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"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
10/06/2016 at 10:20 • Filed to: Subaru

Spent yesterday in bed with a stomach bug. Didn’t feel great this morning either. Then I ran through the gears a few times. Now I have a good feeling about the rest of the day.

DISCUSSION (22)

they-will-know-my-velocity > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 10:41

Every one in awhile I go sane and start thinking about how I could sell my car and buy 2-3 more practical vehicles, save money and start investing my money, etc.

Then I get to run through the gears and get the tires warmed up and I forget all that nonsense.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 10:48

This is why I enjoy my commute to and from work every day. Sure the roads are extemely straight, there is some traffic, and it is not scenic. But at least I get to row my gears, cruise with the top down, and jam out to some tunes. Any time I have carpooled to work in my roommate’s Camry, the whole day is just a lot less exciting.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 11:10

Well I just found a missing laptop at work that I spent all afternoon Monday looking for and had reluctantly decided it must have been stolen. But it was there all along hiding under a pile of extension cords. It is in fact a good day!

Noah - Now with more boost. > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 11:34

super jealous. I need three pedals in my life again, traffic be damned

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Noah - Now with more boost.
10/06/2016 at 11:45

Do it! I actually have fairly heavy traffic for half of my commute and it really doesn’t bother me most of the time. The only times I’ve wish for a manual is when a big wreck causes an extra half hour of crawling, but that’s rare.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 12:11

6-speed? MUST BE NICE

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/06/2016 at 12:36

LUXURY

Seriously though, my last 2 manual cars were 5-speeds, and both kept the revs a bit higher in 5th than I’d like. So I was specifically looking for a 6MT this time around with a tall 6th for cruising. This guy stays below 3,000 rpm until about 75 MPH in 6th which is nice.

macanamera > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 12:42

What kind of car? Japanese?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 13:30

I sympathize. The gearing on my pickup is kind if hilarious. In 5th gear, going 70mph I’m turning 3100rpm. It’s crying for a 6th.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/06/2016 at 14:12

Yeah - if you do go 6-speed just be careful that 6th really is a cruising gear. I’ve heard that in a few car the move from 5 to 6 just put everything closer together. I think it was a review of the newest Fit that in 6th at 70 mph it is still over 3k.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > macanamera
10/06/2016 at 14:15

Yep. 2014 Subaru Forester. I assume you could tell based on R being in the wrong spot. My previous car was a Hyundai that had it next to 1 where it belongs. I do miss that.

ateamfan42 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 15:59

I’ve heard that in a few car the move from 5 to 6 just put everything closer together.

A few? Try almost all cars with 6-speeds: nearly all are close-ratio gearboxes.

Manufacturers are terrified to put proper tall gearing in cars, because they know lazy drivers won’t downshift out of top gear, excessively lugging the engine. They would much rather we all burn more fuel on the highway to prevent a few premature engine replacements under warranty.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > ateamfan42
10/06/2016 at 16:21

Makes sense, though it is unfortunate to think of manual drivers as too lazy to downshift. This is probably part of the reason why automatics are more fuel efficient that manuals these days. I know there are at least some proper overdrives left... 7th gear in the Corvette comes to mind right away, but it has so much torque it’s probably impossible to really lug.

ateamfan42 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2016 at 16:52

Makes sense, though it is unfortunate to think of manual drivers as too lazy to downshift.

As less and less cars are available with manuals, the remaining manual drivers one encounters tend to be enthusiasts and knowledgeable about how to drive a car correctly. The laziness issue was a bigger problem years ago when a greater number of people bought manuals simply because they were cheaper and not so much because they genuinely preferred driving them.

I have seen drivers who will stubbornly refuse to downshift while poking through town and navigating around corners. They don’t seem to mind the groaning engine, vibrating dash, and incredibly sluggish acceleration. Those people are the reason manufacturers hesitate to put very tall gearing in cars.

This is probably part of the reason why automatics are more fuel efficient that manuals these days.

That is absolutely true. Equip the manual version with that super tall final drive the automatic car has, and you’d get some darn good fuel enconomy as well.

I know there are at least some proper overdrives left... 7th gear in the Corvette comes to mind right away, but it has so much torque it’s probably impossible to really lug.

Ever since the Corvette was first equipped with a 6-speed, the final gear was laughably tall. That is one of the reasons Corvettes can get the same or better highway economy as some smaller lightweight 4-cylinder cars. And the monster torque of the LS-series engines combined with the reasonably low weight of the car means lugging in top gear is pretty minimal.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/10/2016 at 23:54

After driving 5-speed cars for 14 years, it took me about a month to consistently remember my Focus has a 6th gear.

McMike > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/10/2016 at 11:13

Luxury? Everything I have is a four speed. FIFTH would be nice. :)

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/10/2016 at 11:14

I’m turning 4000 rpm in 6th gear at 80mph in my Miata. But I dont mind because race car.

Textured Soy Protein > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/10/2016 at 11:15

Having R down past 6 makes it harder to mix up R and 1. Although now that I think about it, all of my stick shift cars have been 6-speed with R to the left of 1, except for my first one, a ’92 Integra GSR that was a 5-speed with R where 6 would be on a 6-speed.

This includes two Mazdas, an NB Miata and a Speed 6.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Textured Soy Protein
11/10/2016 at 15:33

Yeah if it is next to 1 it is easier to mix up R and 1 - but all of the cars I’ve driven with it up there have a lockout. I prefer it just because you don’t have to go across the pattern when making a multi-point turn. Most 6 speeds with R next to 6 also need a lockout so that you don’t mix up 6 and R, so in my opinion it just makes sense to have R next to 1 on a 6 speed. My Subaru has the lift collar and I’ve driven 6-speed Nissan’s that make you push down the entire stick to go into R. In a 5-speed if R is offset just a little to the right of 5 it is darn near impossible to mix up 3 and R. Since there is no need for the lockout, it works OK.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > McMike
11/10/2016 at 15:34

Lol. Also why am I suddenly getting a bunch of notifications on this month old post?! Not directed at you in particular just commenting on one of those Kinja mysteries...

McMike > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
11/10/2016 at 17:20

I found it in the sidebar - didn’t think to look at the date.

Kinja rabbit hole.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > McMike
11/10/2016 at 17:30

Interesting. I think this is the first time I’ve been sidebared!