[jimmijim8]

My wife has just recently purchased a new 2006 Mustang V6, 5 speed pony package car. Ford really hit the nail on the head with this one. It is a fine car and is the first Ford we have ever owned other than a van. My question is. When driving from point A to B, I sometimes skip some of the gears as I feel that it is just not necessary to use them all to arrive at cruising speed. She is convinced by others that I am causing undue abuse to the drive train. I am not lugging the engine at any time. And no I am not starting out in 2 nd gear. This engine has plenty of torque. What say you people on this. Thank for your input. This is my first post. jimmijim

[2horseowner]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the Pony. That's a nice package. I have a GT and I do the same thing. I often skip third and go directly to fourth. Sometimes I even start in second gear. Like you mentioned - there is plenty of torque. As long as you're not slipping the clutch excessively it souldn't hurt it. BUT - if it's HER car I would recommend driving it to her criteria for the sake of family harmony

[Blade10]

Around town I usually shift 1-3-5, rarely using 2nd or 4th. Just no need to. Like above, I feel if you arent slipping the clutch or lugging the engine, it shouldnt hurt anything. (Granted its not an 06, I drive a 90, but the idea should be the same.)

Blade

[Torch_Vert]

I don't believe you'll hurt anything in the long term. During the break-in period, I'd probably shift normally in order to limit stress on componens as much as possible.

[Kamicosmos]

I do lots of 2-4 shifts around town. I'll have to try the 1-3-5 sometime.

[tsaints1115]

I short shift all the time. The 4.0 is a nice little motor,if your shift does`nt drop it below 1100-1200 rpm she`ll grunt along with no effort.

[Steve_Stang]

I couldnt agree with you all more.
I have had some friends notice me skipping gears and they almost always comment. They dont drive stanard and couldnt realize that you could do this.

I like the 1-3-5 as well, the 1-2-3-5 and the 1-2-4-5 depending on which gear I decide to take to high RPM's

Cheers,

[wnewport]

I have had trouble since day one with going from 2d to 4th or 5th. Sometime 3rd to 5th. It just won't go in or grinds. (This of course is at full throttle.) Dealer claims they took it apart and can't find anything. Snychronizers should prevent this.

As for shifting early, I can start in 2nd (but rarely do.) On level ground I can be in 5th at 35mph with no lugging. Skipping gears won't hurt anything as long as you don't load the engine down at too low an rpm.

[vantage]

If I'm really tired I'll do 1-2-4 or just 2-4 if its like 4am. One time I was just curious so I started in 4th from a standstill, and it's actually possibly, that's pretty cool.

[lovcom]

I don't understand why anyone would skip gears...it seems to me this would waste gas...

[Meph]

Actually at low cruising speeds 4th gear is more efficient than 3rd gear. 3rd better than 2nd, because 1 n 2 eat up gas the worst. Lower RPM's.

However efficiency aside the Mustang is not designed to be driven by grandma.

[lovcom]

Meth, you're making the mistake of thinking that low rpm's mean less gas consumed. This is not necessarily the case. Given certain driving circumstances, one could be wasting MORE gas in a higher gear, then if they had used a lower gear.

Actually, one WILL waste gas and get bad MPG if one shifts too early, bogging the motor, compensating with more accelerator travel, and even as the rpms are low, don't be deceived....you are burning more gas then if you had just shifted normal.