Could someone tell me the optimum rpm to change gear in a 1.2 SX...I was on a long drive on Saturday, dualcarriage for most of it..when I wanted to overtake I was aware of the gear and the rpm I was in ...cruising at about 60mph I would drop back to third and bring the revs up to 5000 overtake and then slip it in to fourth. I know that the 1.2 is a bit asthmatic hence the high revs...am I doing it wrong??

No, I change gear at around 5.5k in each gear bar 1st as I have a knackered 2nd gear syncro.
I find if you change then it drops you straight back int othe power band of the next gear

1st -2nd 4k
2nd - 3rd 4.5k
3rd - 4th bout 5k
and 4th -5th about 70mph -75, not sure on the revs this one.

Find the peak power figure (usually 5500-5750ish) and change gear at peak power revs.

Thanks for the info guys.....are those kinds of revs bad for the engine or is it ok once you dont redline it?

Unless you hit the rev limiter its perfectly fine. The rev limiter is usually about 500RPM over 'red line'. There is no danger in revving to or slightly above 'red line', but its pointless as the power drops off very quickly at those revs.

1st gear

My take is that you have to watch yourself in 1st gear when it comes to redline, the revs go up that quick that if your not concentrating you can redline it very easily.

once in 2nd you feel the power drop off before the redline and without concentration you can feel its time to change gear

Re: 1st gear

i have no problem with paying attention, it all comes as second nature now to me.

i find that as Dan said (posted anon) you have to give the 1.2 some stick but it drops straight into the next useable powerband and keep on motoring

Andy_sx

Re: 1st gear

Ideally the gearing will drop you from peak power to peak torque for the best acceleration.