5-speed vs. 6-speed

[AHTOXA]

As far as torque vs revs, higher torque is far more practical in daily use than higher-revving, higher hp motor.

[gburn]

It's hard to say which I like better at this point. The 2L 148hp Mazda3 sedan was definitely more fun to drive than the VW GTI with the 2L turbocharged engine that makes more torque and more hp. The 2.5L Mazda 6 was not as much fun to drive as either of the above. All of these were automatic trans. Maybe has to do with the Mazda3's handling, steering, suspension, etc.? Since then I have driven a 2L Mazda3 with 5spd. manual. It was my first time driving standard shift and I was concentrating on clutching and shifting, not really putting the car through any paces. My frame of reference is my 98 Regal with 3.8L 6cyl automatic. I don't think I have ever seen it rev higher than 3000 and the engine is usually very quiet and smooth. I've never really felt it to be underpowered. It has just become dull. Initially I really liked what Buick called its GT suspension after driving big boats, like Crown Vics, most of the 90s.

[AHTOXA]

Interesting.

Could you elaborate a little more as to why did you think the 2 L Mazda was more fun than the GTI? Normally the consensus is otherwise, especially regarding handling - which GTI is good at.

[bde]

for me, the most important consideration between 5-6 speed would be the use and ratio of the 2nd gear.

On a 5 speed, 2nd gear is generally less usable at low speed (driving on parking lot etc) vs 6-speed, sometimes forcing you to go into 1st in order not to stall when going really slow. 6-speed will generally be more lenient in this sense by allowing you to stay in 2nd and not stall. 2nd is pretty much the main gear for city driving before making a turn - u'd always downshift into 2nd before doing major turns (i'm generalizing) and u'd get more from a 2nd gear on a 6 speed vs 5-speed in general.

Highway and overdrive stuff fro 6th was already covered here, so all in all it's 6 speed for me!

[Draklen]

I had both 5 and 6 speeds, with similar wheel horse power (and torque, I think) levels (5spd is AWD and 6spd is RWD, though) and overall range is the same. Below is the Speed to RPM for each gear.

Learning isn't any different between the 2, just remembering that there is now a 6th where R was heh.

I would like the 5spd ratios plus a 6th with a better overdrive for MPG purposes on the freeway.

[comingbackdown]

As far as torque vs revs, higher torque is far more practical in daily use than higher-revving, higher hp motor.

Right on. My Cavalier made more torque than horsepower, and that thing was cake to launch. My truck also makes more torque than horsepower, which occasionally results in accidental tire chirps. However, I can no-gas with the bed a third of the way full of wet firewood. Honestly, with a lot of torque it takes a bit more pedal control than I'm used to, but I'm getting there, and I enjoy knowing I've got pull when I need it.

[fa22raptorf22]

What sucks is that when I drive my five-speed integra I want to shove it into nonexistant sixth after I drive the goat. Ha.

Hondas reverses are under fifth so, this could be bad considering if your reverse lockout failed....

[theholycow]

My VW 5 speed has a push-down-into-the-floor lockout for its reverse, which is to the left of 1st.

[1974Alfa5spd]

My VW 5 speed has a push-down-into-the-floor lockout for its reverse, which is to the left of 1st.

So that's how you get into reverse on a VW...
I couldn't figure it out at all on the Jetta I sat in at the SF auto show. I pushed to the left of first and felt the lockout, but I couldn't get it past it. At one point I finally got it in, but once I took it out I couldn't do it again. (twhs) Same story on the Beetle (Girly or not, nice car).

[fa22raptorf22]

Yeah, there are some innovative lockouts out there.

Typically hondas lock you out from a 5th to reverse, but rather you have to pull to neutral first then move into reverse.

Others have the pull collar, or the push down....or...

The most innovative ive seen is bmw's friction lockout. Reverse is up left, and to get there you push hard to the wall to get past the detents. I love it.

[theholycow]

My dad's 1978 Chevrolet C20 pickup had a dogleg reverse. It didn't have a lockout, but the shifter went so far left and so far back that it was just about in the driver's anus when in reverse. There was no chance of accidentally putting it in reverse instead of the granny gear that was next to it below 1st.

[1974Alfa5spd]

Reverse is up left, and to get there you push hard to the wall to get past the detents. I love it.

See that's what I was trying to do to get the VW into reverse. I was pushing pretty hard on it go get it to go past the normal 1/2 gate (not so hard that I'd break it), but it wouldn't budge.

[fa22raptorf22]

Reverse is up left, and to get there you push hard to the wall to get past the detents. I love it.

See that's what I was trying to do to get the VW into reverse. I was pushing pretty hard on it go get it to go past the normal 1/2 gate (not so hard that I'd break it), but it wouldn't budge.

Dude, idk. All the VW's ive used, have push to the floor reverses, all the BMW's push hard left. I tell you that i am surprised when I get a pull collar reverse!

[1974Alfa5spd]

Dude, idk. All the VW's ive used, have push to the floor reverses, all the BMW's push hard left. I tell you that i am surprised when I get a pull collar reverse!

I didn't know that you had to push down. I thought it was BMW style and you just pushed to the left. I'm a derp, that's all.
I knew the collar style reverse when I sat into the STi.

[fa22raptorf22]

Dude, idk. All the VW's ive used, have push to the floor reverses, all the BMW's push hard left. I tell you that i am surprised when I get a pull collar reverse!

I didn't know that you had to push down. I thought it was BMW style and you just pushed to the left. I'm a derp, that's all.
I knew the collar style reverse when I sat into the STi.

Hah, I cannot stand the collar lockouts!

I am a big fan of the detent ones or the 'neutral then reverse' ones.