for me to hover around 3700rpm then punch it, or upshift to 4th (which would put me around 2600rpm) then punch it?

What is brake boosting?

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

Brake boosting is a wonderful way to burn through brake pads quick in a jiffy, you race from a roll and get on the gas and then brake enough to maintain the desired speed, so when you release the brake your already spooled, but the turbo in this car is so small I don't really see the point. And again, it will feel faster say going to 4th and taking off at 2600 cause you feel to whole power come on when the turbo spools, I still think being in the right gear and higher in the rpms would be better though.

 

[msp35]

Or if @ a roll, simply press the clutch a little to create slippage, floor it and your off. Of course this surely is not good on the clutch. But then again brake boosting is horrible on the brakes. I guess its up to you what you wanna wear out faster.

 

[turbofever]

I don't know about you, but I would rather replace brake pads over a clutch.

 

[RevLimitLaunch]

boost

^^^i second that. but also like it was said before brake boosting these cars won't have too much of an effect on much. now brake boosting on my old tsi with a 20g turbo...that made a huge difference. and as long as your not constantly doing it, brake pads will wear out at a slightly shorter normal rate. not bad.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

Didn't Madza Recommened Power shift for max performance? (when done right)

 

[JOMO]

Ahh, break boosting was my best friend. But I was running a 50 trim on 18psi.

And I wouldn't recomend powershifting. Not good for the synchros.

You just really have to learn your car. I would just try to ease into the gas. But Im not too familiar hands on with smaller turbo's.

 

[matsuda]

My new MS3 is my first boosted vehicle. Since I've been driving it I am trying to learn the proper way to drive/shift for maximum performance keeping the car under boost. I know the boost comes on around 2700rpm and stays high until around 5700rpm. I've run into situations where I'm waiting to pass someone and I tend to hover around 3700rpm in 3rd. Sometimes when I do that, then I floor it, the boost doesn't really kick in. I guess I'm looking for some seasoned veterans who have been driving boosted cars for awhile to chime in on shifting technique to maximize boost and power under passing, maneuvering situations.

Not getting full boost in 3rd gear, especially in passing or roll-on situations, is a known issue with the MS3.

 

[zoom-zoomhatch]

I had a friend that had a GT40R(I belive) on a RSX-S and when he brake boosted and let off it was outragous.

 

[JOMO]

Not getting full boost in 3rd gear, especially in passing or roll-on situations, is a known issue with the MS3.

That sucks. Is there more of a reason for that. Is it boost limited, or just a flaw recently found.

 

[RPI-Speed3]

Not getting full boost in 3rd gear, especially in passing or roll-on situations, is a known issue with the MS3.

Ahh, now I definitely want more information on this one. I knew there was something fishy going on. 4th gear is very meaty, 1st and 2nd are all wheelspin.

 

[JOMO]

Ahh, now I definitely want more information on this one. I knew there was something fishy going on. 4th gear is very meaty, 1st and 2nd are all wheelspin.

x2. Want to hear more on this also.
Yeah, 3rd gear is always the like "Im gunna kick your ass gear".

 

[RevLimitLaunch]

i'd like more info on this too. haven't heard much about it at all, nor do i have a problem with it...so far lol. but its always good to know.

 

[matsuda]

There is a big discussion about this matter on another site. A lot of people are having the same experience.

The MS3 ECU seems to be somewhat schizophrenic. If you accelerate hard starting in 1st then you will usually get full boost (15~16 PSI) in 3rd. On the other hand, if you are cruising in 3rd gear (for example ~2500 RPM's) and punch it, you will probably get only 10~12 PSI max., even after the RPM's go up.

Aftermarket tuning (Xede, Cobb, etc.) may be the only solution.

 

[RPI-Speed3]

well crap, that really stinks. I wonder if Mazda did the same thing with the MS3 that they did with the RX8. The RX8 has seperate fuel maps depending on what gear you are in. I think there is one for 1st-3rd, one for 4th and 5th, and one for 6th. Makes it a real biatch to tune with an eManage or other piggyback. If I optimize 1st through 3rd, then my 5th gear and 6th just suck.

Me thinks mes goings to gets a Coob Accessport in the Spring.