2021 95 ps fiesta titanium manual gearbox.

Driving at 30 mph the car seems best suited to 3rd gear @ 2000rpm.

all other cars I’ve owned would be in 4th gear.

if I put the fiesta into 4th it’s feels like it’s labouring the engine.

anyone else experienced this I wonder.

 

3rd gear for me.

3 minutes ago, jsk said:

3rd gear for me.

And me.

3rd at that speed no matter what the stupid shift light is saying.

Ford tend to use taller gearing, it's the same in my Mondeo 30mph is be on 3rd gear but you compare that to works Merc Sprinter you're been in 4th.

The actual gear number is a mute point, it's best to be in a gear that offers the flexibility for the desired speed without too high an engine speed.

So 3rd gear at 30mph 👍

Thanks everyone for the replies.

keep em coming!!

 

Mines got an auto box but at 30 mph it's usually around 2000 rpm.

4th with the very lightest of throttle inputs unless I'm on an incline then its 3rd with a larger throttle input.

Every cars Torque Curve and Gear ratios are different, but I can't remember the last time I drove a car at 30 mph in 4th. Maybe a long time ago when cars weighed very little.

Driving in the wrong gear puts a tremendous strain on the engine and drivetrain and both of them will have shortened lives if driven incorrectly. It's a bit like riding a bicycle at walking pace in top gear, your legs might not be moving very fast but it takes a lot more effort compared to being in a lower gear and if you come to a hill then you are likely to do yourself an injury or if you are strong enough something on the bike might break.

The other thing to bear in mind is that you have a lot more control of the car in 3rd, you might need to accelerate quickly to get out of trouble, you have more engine braking and more control in tight corners when the car slows down compared to coasting, which is what you would be doing in 4th. 

It's all to do with engine torque and gear ratios. The 1.0L turbo isn't a very torquey engine. Couple that with a 5 speed gearbox and 3rd sounds about right for 30mph.

In comparison, my 2.5L turbo engine (significantly more torque) with a 6 speed gearbox will sit quite happily in 5th gear at 30mph.

3rd is a good set it and forget it gear. 4th gets better fuel economy when not going uphill where it needs to be dropped in to 3rd to avoid labouring the engine max torque is 170nm achieved from 1400 rpm

3rd gear preference for me although the 140ps wouldn't seem as it was struggling in 4th gear either......