gravedgr

Doesn't matter whether its manual or PDK.

Anyone drawing a different inference from the video we all recently saw fails at comprehension.

Leader

Don't get too hung up on semantics.
Seventh gear is pretty much 'overdrive,' just as sixth used to be (before 7-speeds).
The "sporty/comfortable" thingy is marketing-speak.

kosmo

the overdrive is a welcome feature for those who do a lot of long distance highway driving.

CBejbl

That's the way the current PDK is set up. Shift into 7th and the revs drop about 1000.

ecostellodo

I guess I am always stuck in "sporty" with my ancient 6sp MT :-)

alexb76

+1

gravedgr

No hang ups here. Just amused at how some people hear what they want to hear, even when its not said.

jumper5836

6th gear is not overdrive on the old gear box. You have to use it to get to top speed.

I am not sure about the 7th gear in the new gearbox but if it used just for overdrive and is not used to get to top speed then it is fairly useless to me. I think it would be better used to shorten the gears for acceleration and keeping them in the power band.

alexb76

Top speed is reached in 6th gear, so 7th is overdrive and I actually like that... let's say you're doing a long cruise on a highway at around 75 mph, can put it in 7th and set cruise control... lower RPM, much better MPG and probably quieter and more comfort as advertising said.

jumper5836

Here 100 km is max speed limit. I get to that in second gear so 4th gear is more then enough over drive.

Having 7th gear sounds to me just like more marketing hype and does nothing for a sports car and doesn't make it any more sporty in any way at all.

alexb76

Yeah, same here... there are some 110-120 stretches though. 7th gear is actually MOSTLY to get a better MPG rating by government at the highest gear. I still think I could use it on road trips. Did a 1200 Km road trip three weeks ago and there were definitely times I could have used a 7th gear to drop RPM down even further.

Mike in CA

Max speed here is 70mph on the interstate and you can usually cruise at 5 or so mph above that without attracting attention. I wouldn't say it makes the car more sporty either, but 7th is useful for giving a little better fuel economy and reduced mechanical wear.

alexb76

Yeah, when traveling south, I try to keep it 5 to 8 mph over speed limit on highway, and have been clocked a few times without issues (was going 77 in 70, and once 73 in 65). Could definitly use a 7th on cruises... it also bring the noise down a bit, so makes is more comfy for your date/wife on long trips!

Mike in CA

Exactly. And lest we forget the obvious, these cars are German. Having driven a bunch on the Autobahn, having an OD for high speed driving is a definite plus.

Quadcammer

false. The gear ratio is .88 for 6th gear, meaning it is, by definition, an overdrive gear.