Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Automatics typically have more economical gearing. My best guess is that people don't like to shift, so manuals typically have a much shorter top gear. Sometimes the difference can be dramatic.
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Odd enough, the first cars that I remember having a better fuel economy rating for their automatic versions were sporty models, such as the Chrysler Crossfire. But anyway, Euro rides tended to rely on a wider ratio and also a greater gear spread than most American models, in part to get better use of a fewer power in a mainstream model, while some sporty trims often had a close-ratio manual supposed to be better suited for a more spirited driving with those very same low-output powerplants.