Unrealistic Gearing
Discussion
Quick question to the community. What's the most unrealisticly geared car you've ever driven? Overly long or too short, what's got the wrong cogs in it?
I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
V8C said:
Quick question to the community. What's the most unrealisticly geared car you've ever driven? Overly long or too short, what's got the wrong cogs in it?
I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
I have a 2019 C200 2.0 Petrol, probably runs the same gearbox. Pretty sure its more for efficiency rather then every been able to attain the top speed.I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
Getting high 45-50mpg on a long run out of a petrol car of this type isn't too bad going so no qualms here!
kambites said:
Surely the whole point of that gearing is that it gives optimal efficiency at a constant 70ish on the motorway, which being around 1300rpm sounds entirely believable for a diesel.
Understandable but it means the car has to drop 4 years for any useable power for a kickdown. That said, bmw diesels run really short gears and would probably hit redline by 150mph in top gear. High revs are a tad annoying on the motorway. Half way between the two would probably be more ideal.
Never had a car that was too long-geared but both a Mazda MX-6 and a Ford Focus MK2 2.0 Titanium had 5 speed boxes and would sit at over 3000 rpm at 70 in 5th.
Both desperately needed a sixth gear - the Mazda in particular would happily accelerate from 20mph in 5th and was definitely under-geared.
Both desperately needed a sixth gear - the Mazda in particular would happily accelerate from 20mph in 5th and was definitely under-geared.
Lotobear said:
My last Elan had a long first and a tall diff and would do 55 in first gear - you would get left on start but reel others in as they had to grab second before you did.
This 'stacked' 2nd and 3rd and made it lovely but getting off the line especailly on a hill could be a challenge
Sounds like the 'Bullet' gear ratios my dad used to have in his Mk1 Cortina - with a 'lumpy' twin cam it was interesting trying to pull away on an incline, however once 3000rpm was showing it was lightning quick. As you say the remaining 2/3/4th gear ratios were lovely and really closely-spaced so you were always in the powerband This 'stacked' 2nd and 3rd and made it lovely but getting off the line especailly on a hill could be a challenge
My 2006 Impreza WRX 2.5 has quite short gears, not in a bad way as it does accelerate well and needs it to stay in the sweet spot of boost, but the main issue is running at 70mph at over 3000rpm. It really needs a 6th gear, which the STi does have, but the early ratio's on the STi box are longer from what I can gather, at least that's my understanding of it...
V8C said:
I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel.
I think you've missed the point. The whole reason is has 9 gears is so that it CAN do 1200rpm at 65mph, because consumers demand the frankly amazing economy that car will give you. Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel.
V8C said:
Understandable but it means the car has to drop 4 years for any useable power for a kickdown.
Again, missed the point. Re-read that again - its amazing technology that allows us to have a 9 speed gearbox that can change down 4 gears in half a second with little more than a flex of the right toe!
bumskins said:
Lotobear said:
My last Elan had a long first and a tall diff and would do 55 in first gear - you would get left on start but reel others in as they had to grab second before you did.
This 'stacked' 2nd and 3rd and made it lovely but getting off the line especailly on a hill could be a challenge
Sounds like the 'Bullet' gear ratios my dad used to have in his Mk1 Cortina - with a 'lumpy' twin cam it was interesting trying to pull away on an incline, however once 3000rpm was showing it was lightning quick. As you say the remaining 2/3/4th gear ratios were lovely and really closely-spaced so you were always in the powerband This 'stacked' 2nd and 3rd and made it lovely but getting off the line especailly on a hill could be a challenge
...not so bad with the 3.7 final drive in the Elan but with the 3.54 I was using it took some getting away
V8C said:
Quick question to the community. What's the most unrealisticly geared car you've ever driven? Overly long or too short, what's got the wrong cogs in it?
I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
My old E350d was similar. 1500rpm was 90mph which was its happy place.I'll start. 2018 Mercedes C220d 9G Tronic
Honestly it's the maddest gear ratios for a 2.2 diesel.
You physically cannot get into 9th gear below 65mph and then it sits at 1,200rpm. This car is geared for 260mph at the red line, which is absurd for a 170bhp diesel. Even the C63S would run out of power before it ran out of gears with this box.
So much torque, the speedo moved faster than the rev counter
Edited by Mouse Rat on Monday 3rd July 17:00
9000rpm said:
Honda Integra type R does over 4000 rpm in top at 70mph. Makes long motorway drives 'interesting'
Yep... I remember it well 
FN2 was quite similar, driving to Glasgow and back to work in that was irritating at times
Porsche's gearing too tall for me.
I always feel like my MX5 would suit slightly shorter ratios, it's not bad, but shorter ratios would give it more punch.
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