Row, Row, Row your car...

[grampi]

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


With that much grunt? Harleys NEED the 6 speed. They are about the most underpowered, if not THE most underpowered bikes on the road. If you want to feel REAL grunt, try taking an 1800 or 2000cc v-twin metric for a ride sometime. Now THAT'S grunt!!!

 

[calvin1]

Originally Posted By: 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."
that was pretty much every day with a 4sp in my vw getting on the interstate: 1>2>3>4>DUH!>4

 

[Quattro Pete]

My 530i is a 5-speed and I think it's geared very well. The rpms in 5th are a tad high, but that's because there isn't all that much torque below 2.5-3k rpm. At 78 mph in 5th, I'm at about 3k rpm.

 

[FXjohn]

Originally Posted By: 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.


I heard rave reviews over that motor but I wasn't aware it had been actually released anywhere yet.

 

[rpn453]

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.


Yeah, I suppose a turbo diesel wouldn't benefit much from all those gears unless you're towing. Would a vehicle like that be used for towing much over there?

 

[Shannow]

Towing in Oz is typically a 6'x4' box trailer for cleaning up yards. Used to tow one of those with best part of a tonne of concrete mix in a 1.6L Renault 16.

Small vans are typically Commodore/Falcon Territory.

Large Vans (by Oz standards) are usually Patrol, LandCruiser, LandRover, Older F100a.