Driving Your Mazda; Starting and Driving; Recommendations for Shifting- Page 99

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Driving Your Mazda

Starting and Driving

Form No. 8R65-EA-03C

▼

Recommendations for Shifting

Upshifting

For normal acceleration, we recommend 
these shift points.

For cruising

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.

Sudden Engine-Braking:
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. Do not use sudden 
engine braking on slippery road 
surfaces or at high speeds.

•

Keep your foot off the clutch pedal 
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 
complete stop before shifting to R.
Shifting to R while the vehicle is 
still moving may damage the 
transmission.

NOTE

If shifting to R is difficult, shift back 
into neutral, release the clutch pedal, 
and try again.

WARNING

CAUTION

1 to 2

23 km/h (14 mph)

2 to 3

35 km/h (22 mph)

3 to 4

47 km/h (29 mph)

4 to 5

58 km/h (36 mph)

5 to 6

74 km/h (46 mph)

1 to 2

23 km/h (14 mph)

2 to 3

34 km/h (21 mph)

3 to 4

45 km/h (28 mph)

4 to 5

56 km/h (35 mph)

5 to 6

68 km/h (42 mph)

J60E_8R65-EA-03C_Edition6.book  Page 9  Wednesday, December 10, 2003  4:24 PM

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