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From: mberns@ut-ngp.UUCP (Mark Bernstein)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: To 5 speed or 4 speed, that is the ?
Message-ID: <2956@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 11:49:28 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.2956
Posted: Thu Feb 13 11:49:28 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 01:20:28 EST
References: <583@philabs.UUCP>
Organization: Univ of TX at Austin, Speech
Lines: 35


**

I wonder if the issue here is the gearing - the relation between the
transmission and rear end ratios.  To balance things out in terms of
performance and economy, don't mfrs. play with rear end gear ratios?
I bet there's a difference here between the 4 spd and 5 spd car you
mention.

One thing I've noticed (having one car with a 5-spd and another with a
4 spd) is that there's a trade off... you might get an "overdrive"
effect, slower rpms at top gear, with the 5 speed, BUT at the expense
of pulling power. You get a shortened power curve in the lower gears.  I'm
*constantly* shifting around in my 5 spd when in the lower gears - the
car just runs out of steam, and quickly; to keep the engine rpms in a
comfortable section of the power curve I've got to downshift - and
then, earlier than I'd like, I run out of rpms and have to upshift.
Especially in any kind of curvy, hilly terrain, such as that west of
Austin.  I guess the "closer" gearing ratios in the 5 speed account
for this.  My four speed can stay comfortably in a higher gear under a
wider variety of conditions.   And all this, I have a feeling, is
*not* a direct function of size and hp of the engine, etc.  The 5 speed is an
Accord (1.8 liter), while the 4 spd is a Volvo (a 2.1 l, but *much*
heavier).

Perhaps the best compromise would be a car with a true 4 speed (in
terms of ratios, etc.), with a separate, switch-on/off overdrive.  I think
that recent Volvo 4 spds have this feature - an "electric" overdrive
activated by a slide switch on the gearshift knob (but not my 1980, alas! -
my engine is doing anything BUT loafing in 4th at highway speeds). 
I'm sure many other cars have something like this.  Has anyone had 
experience experience with these?  Do they "feel" like 5 speeds or
something different?

mb