#16 of 18 Re: The Point [oldbearcat] by andre1969

Mar 28, 2011 (5:25 am)

Replying to: oldbearcat (Mar 27, 2011 9:03 pm)

In your opinion, do you think your Benz could get by with fewer gears, or do you feel that they benefit you? Since you live in a mountainous area, I'd imagine that you'd see some extra benefit to those additional gears.
 
I have to admit, the only thing I've ever driven with seven gears is a 1990 Montgomery Ward lawn tractor! I've driven my buddy's 2006 Xterra a few times though. It has a 5-speed automatic, and I don't really care for it. It seems to have no power in top gear, and when you need to stomp it and downshift, it seems like there's a slight delay, but then it kicks in and almost seems to take off TOO fast, as if it's compensating for that lag.
 
I'd probably get used to it if I drove it on a regular basis, but most of my driving is done with archaic 3- and 4-speed automatics, so to me that 5-speed just seems like it shifts too much. It doesn't lurch or clunk, but I can still feel it from the change in engine revs.
 
I used to think that my old 2000 Intrepid would have benefited from an additional gear. Sometimes in 4th gear, it would get a bit gutless, but then when it shifted to 3rd, it almost seemed like overkill. FWIW, at 75 mph, 4th was 2500 rpm and 3rd was around 3750. If they had stuck an additional gear somewhere between 3rd and 4th, I thought it would help a bit.

Replies to this message:

• oldbearcat (Mar 28, 2011 8:49 pm)

#17 of 18 Re: There already ARE transmissions... [lemko] by hoosiergrandad

Mar 28, 2011 (8:07 am)

Replying to: lemko (Jan 26, 2009 12:48 pm)

#18 of 18 Re: The Point [andre1969] by oldbearcat

Mar 28, 2011 (8:49 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Mar 28, 2011 5:25 am)