BRZ FRS Auto Better MPG Than Manual?

[UltArc]

With my limited experience in imports (Hondas and Toyotas (specifically "Scions")), it seems there is always very high gearing. I imagine with their efficiency level, they would prefer to have underperforming FE compared to their potential rather than have people be worried it doesn't have enough oomph to move.

The Scion GT86 I test drove was peppy, but felt fast rather than being fast. I got on it hard in first, it climbed fast, rowed to second, felt quick, and I looked down, and we were doing under 40...

For how much fatter and taller my Mustang is, I was disappointed that how hard the engine felt to be working, I was going so slow. I wanted to love it, but I just really liked it. I might take it over the 2015 Mustang, but for the price tag it seems a bit over priced. I also can't get over paying 25.5k and getting a radio that looks like crap compared to my 89 S10 Blazer. Either spruce it up or lower the price. The whole "We did that so YOU can make it your own" is crap. They are not Porsche, and paying more for less isn't going to fly with me.

[UltArc]

Woah!

I just looked at the new Scion version. A decent radio! I am going to have to check out a new one!

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

It's ALL about how much HP is needed at the speed you're driving to overcome BOTH aerodynamic drag (which predominates above about 50 mph) and rolling drag (tires+mechanical+friction which predominates below about 50 mph). In either case, the HP requirement increases as the CUBE of velocity (V^3), so the faster you go that vastly MORE HP you're gonna need.

True, but in the case of my Del Sol, I have an undersquare motor spinning 2-3x as fast as necessary to generate the horsepower needed to cruise in top gear. I can throw it in 5th at 15mph and accelerate up hills. 5th is somewhere between 2nd and 3rd in my Insight.

With how it's geared, it definitely feels fast.

Spinning at 4000+rpm, there's a ton of wasted potential from friction and pumping losses and low cylinder pressure.

[redpoint5]

I've argued this before, but my TSX has a close ratio 6-speed manual that revs high. The 6th gear is worthless on a race track because you would never top out 5th, even on the longest of straights. 6th is also worthless as a cruising gear because it revs at 3000 RPM @ 70 MPH. That's 43 revs per MPH!

The gearbox is brilliant with the exception of the worthless 6th gear. I imagine many vehicle suffer the same problem of the top gear being too short for efficient cruising, and too tall to be used as a gear to accelerate quickly in.

My guess is that some focus group determined that drivers (aka idiots) would give up cruising fuel economy for not having to downshift on steep hills.

In my TSX, I can climb a hill going 75 MPH in 6th gear, and never have to downshift. Going the other direction back down the hill and coasting, I hit 80 MPH. On a hill that steep, I should have to downshift. The Camry has a taller top gear, but even in that I can sustain 65 MPH going up the hill I just described while barely keeping it in top gear (engine load ~90%). Using the same gear to climb a massive hill and cruise a flat highway is insanity.

[Cobb]

Many of the eco cars or cars that use a drive by wire over does the throttle to make it feel powerful or sporty at low speeds, but once you start to get up to speed you can feel whats really under the hood.

Originally Posted by UltArc

The Scion GT86 I test drove was peppy, but felt fast rather than being fast. I got on it hard in first, it climbed fast, rowed to second, felt quick, and I looked down, and we were doing under 40..