Question about those manual transmissions...

[NJScorpio]

I've owned a 5 speed manual transmission, but it was in a sub compact, not a performance car. So I know how to drive one, I understand the concepts, and I get in what ways it can allow for greater driver control.

So now that we got that out of the way...

My question is for the older drivers here, or those familiar with older vehicles....how does the advent of 6+ speed manual transmissions impact driving compared to the 3 speed manuals of yesteryear?

On one hand, it seems like 5th gear+ is all overdrive, designed for high MPG numbers at highway speeds...but how does that impact all the shift points? Do you spend less time shifting in a 3 speed? Or does it make no difference because those added gears are typically higher?

I ask because there are many "traditionalists" who say that manual is the way to go, all the time, no matter what, in any car that is at all to be considered performance oriented. I'm not debating that claim. But I'm wondering if that mindset was developed starting with older cars, with less gears, resulting in more time spent utilizing each gear's power band (and less time shifting).

[ZED SLED]

I'm hoping the 6 Gen has a '6' on the tree

[hot_rod]

5th & 6th, think overdrive......

[snymat68]

The V6's have the Aisin AY6 trannys. With those, 5th is 1:1 and 6th is overdrive.
The V8's have the Tremec TR6060 trannys. With those, 4th is 1:1 and 5 & 6 are both overdrives.

I have a V6 (for now) and don't spend much time in 1st. Second really starts to pull. Jump to third pretty quick, then I usually just go straight to 5th for cruising the secondary roads. I keep 6th for the highway as the V6 doesn't have the torque to lug along in 6th on secondary roads, usually. Even the V6 has no problem pulling out in 2nd, which is what I tend to use when the roads are bad in the winter.

I can't speak for the V8's but I'd imagine it would be similar, just with loads more torque at the ready.

[KaBoom1701]

I hit 140mph in 5th gear the other day....

[gMcizzLe]

In the SS, 5th is overdrive and 6th is double overdrive. 4th gear is 1:1. I'm not that old and this is my first manual, so I'm not sure how it compares to old school stuff. My guess is that all the gears are typically shorter than an old school 3 or 4 speed though.

[NJScorpio]

Hmm, thanks for the informative posts guys...I thought that in both the V6 & V8, 4th was 1:1. I tend to drop into 4th at highway speeds (65mph+) for passing speed.

[thegreatwhite]

what do you guys prefer for quickest launching and accelerating from starting at say 0-15mph. i know 1st is good from a stop but my car likes to slide around in the back once i get to the top of the rpm in 1st. to me 2nd feels like it has almost just as much torque at this low of speed, i guess i can go do some more testing lol but im still curious what other experienced drivers think. im driving a 14 2ss/rs LS3

[Firefighter]

In my car which is a 1LE so the trans gearing for 1-3 is a little different I essentially feel and treat it like a 4 speed. She will still pull in fifth at higher speeds but 5 and 6 are essentially to get the rpm's down to save gas.

Seriously think 1000 rpm at 40 mph.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[NJScorpio]

Originally Posted by Comrando

Try 3rd. You should blow into triple 1s before you can think.

I use 3rd on the on ramps...never tried to see how far I can push it in 3rd...now I want to on the way home

EDIT: I saw your post in this thread here where you posted a screen shot of the top speeds for each gear...would you happen to know where I could find that for a 2LS?

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

In my car which is a 1LE so the trans gearing for 1-3 is a little different I essentially feel and treat it like a 4 speed. She will still pull in fifth at higher speeds but 5 and 6 are essentially to get the rpm's down to save gas.

Seriously think 1000 rpm at 40 mph.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

For what its worth, first, fifth and sixth in a 1LE and a standard SS are almost identical rations. Second through fourth is the difference.

[Firefighter]

Originally Posted by gajagfan

For what its worth, first, fifth and sixth in a 1LE and a standard SS are almost identical rations. Second through fourth is the difference.

4th is still 1:1 I was thinking about it after I wrote that I think it might just be 2 and 3... IDK honestly. I should probably look into it just to know.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[gajagfan]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

4th is still 1:1 I was thinking about it after I wrote that I think it might just be 2 and 3... IDK honestly. I should probably look into it just to know.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Your right, fourth is 1:1 in both, just the different rear ends. I will say that as soon as I can without lugging the engine, I am going to a high gear for fuel economy. If I am playing, I will use the first four primarily as you stated. When you watch the videos of 1LE's at the track, it seems it is primarily 2, 3 and 4, and 5 every so often.

[Evergreen6]

Originally Posted by NJScorpio

I've owned a 5 speed manual transmission, but it was in a sub compact, not a performance car. So I know how to drive one, I understand the concepts, and I get in what ways it can allow for greater driver control.

So now that we got that out of the way...

My question is for the older drivers here, or those familiar with older vehicles....how does the advent of 6+ speed manual transmissions impact driving compared to the 3 speed manuals of yesteryear?

On one hand, it seems like 5th gear+ is all overdrive, designed for high MPG numbers at highway speeds...but how does that impact all the shift points? Do you spend less time shifting in a 3 speed? Or does it make no difference because those added gears are typically higher?

I ask because there are many "traditionalists" who say that manual is the way to go, all the time, no matter what, in any car that is at all to be considered performance oriented. I'm not debating that claim. But I'm wondering if that mindset was developed starting with older cars, with less gears, resulting in more time spent utilizing each gear's power band (and less time shifting).

It developed for the reason you stated. Some of that truth has changed today with the development of electronically controlled automatics and DCT's (and number of gears), but manuals historically had more gears than automatics, with tighter ratios, allowing the driver to better keep an engine in its power-band over a changing course. Engine technology was a lot more basic back then. Automatic transmission technology was really basic too. In the days of the 3-speed manual, there were 2-speed automatics!

Electronically controlled automatics in passenger cars only became a thing about 25 years ago, and it wasn't until the last 10-15 years when automatics really started becoming interesting (IMHO). Things like DCT's, hydraulic automatics that rev-match, different shift programs, electronic line locking, launch control, and shifting speeds that cannot be out shifted by even the most skilled drivers. Skip-shifting is much improved, but not perfect.

There are people like myself that will be holding onto a manual gear shift lever until the day I die... I find them more fun to drive, I like them better off-road, so I stand here to say to all the pro-automatic people, "get off my lawn!" It's what I prefer, not what is always better, but I think we the "traditionalists" still have a very valid point. It's been about the greater number of gears, and now that the tables have flipped in that regard, it's still about driver control.