GT Newbie has a question.....

X-L-R-8 · Dec 28, 2004

Hey guys.......I'm new here! BTW, love the site........Anyhow, I have a question. I'm a the owner of an '02 GT. I've only had it for 3 months now and I guess I'm not really used to driving it. This is the first "sports" car that I've ever owned. Before this, it was 4-banger Nissans and so forth, So......YEAH!!! BIG DIFFERENCE!!!!!!! Anyhow, I was driving mine today and I decided to get on it a little bit. I hardly get on it THAT hard. (What's the use, right?) As I pulled out onto the street, I had it in 1st and I let off of the clutch and eased on the gas. When I hit about 2000 rpms, I floored it. But when I did that, it felt like it kinda stalled a little bit then it absolutely kicked in. Is that normal? I tried it a couple more times (and of course I got it sideways) but it didn't do it any more. Like I said, I'm new to this kind of vehicle and driving this car is a new kind of experience for me. Also, when I got on it, I think I let it rev too high because I felt it kinda stall before I changed gears. Is that what they call the "rev-limiter"? Someone told me that the engines in these cars are VERY tough and run extremely well at high rpms. Is this true? I rarely run the car like that. Any input on how I can maximize my driving experience without "ragging" my sweetheart to death? Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!

Zinc03GT · Dec 28, 2004

Launching at 2000 rpms will cause a "bogging" feel. Search for opinions on launch rpms. You should shift around 5500 rpms in my opinion. Haven't gone to the track to justify that with numbers, just from feel. Also, make sure traction control is off. That green light is death for a nice launch.

flashstang04 · Dec 28, 2004

make sure the car is warnmed up before you floor it, otherwise it could bog it down, and no, bouncing off of the rev limiter is not recommended, if you floor it, shift before you get to the redline!!

Blown2002GT · Dec 28, 2004

make sure that traction control is off it will feel wierd if you break the tires free due to the traction control a little light on the dash will flash to let you knwo that trac control has kicked in.

hotmustang331 · Dec 28, 2004

Yea like the others said. Just for your info, when the tach goes into the red area it is not good for the motor and according to ford it can damage it...basically a possability of damaging it, and its defeating your purpose anyways because after around 4800-5000 RPMS your car starts loosing HP and after 5500 the ponies just dropp off.If you notice, the car seems to quit pulling after 5500 and will just slow you down...wish I would have known this the last time I went to the track. I shifted at 5800+ and even though I could feel the power leave, I kept shifting there just because I was new to the car and thought the higher the better. On the last run I somehow hit the limiter right before I shifted to 3rd, funny though I was between 5900-6000 when it hit, not the published 6250RPMs.Wish these motors were like the LS1s, my friends 02 SS has a custom tune (was actually tuned on 87 octain LOL, but now he has switched to 93 but hasnt went back for the retune) and the guy extended the limiter to 6500 and it pulls hard all the way there without letting up.

highoctane46 · Dec 28, 2004

My HP stays pretty level all the way to 6250, with torque dropping off about 5800, The biggest danger is(so I have been told) breaking valve spings on the 4.6 2V. My rev imiter kicks in at 6200-6400 ,it is different each time. Supposedley you should replace the (stock)valve springs if they see over 5800 twice, don't remember where I read this but could find it again if anyone wants to read it. I guess mine should have been replaced 50 or so times now, ha ha.

Darkhorse845 · Dec 28, 2004

Welcome to the boards.

triggz · Dec 28, 2004

bouncing off the rev limiter (which is at 6050) in a stock gt isn't gonna hurt anything as anyone who's missed a gear or manually shifted their auto well knows.

the feeling you got while launching was most definitely the trac control kicking in. it retards the timing heavily to reduce power output so you can regain traction.. youll have to turn it off every time you start the car if you wanna play. there are tuners and devices you can buy to permenantly disable it though.

as for when you shifted, you probably tapped the rev limiter, which again is at 6,050 rpm stock. it cuts the fuel and you get the feeling of all the power being sucked out of the motor. being at that rpm is more harmful than actually hitting the rev limiter.. so no sweat.

if you wanna maximize your driving experience, start modding
look through the stuff people show in their signatures for ideas of what you'd like to put on your car.

and yes, these motors are very tough. tough enough for big trucks, cop cars and muscle cars anyway.

BlackenedSVT · Dec 29, 2004

The others had good advice, i think you just need to get used to it. I have an 02 GT that i've had for 3 months too, so nice buy!

But remember if you want to get on it:

TRACTION CONTROL OFF!!

xseler8 · Dec 31, 2004

XLR8...welcome to the world of 02 GT's..good luck with it...XSELER8

mob · Dec 31, 2004

What year did ford put the traction control in?

FalconGuy016 · Dec 31, 2004

If you let out the clutch and throw a lot of gas in at low RPMs it will seem to "bog" and need to catch up. In this case, you are sort of lugging the engine for a second by letting the clutch out too far without enough gas (IE gas is pressed a split second too late). You can remedy this by higher RPMs with clutch in and having a higher amount of gas in while letting out the clutch. Its all situational though, there are no real benchmarks for everything

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