Mazda 2004 Miata MX-5, Owner'S Manual

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5-10
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
Form No. 8S15-EA-03G
▼
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.
Various Lockouts:
5-speed
transmission 6-speed
transmission
1 to 2 24 km/h (15 mph) 23 km/h (14 mph)
2 to 3 42 km/h (26 mph) 37 km/h (23 mph)
3 to 4 55 km/h (34 mph) 50 km/h (31 mph)
4 to 5 66 km/h (41 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)
5 to 6 — 66 km/h (41 mph)
5-speed
transmission 6-speed
transmission
1 to 2 15 km/h (9 mph) 18 km/h (11 mph)
2 to 3 29 km/h (18 mph) 32 km/h (20 mph)
3 to 4 47 km/h (29 mph) 44 km/h (27 mph)
4 to 5 61 km/h (38 mph) 56 km/h (35 mph)
5 to 6 — 68 km/h (42 mph)
Automatic Transmission
Controls
Indicates that you must depress the
brake pedal and hold in the lock-
release button to shift (The ignition
switch must be in the ON position).
Indicates the shift lever can be
shifted freely into any position.
Indicates that you must hold in the
lock-release button to shift.
Lock-release button
To prevent unsafe
shifting
Shift pattern
indicator
Shows shift lever
position
Overdrive button
For turning the
overdrive off or on
J07S_8S15-EA-03G_Edition2.book Page 10 Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:04 AM