Originally Posted by
Padgett
Went to south Florida again today, ran 358 miles on 13.34 gallons of mix (usually alternate 89 and 93 at 1/2 tank. Mostly just on the turnpike with miles and miles of miles and miles then hop on 95 at Jupiter. Suspect a 6th that is closer to 2000 at 70 instead of 2600 would add a couple of mpg.
Noticed again that other than in slow traffic, first is useless since if try a fast shift from 1st to 2nd at about 25 mph the traction control kills everything for a few seconds. And Florida shell roads have a lot of traction.
If you disconnect your traction control, you wont have that problem anymore Padgett. And why are you shifting out of 1st gear so soon anyway?
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Akron, Ohio
Age: 64
Posts: 7,298
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Default Re: Is 1st Gear Too Short?
__________________1st. gear________________________final drive_______
____________________ratio_________________________ ___ratio_________
CROSSFIRE__________4.46:1_____6000 RPM = 31 MPH_____3.27:1______________
BMW M3____________4.23:1_____8000 RPM = 40 MPH_____3.62:1______________
NEW MIATA_________3.82:1_____6750 RPM = 31 MPH_____4.10:1______________
INFINITY G35________3.79:1_____6600 RPM = 38 MPH_____3.54:1______________
RX-8_______________3.76:1_____9000 RPM = 39 MPH_____4.44:1______________
SOLSTICE___________3,75:1_____6800 RPM = 35 MPH_____3.91:1______________
NEON SRT-4_________3.65:1_____6600 RPM = 36 MPH_____3.55:1______________
AUDI TT____________3.42:1_____6600 RPM = 34 MPH_____4.20:1_______________
CAYMAN____________3.31:1_____7200 RPM = 44 MPH_____3.88:1_______________
ACURA RSX TYPE S___3.27:1_____8000 RPM = 38 MPH_____4.77:1_______________
These are a few statistics of cars we should all be familiar with. As you can see, the XF has the dubious honor of having the "lowest" 1st. gear ratio of the bunch, but the "highest" final drive ratio too. Of course tire size needs to be figured into the equation also. The Miata is the only car that shares the Crossfires limited 1st. gear range at red line. Obviously we have nobody else to blame, or thank for these numbers except Mercedes Benz.
In my opinion, MB gave this drive train set up this particular 1st. gear ratio to compensate for the otherwise "high" final drive ratio. As annoying as it sometimes is to run out of RPM so quickly in 1st. gear, it does afford us the opportunity to "pull a hole shot" on some other higher HP. cars at the traffic lights. (Has anybody got a 60' time on a non-supercharged XF yet?) With the way the XF hooks up, it should be pretty good.
I chose a manual 6sp. over the automatic because I like to shift, after all, it is still a "sports car" right? But I know it probably feels just as "sporty" to some others with the automatic, to each his own. But one thing I've learned over the years, that when it comes to a sports cars, allowances sometimes need to be made. So I pretty much live with the short 1st. gear, and accept it as part of the "character" of the Crossfire.