mark kibort

Max speed in each gear at engine redline

928 GTS 2.72:1 rear end 350hp 0-60mph 5.0sec 3550lbs
1st 51mph
2nd 71mph
3rd 108 mph
4th 144mph
5th 190mph

928 s4 2.2:1 rear end 312hp 0-60 mph 5.5 3505lbs
1st 57mph
2nd 85mph
3rd 119 mph
4th 157mph
5th 228mph

new Z06 505hp 450 torque 3.42:1 rear end 0-60mph 3.9sec 3330lbs
1st 61mph
2nd 91mph
3rd 125 mph
4th 162mph
5th 200+mph
6th near 300mph

new viper SRT10 510hp 535torque 3.07:1 rear end 4.2sec 3630lbs
1st 59mph
2nd 88mph
3rd 121 mph
4th 157mph
5th 200+mph
6th near 300mph

You can see from above that most have the same gear spacing, and top speeds in each gear are pretty darn close (1st through 4th). Interesting enough, the new viper 6 speed and the 928 S4 have almost identical top speeds in all gears, yet the viper's hp is near 200hp more !!!! you got to love that useless 6 speed overdrive for both the vet and viper. too bad they didnt put the ratios closer together. I guess with 500+hp its not that much of an issue, compared to getting the most out of a 996GT3 engine with 400hp as it uses a real close ratio gear box to improve the effective HP to the wheels.

Mk

Flint

I've heard the "useless" 6th gear is basically for highway fuel economy and noise. Is that true?

hacker-pschorr

That is correct, at least for the Corvette it is. I do not know either way on the Viper.

Its one of the ways the Corvette is able to skid by the gas guzzler tax. The 1st to 4th trick is another.