What's your favorite gear?

"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
10/25/2016 at 12:51 • Filed to: None

It’s a simple question: In your car(s), which gear do you enjoy using the most?

I think for both my Miata and my 323 GTX, 2nd gear is the sweet spot. Both transmissions are so closely geared that 1st is unusable for anything but stop-and-go traffic, but 2nd has a good range of speeds while also delivering great torque. Approach a sharp turn, rev-match down into 2nd, initiate the turn, then gun the motor to get flung out of the exit. There’s nothing like driving fast in a slow car.

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DISCUSSION (50)

Jayhawk Jake > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:54

6th. All about dem em pee geez

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:55

2nd. The Mini pulls really well in second, the engine is under just the right amount of load to make wonderful grumbly noises through the intake, and it covers a nice wide range of speeds, unlike 1st where you end up at redline rather quickly.

Decay buys too many beaters > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:56

2nd is the only correct answer to this question.

E90M3 > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:56

Third, dropping it back to third to pass someone on the highway is one of my favorite things.

I was living in Corpus Christi at the time and a work friend had come down from San Antonio and we were driving in the M3. We were in the process of getting off the high way and she goes “I will buy S5, it has 333 hp”. I look at her, drop in down to third and floor it, and say “Oh yeah? I’ve got 414" She wasn’t impressed.

Sneaky Pete > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:57

2nd. Always 2nd. My 4th Gen Prelude Si, my slow as molasses Honda Fit, my Viper...all of them, 2nd.

citizennick > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:57

2nd. Long and powerful.

TheJWT > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:57

Kinja'd!!!

I miss having a manual...

Sam > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:57

2nd or 3rd in my E34 (notamanual). I do like being in 4th, though, because it means I can drop (read: hit the “drop a gear” button under the pedal) to third and soar.

TheHondaBro > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:57

My favorite gear is North Face backpacks.

Saracen > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:58

Well, it’s no longer the Top Gear.

MarquetteLa > TheJWT
10/25/2016 at 12:58

Unless you have a CVT, you have gears too!

MarquetteLa > Sneaky Pete
10/25/2016 at 12:59

I want to experience a Viper at full grunt in 2nd.

Benjamin Rolland > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 12:59

Drive.

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:00

Definitely 2nd for the most part, unless you have enough(with no TC) hp/torque to wheelspin in 3rd :)

Manny05x > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:01

On my motorcycle 3rd.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:01

This question is specifically targeted to make Chrysler ZF equipped owners pull their hair out thinking “There’s too many, how do I pick just ONE!!!!”

Tristan > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:01

5th... because if I’ve managed to get my Jeep into 5th, then I’m not mired in the awfulness of stop and go traffic. It’s not fast or enjoyable on the street in any gear.

TysMagic > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:02

2nd POSSIBLY 3rd due to the range 3rd covers in the Abarth - I’ve been away from it for about a month and the numbness of the base 500 loaner is wearing on my excitement for driving.

Stapleface > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:03

I have no gears. :(

But, when I had a manual, definitely second. It’s the most useful gear in pretty much any car I’ve ever had. You can get to almost the legal limit in most states by winding out 2nd.

Needmoargarage > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:07

Probably third while accelerating onto the highway. Tall gear ratio but tons of torque and supercharger whine :)

When I had my Miata I think 2nd did it for me as well. Everything past that felt like I was trapped in that gear forever.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:08

Well, it’s an auto... but 2nd, with 4th coming in right behind.

bhtooefr > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:11

In my Miata, 2nd.

In my former 99.5 Golf... I’m actually gonna say 3rd. It had enough torque to pull it a lot of places, and it lasted a while.

In my Prius... it only has one gear, and it’s constantly engaged. Even reverse is the same gear.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:14

when i had the AWD DSM 3rd. Did most highway pulls in 3rd

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:15

Depends on the car, but I find 3rd is usually my favorite. 2nd is a great choice, 1st is overrated and ends too soon.

But third I think is probably the most versatile. On a lot of cars it can take you from about 25-90. I’ve even had a few cars where through a combination of slipping the clutch and judicious throttle application, I could use 3rd from a stop. Good solid gear, 3rd.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > TheJWT
10/25/2016 at 13:15

Kinja'd!!!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E90M3
10/25/2016 at 13:16

This is the correct answer.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:16

Second! First is too short to really be useful past your launch and third doesn’t give the seat-push that second does.

Maxima Speed > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:16

3rd keep in mind I’ve only driven autos. But 3rd is the best.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:20

3RD.

First and second have the boost dialed back a little, but third is the sweet spot from 2500-6000 rpm. It even sounds sporty.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer
10/25/2016 at 13:22

The transmission isn’t going to pick one either.

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/25/2016 at 13:25

Like every chrysler transmission, it hates them all equally?

TheJWT > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/25/2016 at 13:25

Kinja'd!!!

With pleasure

TheJWT > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:26

I always just thought it was voodoo magic inside an auto transmission

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 13:45

E30 – 3 rd …I could drive around in it all day, and perfect for some gentle canyon carving. Plus 2 nd and 4 th have been a bit noisy lately.

Crosstrek – ehhh, it’s a CVT. I always hated the concept of paddles on a CVT, but as stupid as it is it makes it marginally less boring and infuriating.

Spark EV – I don’t have any gears L The “L” “gear” with aggressive re-gen is pretty nifty and useful for mostly one-pedal driving though.

404 - User No Longer Available > Jayhawk Jake
10/25/2016 at 13:51

Highest gear isn’t always most economical. In city driving, my Solstice starts lugging at 5, same for my 328 at 6. So I just use 4 and 5 respectively.

shop-teacher > TheJWT
10/25/2016 at 14:10

It is, don’t let them fool you.

shop-teacher > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 14:11

Overdrive.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > TheJWT
10/25/2016 at 14:13

I test drove a Honda Civic with one over the weekend (for shits and giggles, I wasn’t gonna buy one) It was actually fantastic and felt like a single gear EV actually.

Here’s a link to the post I wrote about it, and a few other cars.

Textured Soy Protein > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 14:32

I like 3rd in my tuned 335xi with ~380 hp because that’s the best gear for launching up on-ramps.

TheRealBicycleBuck > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 14:32

Another vote for 2nd. There’s nothing better in the WRX than crossing the intersection in first, then dropping the hammer in second all the way to the speed limit. Apply all the torques!

J_P_Cars10s > Jayhawk Jake
10/25/2016 at 15:38

Yes! Finally having a 6 speed vs a 5 speed in a state where the speed limit reaches 80 is incredible.

‘98 Jeep Wrangler and ‘98 Mazda 626 are not geared for those speeds. Neither is the 5MT Crosstrek I was looking at. The 6MT Outback is just right.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 15:58

In my Ranger: 2nd, cuz short ass 3.55 gears

In My XJ: 3rd cuz long ass 3.07 gears

Sneaky Pete > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 16:20

If you’re ever in the Northern California Bay Area, I’ll take you for a ride.

MarquetteLa > Sneaky Pete
10/25/2016 at 16:53

I think the closest I’ll get anytime soon is Ventura, which isn’t very close! But thanks for the offer!

jkm7680 > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 16:57

Third, nice torque and it’ll hold up to 60 mph and as low as 25.

Chasaboo > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 17:46

Thongs.

Nerd-Vol > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 17:53

3rd or 2nd. Good meaty gears. Especially 3rd on a 6 speed.

Jayhawk Jake > 404 - User No Longer Available
10/25/2016 at 19:16

I get the most MPGs in it on the highway. In the city I usually top at 5

Old Red Wagon > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 22:33

2nd gear for both my GTI and E30.

Nauraushaun > MarquetteLa
10/26/2016 at 15:52

2nd is always good fun. But when 2nd runs out of puff, and you grab 3rd, and it starts all over again - that’s good too. 3rd can take you to some deeply dangerous speeds.