it's all about gears!

[mcrews]

To clarify....I have only been referring to automatic transmissions in this thread ....

[Cobb]

I was surprised at the 3 speed in my 88 dodge wagoneer. I managed 17 mpg out of it with minor mods. It has the 316 in it.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Thenorm

i think for a manual. the key thing is a short 1st gear and a v.tall overdrive.
5 gears is probably ideal. 6 is ok, but on my 6 speed, because its close ratio i tend to skip shift. I wouldnt want a 7+ spd manual.

actually if my current 5spd on my other car, if it have an extra super overdrive above the existing 5 ratios, that'd be ok

What, you don't like shifting? :P

I mean, for a <200hp NA engine I think generally 6 speed transmissions with a very tall overdrive are good, but after that I think 7 is justifiable. For example the 6MT 2.4L Hondas run somewhat high rpms on the freeway, but if the 6th gear had a slightly lower ratio it would not be bad at all. Same with the FRS/BRZ, RSX, Civic Si, etc., which would have very comfortable cruising gears if the 6th gear revs were just 10% lower.

The Honda S2000 would not have a very economical cruising rpm even if you widened the gear ratios out like an economy car because of that 1.2 primary reduction. The Porsche 6 speed gearboxes have a relatively tall final drive and thus 1st and 2nd gear, so the 6th gear is not as bad as on some cars, so with the 2.7 you have a decent cruising rpm in 6th but not a very good 1st gear for taking off on. The 3.4's torque makes 1st gear a little better, but then the cruising efficiency is down a good bit.

[Cobb]

I drove a crz with a stick. Having 6 gears wasnt that fun.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I drove a crz with a stick. Having 6 gears wasnt that fun.

Yep, IMHO, only 4-manual gears are needed:

First, to get you moving.
Second, for urban driving.
Third, for highway driving.
Reverse, for going backward.

...of course, the above ASSUMES the proper/appropriate/correct gear ratios are being used.

[P-hack]

meh, I don't even think twice about shifting a 5 speed, you just get used to it/muscle memory. My ear tells me when to shift after a minute or two of watching the tach, it is fairly automatic.

[Cobb]

I use gears as a form of cruse control. I like the mild braking action letting off the throttle you get from a stick shift. Even in my automatic insight I shift to sport mode to use more engine braking in heavy traffic or for sudden acceleration.

Someways I like to think of it as a slack stick from the 70s automatics.

All we need with 3 on the tree is a button on the floor for the head lights and starter.

[user removed]

Did a 50 mile ride (round trip) this morning to go to an estate sale. Heavy traffic that was moving about 10 MPH slower than the 65 speed limit. I got behind a SYSCO 18 wheeler for 12 miles and was gliding downslope at every opportunity, even gliding upslope on some. Got some neat stuff at the sale and came home in more heavy traffic. Average separation between vehicles of about 60 feet.

55.8 indicated MPG.

Close to 28k miles on the Fiesta. I'm getting good at using the shift points in the automated 6 speed manual transmission, keeping it in the higher gear. My mileage average is better than it was in my manual 5 speed Echo with no AC and manual steering.

In most cases I can get to 40 MPG from a cold start in less than 2.5 miles, 50 in 7 miles. Ambient temps around 60-70 degrees, grille block still in place.

regards
Mech

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

The only people who don't want more gears are people who don't want to shift more, but thank god I'm not one of them.

In city traffic I don't enjoy shifting at all.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

In city traffic I don't enjoy shifting at all.

That's what I say about California's six-lane "parking lots" during rush hours.