If you think shifting at 3k is low you should come see the drivers in China. For starters, 95% of all cars are sticks. When Chinese people are taught to drive, they are taught to shift in 10 kph increments. It’s insane! They start off in first and barely get the car rolling before its in second, third, etc. It drives me nuts because not a single person winds an engine out. The carbon buildup on all of these engines is probably enough to fill up a 5 gallon bucket.