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I just don't get manufacturer gear ratio selections. There is absolutely no reason for a 6 speed manual tranny to not have a very tall 6th gear, good for cruising only. Actually, the same applies for a 5 speed as well. 4 closely spaced ratios are plenty for any sort of racing. This is especially true with todays variable valve timing engines that pull smoothly from just off idle to redline.
My '09 Sonata is a good example of this. It is a 5 speed four cylinder. And it is the furthest thing from a sports sedan, yet hyundai decided to equip it with 5 close ratios anyhow. At 70 mph, it is getting pretty close to 3 grand. First gear is the opposite. It is just about the fussiest car I have ever driven to launch smoothly. Takes way too much concentration. I would have equipped it with much wider ratios. A lower first and a higher 5th. I really don't need a car that will cruise smoothly in top gear at one half the speed I typically run it at.
And then there is the current auto tranny cog battle. Mercedes has a....what is it, this week, 8 speed? I believe somebody has a 9 speed in the works. Yeah, that 6 liter v-8 is kinda peaky (insert rolleyes emoticon here).
For autos, i really believe anything beyond 5 or 6 cogs is just showing off.
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