Row, Row, Row your car...

[Shannow]

Workmate just took delivery of a Subaru Forester TDi.

I got a 20 mile stint around site, and on the open road.

Comfy, a little wallowy on corners, goes pretty well, and is apparently returning excellent fuel consumption..6.5l/100km.

It would want to 'though, as it feels like you are rowing the thing.

6 speed manual is 2 too many.

I quickly started doing 1,2,4,6 or 1,3,5,6 as my standard shifting.

Why this obsession with gears these days ?

 

[cchase]

For track purposes close ratios makes sense. For a DD, I don't see the need.

 

[IndyIan]

What would make sense is a 6 speed with 5 normal ratios and a tall overdrive. But the manufacturers seem to be terrified of having a top gear that someone might have to shift out of, to make a pass or go up a hill...

 

[Silk]

I'm puzzled by the 6 speed Harleys - with that much grunt you'd think a 3 speed would do the job.

 

[Shannow]

It was turning just under half way to redline at 100km/hr.

2,000 RPM, would have thought it could drive a fair bit lower.

Didn't get upset accelerating from 60km/hr in 6th, so think taller, and 5 speed would get the job done.

 

[cchase]

I wonder if the ratios are the same as in the gasser and they just didn't change it?

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
It was turning just under half way to redline at 100km/hr.

2,000 RPM, would have thought it could drive a fair bit lower.

Didn't get upset accelerating from 60km/hr in 6th, so think taller, and 5 speed would get the job done.

Probably if they went to a lower rpm keeping the engine vibrations out of the cabin would get difficult to do. GM has a bunch of tricks to allow their DI 4 banger run lower rpms to keep it running "smooth" from the drivers point of view.

 

[andrewg]

Had a 6 speed manual in a Mazda MX5 a few years ago. Most fun I ever had in a car.

 

[rpn453]

I'd like to have an extra gear in my 5-speed, with the same first and last ratios. What's the downside to having more selection? It's not like you have to use every gear sequentially. I often skip gears.

 

[Dualie]

At what point are they just going to make them like 18spd's in semi trucks.

having a high side and a low side and the ability's to skip every gear.

In a car a standard 4 speed with overdrive is fine. if you want give us an extra overdrive for flat land cruising.

In trucks give us a granny low, 4 speeds and then an overdrive. that's all we want/need.

 

[Tornado Red]

I've got five gears, I'd like to have six. There have been a few times, when I was really getting it on, when I've shifted out of 5th and.... shifted back into 5th, thinking "[censored], wish I had another gear."

 

[rcy]

At least you can get a Subaru with a diesel...

 

[FXjohn]

Originally Posted By: rcy
At least you can get a Subaru with a diesel...


is that sarcasm?

 

[hardcore302]

I wish I had a six speed. Everything comes with six speeds, even civics. What the [censored]?

 

[Shannow]

6 speeds is good in the right car.

But a torquey engine, redlined at 4,500, with a flat torque curve from around 2,000 onwards, 3 of those 6 speeds are probably applicable at any given time.

 

[Silk]

With most engines these days having variable valve timing there is a seamless wide powerband - you could put the stick in any position and it'd be happy.If you have a powerband only 1,000 rpm wide a close multi speed is a must,but when you have available power from 1,500 to 8,000 rpm like a lot of 4 cyl engines these days it's just a waste....of gears and the money they are made out of.

 

[Tornado Red]

With that sixth gear, instead of 2700 rpm at 80 mph, I could be running at 2100-2200. So saving some fuel without having to slow down.

 

[rcy]

Originally Posted By: FXjohn
Originally Posted By: rcy
At least you can get a Subaru with a diesel...


is that sarcasm?


No, jealousy. I'm guessing the OP is in Australia. If you want a diesel in North America, it's VW for the masses, and Mercedes, Audi or BMW for those with more disposable income. (maybe a few others...??)

After Katrina, when gas was $1.40 a litre (what's that $4 a gallon?) Honda and Subaru to name but a few, were all planning on bringing a diesel to NA. After gas prices fell, these plans were shelved.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
6 speeds is good in the right car.

But a torquey engine, redlined at 4,500, with a flat torque curve from around 2,000 onwards, 3 of those 6 speeds are probably applicable at any given time.


I agree completely. My car has more than enough torque and under casual driving I find myself shifting 1-3-5 all the time just to avoid extra wear and tear on the clutch.

 

[NateDN10]

I like the idea of having 4 or 5 gears that are used frequently and a taller 5th or 6th for higher-speed cruising. But I guess that would depend on the engine and how it would last with wide throttle opening and relatively low RPMs for a long time.

My car has a 5-speed manual. During normal driving I shift at around 2500 RPM, and the spread between the ratios seems perfect for that. I'll sometimes skip 4th if I'm accelerating quickly onto the freeway, though.