Overdrive ratios are good, m'kay

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
09/19/2016 at 19:21 • Filed to: None

2800rpm at highway cruising speed (75mph) is not.

DISCUSSION (39)

Trunk Impaired 318 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:24

Certainly beats the 3800 that I have to live with

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:26

Is that too high or too low for your liking?

I had a chance to buy a 540i recently with the M-Power Group and 300 horsepower. 5-sp manual transmission, or maybe it was 6-sp... But the top two gears were so tall as to be useless on US highways. Autobahn gears for driving 150 mph...

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Trunk Impaired 318
09/19/2016 at 19:27

What kills me was that there was an optional six-speed (same exact ratios + overdrive), and it was made standard equipment, like, the very next year after my car was made.

Trunk Impaired 318 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:28

Yep, my dad actually has a 2000 528i so I do know your pain.

Tristan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:29

My ‘98 Cobra with 4.10s ran around 3k @ 80 mph and still got 24 mpg while doing so. Low revs at cruise isn’t everything.

HammerheadFistpunch > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:29

Boo hoo. I’m at those revs at 75 too and my last car was 3600

Stephenson Valve Gear > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:29

I’m grateful for the 0.7:1 ratio of 6th gear in my Mustang. With 3:31 gears, it turns a comfortable 3000 rpm at 100 mph...

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/19/2016 at 19:30

Those may have had a completely different transmission from the six cylinder models, I’m not sure. What I do know is that the engine in mine is quite audible in the cabin at that speed and economy suffers immensely.

American made V8 cars are typically geared to be just barely above idling at highway speeds.

LongbowMkII > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:31

Huh? 3500+ rpm at ~75.

More like overrated drive.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Stephenson Valve Gear
09/19/2016 at 19:33

I think my rear end is 2.9 or something close to that.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tristan
09/19/2016 at 19:34

I do those same revs with a 2.93 rear end. And I can barely crack 32mpg in my mid-size-sub-3-liter-car on the highway it’s embarrassing.

CB > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:36

1500-2000 at 110 km/h would be nice. The fourth gear in the Maxima doesn’t care for that idea, though.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:36

Remembers driving to school with the Mini nudging 4k :(

Aaaron > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:39

I don’t understand how the hell my M6 with 7 freaking gears STILL sits at 3k while going 80 mph. Absolutely infuriating.

At least I don’t have to downshift to pass on the freeway though.

Tristan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:40

32mpg out of a fairly heavy, performance-oriented car rated at 29mpg isn’t what I’d call embarrassing... the fact that I bought a 2009 Focus with a manual trans that couldn’t do better than 28 mpg (hypermiling!)... now that’s embarrassing.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Aaaron
09/19/2016 at 19:41

Your gears are probably so close that they can fit in the gaps between my close gears.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tristan
09/19/2016 at 19:45

It’s hardly performance oriented. I think the close ratio box is purely to make up for the weight. It’s got no more power than most of it’s competition at the time.

wafflesnfalafel > Trunk Impaired 318
09/19/2016 at 19:50

yeah - ditto here. The one thing I would change with my current ride is add a taller hwy gear.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:50

I can’t wait to swap a 4.10 into my e36 with that same zf 5 speed :)

4000 rpm at 70, lol

Shankems > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:54

2100 @ 80. BOOYA.

Tristan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 19:57

Performance and horsepower aren’t the same thing. For example, my NA Miata is a blast to drive with it’s close ratio gearbox, perfect balance, etcetera... But, I sold my 340hp Dodge Magnum “muscle car” because it offered all the driving enjoyment of a Toyota Camry with none of the build quality. If you want to talk about a non-performance-oriented, sub 200hp midsize cars built in the year 2000 look no further than gems like the Taurus, Lumina, and Stratus! God, they were awful! And they still won’t get 32mpg at 80 mph.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 20:08

My Lexus sits at 2.9k at 73. That’s probably why EPA gives it 23 MPG highway.

traderQAMobileTestAutomationMobileBoostOn > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 20:40

A Challenger with tall 3.06 gears still turns 2200 revs at 70, which is kinda high for a modern V8...just an 0.83 Overdrive.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 21:59

Vaat? A non-OD 5 speed in a modern BMW?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/19/2016 at 22:05

The OD 6 speed was optional on the E39 until 2001 or 2002. Until then standard equipment was the 5 speed.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 22:06

Amazing. I’ve never heard of a 5-cog that didn’t have an overdrive 5th. Crazy.

Stephenson Valve Gear > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 22:27

That would put your overall ratio in top gear at 2.9 (something) :1, but with the overdrive my overall ratio would be 3.31 x .7 = 2.317:1. If we assume the tire diameters are the same, then 2800/(2.9/2.317) = 2237 rpm at 75 for my car. It actually turns 2250, so the math works out very well. All of which I have done to prove your point: “Overdrive ratios are good, m’kay”. I concur.

Orange Exige > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
09/19/2016 at 22:43

So what’d it rev in 5th/6th gear?

I find it hard to believe that it’d be too tall to be useless on a highway where the whole point is to be going a steady speed and not having to accelerate. I’ve been known to cruise local streets in 6th gear at 1500 rpm sometimes - if I really need to accelerate, I’ll just downshift. I don’t see how it’d be any different on the highway - if anything, it’d be easier (to predict when you need enough acceleration to downshift).

WilliamsSW > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 22:47

Could be worse. My ‘00 E46 is right at 4 grand at 80.

Orange Exige > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/19/2016 at 22:48

75mph at 2800rpm is not good for you?

Doesn’t seem unreasonable to me. My Mini’s about 200rpm higher, even with a 6th gear :/

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Orange Exige
09/19/2016 at 23:06

I can’t tell you what the tach was reading. A question of taste, I guess. But what was obvious was that the car was built to cruse at 100+ mph.

Nauraushaun > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/20/2016 at 01:34

My MR2 does 3100rpm at Australian highway speeds: That's 60mph. What I wouldn't give for a 6th gear.

brianbrannon > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/20/2016 at 08:42

What’s wrong with 2800 at cruising speed?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/20/2016 at 13:07

914 and rubber ducky are at @3100 at 75.

From what I’ve heard 5th is higher on German cars so that when doing 80 you are in the power band to still pull.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
09/20/2016 at 14:26

But you’d think with the autobahn they’d be geared low so you’re not redlining it on your commute.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/21/2016 at 00:52

The new (ND) Miata has a 6 speed with no overdrive.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/21/2016 at 01:01

Yeah, but to really get the full picture you need to factor in the final drive, and the tire diameter, too.

Plus, the best fuel economy I’ve done personally so far was with a car that cruised at 3000rpm while doing 80mph most of the time, and got 36mpg. That was with two overdrives on a 5 speed and a 4.05 final drive.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
09/21/2016 at 09:05

Interesting. Makes sense though with so little torque. OD would put the revs too far down in the curve making it harder to maintain highway speed. I’ve been reading the ND’s gearbox has been having issues.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
09/21/2016 at 12:13

The trans gearing isn’t the final word in rpms on the road, though. You have to look at the overall ratio with the final drive multiplied in, and then the outside diameter of the tires are important, too.

The new Miata has its non-OD trans, and the 124 uses the previous gen Miata trans with an OD. But, due to the final drives in the rear end, they both turn about the same rpm on the highway.