What's the difference?

[goaferboy]

What's the difference between a normal 5th gear and an overdrive in place of 5th? My old Scirocco just had the normal 5 gears and the one I'm hoping to replace it with has an OD instead of the normal 5th. What's the difference? Different ratio or just different names for the same thing?

[GTXTRA]

http://sciroccoregisterforum.co.uk/faq/ ... rboxcodes/
main difference = poor acceleration when in fifth compared to the std close ratio box in the injected cars.

my ex carbed 1.8 gtl has a (standard) longer 5th gear, at motorway speed its revving at 3k compared to 4k for the dx and kr engined cars.

[goaferboy]

So the overdrive has less acceleration? Does that mean it has lower revs at motorway speeds?

[the edmundator]

I presume you're thinking of the 4+E box? My 1.8 Golf mk.2 has the 4+E box and pulls about 3000rpm at 70mph vs. around 3600rpm at 70mph on the 5-speed GTII (from memory - so basically, yes, the 4+E box has longer gears, meaning worse acceleration but more refined cruising).

[goaferboy]

Yeah I assume it's the 4+E box since E replaces 5 on the gear knob.

That's good news if it's better at motorway cruising. I never liked to rev my old Scirocco above 3k, but always ended up having to rev more to keep to motorway speeds. I can live with the lack of acceleration in 5th. Let's face it, I'm not buying a Scirocco for the speed! If I wanted speed, I'd keep my MR2!


Cheers for the help guys!

[gt2]

hello luke

think i know the car your on about

4 plus e is on car, guys are correct the e is basically a fifth gear but slightly bigger ratio,

at 70 it will cruise all day about 3 k revs, not sure if this saves fuel or not but i get suprisingly good mileage out of it

remember though you still have to go through first, second third and fouth where all the fun is at, and with the weber probably not far away from injection speed

( but thats another debate )

e mail when your ready mate

[goaferboy]

Cheers. It was a question I meant to ask during the viewing, but I forgot!

I'll drop you an email in a jiffy!

[gt2]

e mail replied to

[the edmundator]

Actually, having driven the Golf to work today, I can tell you that 70mph is 2800rpm and 80mph is around 3200rpm. Looks like you'd be able to get around a bit faster (once you're up to speed).