Who here wishes their 5th gear ratio was higher?

matt · Post by **matt** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:28 pm

I have spoken to a few mates with VW's (Mk4 golf, Mk3 golf, Polo etc) and they agree when you're cruising on the highway, the difference between 4th gear and 5th gear is not quite as much as we'd like! I feel it would be much nicer to have a "longer" (for lack of correct terminology) 5th gear so my car wouldn't rev so high on the highway. It sits at about 3000rpm at 120kmph.

Does anyone else experience this and I wonder if there is any way to rectify it?

Post by **panic-mechanic** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:40 pm

There is a difference between wanting a longer fifth and your car being actually able to use it. If you are running a 1.6 or so a longer fifth migh actally be worse for consumption and now you will have to use 4th on uphills all the time. If you have a motor that is very torquey like a 2l or so and it can oull a longer fith - sure all you need to do is pull off the gearbox end casing and change it. Can be done without even taking the box out.

Hotdubz · Post by **Hotdubz** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:44 pm

matt wrote:It sits at about 3000rpm at 120kmph.

Does anyone else experience this and I wonder if there is any way to rectify it?

Dude u should be happy with that, my car sits at 100km/h @ 3000rpm

Post by **Neuk** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:56 pm

I don't - He He

Gotta love 6 speeds

Sokar · Post by **Sokar** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:28 pm

Neuk wrote:I don't - He He Gotta love 6 speeds

You have 6 speeds because your ratios are so short to use the torque a diesel gives

Otherwise you would be doing 80 in 5th

matt · Post by **matt** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:33 pm

panic-mechanic wrote:There is a difference between wanting a longer fifth and your car being actually able to use it. If you are running a 1.6 or so a longer fifth migh actally be worse for consumption and now you will have to use 4th on uphills all the time. If you have a motor that is very torquey like a 2l or so and it can oull a longer fith - sure all you need to do is pull off the gearbox end casing and change it. Can be done without even taking the box out.

I have a '01 1.8 Polo Playa - I think it could definitely handle a longer 5th gear. Would it be very expensive to change?

Post by **panic-mechanic** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:38 pm

Don't know about cost. phone jaco and ask 0829697122

nick · Post by **nick** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:44 pm

happy with mine, redline is somewhere ove 200kmph, why would I want to go faster.

120 is around 3200 rpm or so, right on the power

Post by **Neuk** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:53 pm

Sokar wrote:
Neuk wrote:I don't - He He Gotta love 6 speeds
You have 6 speeds because your ratios are so short to use the torque a diesel gives

Otherwise you would be doing 80 in 5th

True, true

120 km/h is at around 2200rpm IIRC - nice and economical

Mk1 · Post by **Mk1** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:46 pm

wish i had a longer 5th.. could use it sometimes

Sacrilege · Post by **Sacrilege** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:52 pm

my mk1 gti is at about +/-2000 at 100-120 but to me it also sounds like the revs are high cause I would be driving then try changing gears to 5th just to find out it was allready in 5th,

its strange but I like it I dont have to down shift for "flyovers" theres always enough power in 5th,

matt · Post by **matt** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:57 pm

I just think it'd be a bit more comfortable sitting 200rpm lower at 120kmph. Would save me a bit of petrol too!

Post by **RoadHaWg** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:58 pm

dude the tdi ratios are actually LONG!

i think 4000rpm in 6th is like 210km/h. Imagine that ratio in a petrol....and being able to rev that to 6-7000rpm!!!

matt · Post by **matt** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:02 pm

RoadHaWg wrote:dude the tdi ratios are actually LONG!

i think 4000rpm in 6th is like 210km/h. Imagine that ratio in a petrol....and being able to rev that to 6-7000rpm!!!

Yeah would love to spend a little less on my petrol account

neighbourhood terror · Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:23 pm

Be happy you sit at 3k at 120, in the jetta I sit at 3500 at 120 ??

5th Gear ratio is .91
I've organised a .85 (I think?) just got to get time to swap it with the "donor"

Torker · Post by **Torker** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:43 pm

I remember the 1st Jetta 1's that came out with a 5-speed 'box had a 4+E configuration, 120 in 5th gear worked out to about 2200 rpm. The E stood for economy, not good for anything else tho!

Abnormal · Post by **Abnormal** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:09 pm

Torker wrote:I remember the 1st Jetta 1's that came out with a 5-speed 'box had a 4+E configuration, 120 in 5th gear worked out to about 2200 rpm. The E stood for economy, not good for anything else tho!

I think i had a box similar to that in my previous Cti

It used to do 200km/h in 4 at the redline... then i could change to 5th... and well slow down.... (wasnt that bad really)

on a down hill... (from beyers to hans strydom offramp) it could easily get the speedo needle to hit the odo reset button on the bottom of the clock.
Could pass many cars on topend...

Eldon · Post by **Eldon** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:26 pm

I would like mine to be longer, about 300 - 500 rpm.

Doesn't help me hitting 200 before a BMW does and after that they go by still going strong.

meox · Post by **meox** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:23 am

With the caddy I'm driving at the moment, I do 120 at 4000rpm. Not nice!!

LittleG · Post by **LittleG** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:02 am

Mk1 wrote:wish i had a longer 5th.. could use it sometimes

VR should do 250 in 5th but I guess you got the power to pull a longer 5th

neighbourhood terror · Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:45 pm

On the way to work this morning ... just saw the MFA still pretty economical

Pravz · Post by **Pravz** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:13 pm

very econimical. i also have the sdame box in my car. pointless for highway driving. but i dont get as gud fuel consumtion.

cashsafe · Post by **cashsafe** » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:52 am

I have a 2006 Caddy 1.9 Tdi

At 3000RPM in 5th gear I am doing 150 Kms/h.

Please if anyone here has the same vehicle can you tell me what yours is doing.

Who here wishes their 5th gear ratio was higher?

Who here wishes their 5th gear ratio was higher?

Re: Who here wishes their 5th gear ratio was higher?

Re: Who here wishes their 5th gear ratio was higher?