| Mountain Driving in a Northstar Car
Hi guys, I have a 98 Deville Concours. The N* engine likes revs doesn't it? I have noticed that 90% of my driving near where I live is done with fewer than 2700 rpm, and really most of it is in the 1800 - 2000 rpm range, with brief excursions to near 3000 rpm as the tranny shifts up while accelerating. Here's my question...around town and even on 55mph secondary roads, my engine seems to be lugging around at 1500 to 1800 rpm after the tranny has shifted into high, and I often find my self leaving the gear selector in "3" just to let the motor rev a little and to make the car more responsive. I am going to be driving through the mountains in a couple of weeks, and I have been thinking about how best to drive the car...do I leave it in "OD" and let it shift down on demand (as I kick it down using the accelerator) as I tackle hills? (It will probably downshift a hundred times a day in this scenario). Or, when the going gets hilly can I reduce wear and tear and just let her rev a little by putting the car in third and just letting it run in third through the mountains? What would you guys recommend? Dave | 
