6th gear on freeway??
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
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6th gear on freeway??
Guys
I spoke to some people who drives sticks with 6 speed regarding using their 6th gear on freeway. Some don't use it because of lack of power. I am wondering your thoughts on that??
I spoke to some people who drives sticks with 6 speed regarding using their 6th gear on freeway. Some don't use it because of lack of power. I am wondering your thoughts on that??
#2
Race Car
Why do you need quick power while driving the freeway? If you're regularly at a speed where you downshifting into 5th gear will put you into maximum power rpm on a freeway, you eiither have a drinking problem or are just nuts. Use 6th speed when you just cruising above 50 mph or so and you'll be fine.
#3
Burning Brakes
Join Date: May 2006
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How much power do you need for keeping up with the traffic flow? I don't often need to downshift on the freeway, and when I do, I find it's more useful to go straight from 6th to 4th for a great throttle-blip and lots of go!
Last edited by NNH; 01-24-2007 at 08:09 PM. Reason: Clarification
#7
Nordschleife Master
+1
If you're not using 6th, then you're running your engine harder than you need to for a given speed... who needs fuel economy?
6th still has some bite to it and as others have said, 4th there waiting to pounce.
If you're not using 6th, then you're running your engine harder than you need to for a given speed... who needs fuel economy?
6th still has some bite to it and as others have said, 4th there waiting to pounce.
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#10
Originally Posted by 996 C4S
Guys
I spoke to some people who drives sticks with 6 speed regarding using their 6th gear on freeway. Some don't use it because of lack of power. I am wondering your thoughts on that??
I spoke to some people who drives sticks with 6 speed regarding using their 6th gear on freeway. Some don't use it because of lack of power. I am wondering your thoughts on that??
Contrary to some opinions here, our 6th gear was not designed just for highway running. Fuel thirsty cars like Vipers and Vettes have 6sp transmissions with rediculous tall 6th gears (.50:1) for the sole purpose of improving fuel economy. These top gears are useless for acceleration because they are so overgeared. In fact, those cars top on in 5th gear so they are actually like having a 5 speed in the real world; just with an extra fuel miser only mode. The 6sp in the Carrera is very purposeful in the choice of ratios. The axle ratio is significantly shorter than a Viper and even shorter than those in Vettes. Our 5th gear at 1.02:1 is actually shorter than the 1:1 ratios in the 4th gears used in Vettes and Vipers. Our 6th are fairly tight above that at only .84:1, far shorter than the .71-75 ratios in those other 6 speeds.
Why? So every gear is funcitonal to provide the best acceleration. Our 3rd runs out around 100, 4th runs out around 125, 5th runs out around 150 and 6th takes you to top speed around 180. Revs drop off less and keep you higher in the power curve with each gear going higher. You can't drive over 150, unless you use 6th and once you are there is a very functional gear for accelerating further. Do a couple runs from 60 to 160 and you can quickly appreciate how nicely spaced the gears are in these cars. Using 6th in other cars is a joke, not in these cars.