RPM question
 

Just bought a 2002 911 automatic (3.6). This is my first sports car so I have a lot to learn. I notice that the RPM runs at 3000 in the 70s/80s MPH, is that normal? My 3.0 family sedan's RPM runs at 2600 or so in the 70s MPH so I'm just curious if a sports car normally runs at higher RPM. Your advise and comment is greatly appreciated.

Yep, most high-end Eurpoean cars, particularly performance cars, are geared for performance, which means they reach their top speed at the engine red line in top gear: say, 180 mph at 7500 RPM. That means the car revs at 2500 RPM at 60 mph, or 2916 at 70 mph. My 2004 Carrera, my Aston, and my Ferrari are all like this: in fact the Ferrari is geared to reach 200 mph at 8585 RPm redline so it does 3004 RPM at 70 mph, but you get used to it. The good news is these cars accelerate well at highway speeds in top gear.

By contrast alot of sedans, and Corvettes, have a top gear that is an overdrive: the car is geared for much lower revs for cruising: can't reach max RPM in top gear and it won't accelerate well at highway speeds without downshifting, but the cruise is much more "relaxed". I had an '02 ZO6 that did only 1800 RPM at 70 mph.