Why do 6-speed manuals exist?

[69GTX]

For "fun" driving 5 gears in my Camaro's T56 is all you need. But if you want to save on gas on the highway when plowing along at 70 mph or higher, then 6th gear drops the overall drive ratio another 33%. 1800 rpm at 80 mph in 6th. 5th and 6th gear on this car are very different.

For those that want to hop up their rear ends from the stock 3.42 gear to say 3.73's / 4.10's or even 4.56's that 6th gear now becomes an excellent overall highway gear.

 

[veryHeavy]

Originally Posted By: Rand
you have your choice of stringing it out at 5000rpm in second or bogging down in 3rd.

enter a 6speed transmission now with closer gear spacing you have more choices.

Well yes that does make sense.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: topbliss
The more gears you have, the closer the ratios can be to each other keeping the engine in the powerband after you shift. This will give you more power and better gas mileage
+1 Perhaps Semi tractors should get rid of a half dozen ratios to be easier to drive, at the cost of pulling power and fuel consumption.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder





MaaaaaaN!

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: 69GTX
For "fun" driving 5 gears in my Camaro's T56 is all you need. But if you want to save on gas on the highway when plowing along at 70 mph or higher, then 6th gear drops the overall drive ratio another 33%. 1800 rpm at 80 mph in 6th. 5th and 6th gear on this car are very different.

For those that want to hop up their rear ends from the stock 3.42 gear to say 3.73's / 4.10's or even 4.56's that 6th gear now becomes an excellent overall highway gear.






Well put, but is the seventh gear in the new Vettes just for ultra high speeds, whereas the T56 is just good for moderate high speeds?

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
For "fun" driving 5 gears in my Camaro's T56 is all you need. But if you want to save on gas on the highway when plowing along at 70 mph or higher, then 6th gear drops the overall drive ratio another 33%. 1800 rpm at 80 mph in 6th. 5th and 6th gear on this car are very different.

For those that want to hop up their rear ends from the stock 3.42 gear to say 3.73's / 4.10's or even 4.56's that 6th gear now becomes an excellent overall highway gear.






Well put, but is the seventh gear in the new Vettes just for ultra high speeds, whereas the T56 is just good for moderate high speeds?

I am pretty sure there are 200 mph T56 cars. The TR6060 I the younger brother of the T56. But 69GTX is correct 6th gear is a serious overdrive in that car. Really good after 60.
So nice on the highway. F-bodies, current Camaros have had 6 speeds since 1993.

 

[KitaCam]

I'm with Sup....preferring the 5-speed over the 6-speed...it gives me greater rpm range in each gear for less shifting around town...

 

[vintageant]

Why do road bikes have 15 speed? Discuss.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: KitaCam
I'm with Sup....preferring the 5-speed over the 6-speed...it gives me greater rpm range in each gear for less shifting around town...


Depends on the transmission and gearing. My Mustang was a 5spd, the M5 was a 6spd. I did no more shifting in the M5 than I did in the Mustang. However on the highway, I had that extra gear to lower the RPM that much more on the bimmer, that was lacking on the Ford.

 

[NateDN10]

Originally Posted By: vintageant
Why do road bikes have 15 speed? Discuss.

Or 21.

Unlike a car transmission, you're not meant to shift through all of them. It's really more like a 5 (or 7 speed) with 3 ranges.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: KitaCam
I'm with Sup....preferring the 5-speed over the 6-speed...it gives me greater rpm range in each gear for less shifting around town...

Sure in a 150hp 16 second Camry that works fine.

But having an extra overdrive in the Trans Am makes all the difference in the world. I use the first 4 gears around town, 5th gear when going under 60.
Your car does not have the torque of say an LS1. In 6th gear going 45-50 up a 7 percent grade hill I mash the go pedal and don't have to shift it just does what it has to. No lugging, no crying, just sweet LS1 action...

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: NateDN10
Originally Posted By: vintageant
Why do road bikes have 15 speed? Discuss.

Or 21.

Unlike a car transmission, you're not meant to shift through all of them. It's really more like a 5 (or 7 speed) with 3 ranges.


Who say you have to shift through all gears in an automotive transmission that is not sequential? Under heavy acceleration, the third gear will get most cars up to the highway speed, that when I usually skip to the final gear.

 

[cb_13]

Originally Posted By: rideahorse
I don't know why automatics exist. Just for people that don't have the ability to drive.


Have you ever backed a trailer through a muddy barn lot, into a dark barn on a sunny day? Tires slipping trailer sliding around can't see a darn thing. That's one reason automatics exist, they make situations like that much easier. And yes I know how to drive a manual.

One of the others is warranty claims. Every 16-20 year old male thinks they can operate a clutch properly and the majority can not.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
I'm with Sup....preferring the 5-speed over the 6-speed...it gives me greater rpm range in each gear for less shifting around town...

Sure in a 150hp 16 second Camry that works fine.

But having an extra overdrive in the Trans Am makes all the difference in the world. I use the first 4 gears around town, 5th gear when going under 60.
Your car does not have the torque of say an LS1. In 6th gear going 45-50 up a 7 percent grade hill I mash the go pedal and don't have to shift it just does what it has to. No lugging, no crying, just sweet LS1 action...

Yup! The M5 would climb Everest in 6th. The Jeep would do it in 8th. Power is a wonderful thing

 

[02SE]

I have two cars with 6-speed manuals.

One allows cruising at 1400rpm at 70 mph, on any Interstate highway. It's a relatively light Roadster, with lots of power even at that low RPM. It can actually get decent MPG doing so.

The other is a smaller engine, in a heavier car, but it's geared a bit lower, and can also stay in 6th on any Interstate highway.

Why do I like more gears even with powerful engines? Versatility.

 

[Carbuff]

No one has mentioned the early FWD Dodge Colts (Mitsubishi Mirage, outside USA) with the 'Twin-Stick".


Those things had 8-speed 'boxes (4 speed, with a high-low range that worked on all gears). It was always fun SHIFTING low to high in reverse...

As stated (most appropriately, in regards to bicycles), it was always easy to keep the little engine in its most effective torque range.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

My old man learned to drive a manual on the Model T he bought from his brother when he was 14 and thought that anybody who would buy a stick after automatics were invented was a moron!!
;^)

 

[bigt61]

Why do 6-speed manuals exist? Because when you're not in stop & go traffic all the time, they are much more fun to drive. Of course they make you put down your coffee & smart phone and that won't work for many.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
I'm with Sup....preferring the 5-speed over the 6-speed...it gives me greater rpm range in each gear for less shifting around town...

Sure in a 150hp 16 second Camry that works fine.

But having an extra overdrive in the Trans Am makes all the difference in the world. I use the first 4 gears around town, 5th gear when going under 60.
Your car does not have the torque of say an LS1. In 6th gear going 45-50 up a 7 percent grade hill I mash the go pedal and don't have to shift it just does what it has to. No lugging, no crying, just sweet LS1 action...

Did some poking around. 60mph is 2066rpm in sixth and 2316rpm in 5th. Bigger rpm difference than I recall. But it's a gutless motor, so zero difference in feel. Bigger difference at 80mph though: 2755 vs 3089 rpm. I'll buy that it makes a difference there.

Heh, 8% or so and I'm wondering if I should go for third. Not even 180 ft-lb of torque, and I think it's up around 4k at that.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: topbliss
The more gears you have, the closer the ratios can be to each other keeping the engine in the powerband after you shift. This will give you more power and better gas mileage
Or the most efficient operating area in the power band. There are advantages up to a point