What is the maximum speed...

[Noahbilly]

a car could go at in 2nd gear? The car in quewstion is a 1.4 A class merc its just to help solve an argument. Not caring about any damage that might be caused to the car.

not sure if this is the right part of the form to post this in sorry if its not.

Edited by Noahbilly on Wednesday 14th May 17:32

Edited by Noahbilly on Wednesday 14th May 17:34

[selwonk]

Which car...

[jaf01uk]

Should tell you in the specification part of the handbook what the max speed in each gear is, failing that phone mercedes?
Gary

[robwales]

Or just try it?

If you don't want to red-line it, find out how much difference in speed 1000rpm gives you and work it out from that.
So if 1000rpm increase gave you 10mph increase, and it does 30mph@3000rpm and the red line is 6000rpm, the max speed is 30 + (3 * 10) = 60mph.

[waremark]

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

[anonymous-user]

At a guess, about 50-55ish, my old 1.4 Metro would do approximately that in 2nd

[Hooli]

floor it in 2nd, when it hits the limiter then you'll know. of course you could change down to 2nd at higher speeds but expect to be picking pistons off the road if your fast enough.

[Skyrat]

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

My 1.8T will do 70mph easily in 2nd before hitting the redline, and it's not exactly spectacular.

[spoonoff]

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

After much asking my mate let me have a go in his Z4 3.0si. On motorway, 6th gear, and he says 'Drop it into 4th'. Not used to a six speed, put it in 2nd. Not a good idea at 80.
It didn't like it. Never told him that the engine warning light came on for a mo...

I'm sure it's fine.

[p1esk]

Skyrat said:

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

My 1.8T will do 70mph easily in 2nd before hitting the redline, and it's not exactly spectacular.

Quite so. Decidedly feeble, in fact.

IIRC the Jaguar D type would do 85 mph in 1st gear when fitted with the final drive ratio used for the Le Mans 24 hour race. I don't suppose it would like doing hill starts on steep gradients though.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[spoonoff]

p1esk said:

Skyrat said:

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

My 1.8T will do 70mph easily in 2nd before hitting the redline, and it's not exactly spectacular.

Quite so. Decidedly feeble, in fact.

IIRC the Jaguar D type would do 85 mph in 1st gear when fitted with the final drive ratio used for the Le Mans 24 hour race. I don't suppose it would like doing hill starts on steep gradients though.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I believe it only had 3 gears though.

[p1esk]

spoonoff said:

p1esk said:

Skyrat said:

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

My 1.8T will do 70mph easily in 2nd before hitting the redline, and it's not exactly spectacular.

Quite so. Decidedly feeble, in fact.

IIRC the Jaguar D type would do 85 mph in 1st gear when fitted with the final drive ratio used for the Le Mans 24 hour race. I don't suppose it would like doing hill starts on steep gradients though.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I believe it only had 3 gears though.

Not to my knowledge. I'm almost certain it was a four speed gearbox. In fact I'm not aware of any Jaguar ever having a three speed gearbox.

Three speed gearboxes were very rare as far as I know, but I do recall them being fitted on the Ford Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac range - both Mark 1 and Mark 2 - of the 1950s.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[WhoseGeneration]

p1esk said:

Not to my knowledge. I'm almost certain it was a four speed gearbox. In fact I'm not aware of any Jaguar ever having a three speed gearbox.

Three speed gearboxes were very rare as far as I know, but I do recall them being fitted on the Ford Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac range - both Mark 1 and Mark 2 - of the 1950s.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

Oh dear oh dear, memories, a Ford 103E, bought as transport, for a fiver or so, whilst my MK11 Spitfire was away for "attention".
3 speed, then abandoned in a country lane when a rod came through the block, on the way to a party.
Back then not appreciating that the breather filter needed regular cleaning, or you lost the engine oil.
The fun of youth.
No rev limiters then, too easy today.

[tigger1]

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

60mph?? In 2nd - "higher performance"??

You are joking right? Plenty of cars will max out at nearer 100 than 50 in 2nd.

[chris_w666]

Focus ST170 would read 75 in 2nd and almost 100 in 3rd if you held on.

[sjmmarsh]

I have an A160 diesel. It hits around 50mph in 2nd, but I haven't buzzed it that far as the diesel doesn't like to use the top end of the revs.

If you aren't worried about the damage to the engine, you could always take it up to Vmax (about 100mph) and then put it straight into 2nd. It will do 100mph for a VERY short while before the engine goes bang, siezes and then brings you sliding to a halt. I don't reccomend this approach.....

Steve

[waremark]

From a recent thread on Advanced Driving UK:

"In the GT3, 2nd at 8,000 rpm is around 70mph."

Some of you guys drive surprisingly high geared cars. But this is really nothing to argue about.

My new M3 has a series of change-up lights; at about 1,800 miles, I have not seen more than one of them yet.

[vonhosen]

waremark said:

My new M3 has a series of change-up lights; at about 1,800 miles, I have not seen more than one of them yet.

You're not trying.

[OllieBirmingham]

vonhosen said:

waremark said:

My new M3 has a series of change-up lights; at about 1,800 miles, I have not seen more than one of them yet.

You're not trying.

Agreed, you need to try much harder....

At college a guy a had a 1.2 Nova saloon which I saw an indicated 75mph on the clock in 2nd. There was a noticeable amount of valve bounce though, it has to be said.

[Skodaku]

p1esk said:

spoonoff said:

p1esk said:

Skyrat said:

waremark said:

And at a guess something like 50 mph - higher performance cars would do 60 mph. Unlikely that you could damage it by accelerating up to a speed, most cars have rev limiters to cut the power before they damage themselves. However, you could break it by changing down at too high a speed.

My 1.8T will do 70mph easily in 2nd before hitting the redline, and it's not exactly spectacular.

Quite so. Decidedly feeble, in fact.

IIRC the Jaguar D type would do 85 mph in 1st gear when fitted with the final drive ratio used for the Le Mans 24 hour race. I don't suppose it would like doing hill starts on steep gradients though.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I believe it only had 3 gears though.

Not to my knowledge. I'm almost certain it was a four speed gearbox. In fact I'm not aware of any Jaguar ever having a three speed gearbox.

Three speed gearboxes were very rare as far as I know, but I do recall them being fitted on the Ford Consul/Zephyr/Zodiac range - both Mark 1 and Mark 2 - of the 1950s.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

3-spd 'boxes were also fitted to early-mid 50's Vauxhalls; Wyvern, Velox, Cresta and possibly to other marques also. Used to own a 1956 Velox; 2262cc straight 6 with a 3-spd column change and bench front seat. Black painted body and carnation pink & white interior. Bit a a girl magnet in its day. First gear was for towing houses and pulling tree stumps. Those were the days, Gromit lad.