Mazda speed 6 2007 Manual page 148

Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
WARNING
Do not use sudden engine braking on
slippery road surfaces or at high
speeds:
Shifting down while driving on wet,
snowy, or frozen roads, or while
driving at high speeds causes sudden
engine braking, which is dangerous.
The sudden change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. This could lead
to loss of vehicle control and an
accident.
Be sure to leave the shift lever in 1 or
R position and set the parking brake
when leaving the vehicle unattended:
Otherwise the vehicle could move and
cause an accident.
CAUTION
Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
l
except when shifting gears. Also,
don't use the clutch to hold the
vehicle on an upgrade. Riding the
clutch will cause needless clutch
wear and damage.
Make sure the vehicle comes to a
l
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is still
moving may damage the transaxle.
NOTE
If shifting to R is difficult, shift back
into neutral, release the clutch pedal,
and try again.
5-10
qRecommendations for Shifting
Upshifting
For normal acceleration, we recommend
these shift points.
Gear
1 to 2 30 km/h (19 mph)
2 to 3 47 km/h (29 mph)
3 to 4 59 km/h (37 mph)
4 to 5 68 km/h (42 mph)
5 to 6 90 km/h (50 mph)
For cruising
Gear
1 to 2 18 km/h (11 mph)
2 to 3 40 km/h (25 mph)
3 to 4 51 km/h (32 mph)
4 to 5 64 km/h (40 mph)
5 to 6 78 km/h (49 mph)
Downshifting
When you must slow down in heavy
traffic or on a steep upgrade, downshift
before the engine starts to overwork. This
reduces the chance of stalling and gives
better acceleration when you need more
speed.
On a steep downgrade, downshifting
helps maintain safe speed and prolongs
brake life.
Vehicle speed
Vehicle speed