Weird question about driving style(Manuals)

[foxtrot]

Ok, this may be a bit of a weird thread but I want to know about peoples driving styles/ habits (manual drivers).

With an AU1 XR6 5 speed myself, a mate with an EB XR6 5 speed and another mate with an AU1 falcon forte 5 speed I've noticed very different driving from all 3 of us.

Basically im the type that will get into 4th gear by the time im doing 60kph and stay there and let it lug around at below 2000 revs.. if say theres traffic and i have to slow down to say 40kph I will generally leave it in 4th as being a Ford it has enough torque to easily accelerate back up again anyway..

The guy with the forte is the biggest hoon you will ever find... but even when not hooning he always seems to be a gear below me.. he stays in 3rd gear for 60kph cruising and wont change till 4th until about 75-80.. where as im in 5th by 75-80.. he will only ever change to 5th when he's doing above 100.

The guy with the EB is generally always in 5th from 70kph onwards and his car sounds like its revving its head off wen he drops to 4th even though it's only revving @ around 2grand (where as the AU is just purring along at 2 grand). Other than that he drives like me.

Anyway just like to hear peoples opinions.. i.e do you think i let my car lug too much? is this bad on the engine (I.e to lazy to shift down to 4th and lettting it lug up a hill in 5th).. is the whole gear thing going to affect petrol use much?

Just i heard from a few guys having too high a gear even though it will pull fine is bad on the bearings or something? and i've noticed the gears have really long legs (except first) for example I can easily skip 1st to 3rd, or often 2nd to 4th.

MIGHT SOUND LIKE A STUPID QUESTION BUT IM JUST CURIOUS