Long legged cruisers

[phil_cardiff]

I've always admired cars that have loooong top gears for crusing. I recently drove a Volvo V40 that span at about 2800rpm at 8 leptons, it made for a very nice cruiser.

So, which other cars, with good refinement, cruise at 7 to 8 leptons at low rpm?

[Vulgar LS2]

My Monaro is sub 2000rpm at those speeds.

[BigS]

The Chevy Suburban hire car I had last year with a 6 speed auto:

[300bhp/ton]

Vulgar LS2 said:

My Monaro is sub 2000rpm at those speeds.

Same here with my Camaro, ok well it's the auto so it's 40mph per 1000rpm in top, not quite as tall as the 6 speeders.

[k15tox]

yep think 80mph was just under 2k in my cv8

just a economy OD though, think 6th is good for 254mph!

you would need some serious power to pull that!

[phil_cardiff]

Nothing European then?

[Mr2Mike]

For an older car my Fiat Coupe is quite relaxing on a run, though not in the same league as the big V8 autos. It's about 3000RPM at an indicated 80 and the later six speed cars had slightly taller gearing again.

[MarkRSi]

My MR2 roadster is rather surprisingly geared for 2800ish rpm at 70mph in 6th. Of course the soft roof, lightweight etc. means it's not the most refined at those speed anyway. Would a six speed Corolla be similar?

Lexus 220d is supposed to have epically tall gearing?

[Dr Interceptor]

Our Jensen Interceptor with the 440 cu in V8 sits at around 2500 rpm at 80-85mph on its 3-speed auto box!

Can't advise on an accurate speed as I doubt the speedo is that accurate!

Anyway, it makes for a very effortless cruise

[randomwalk]

My GTO 6 speed was around 80-85mph at 2500rpm. Low cruising revs are best attained with a large capacity engine that relies on torque, coupled with a high final gear ratio.

[Caulkhead]

phil_cardiff said:

I've always admired cars that have loooong top gears for crusing. I recently drove a Volvo V40 that span at about 2800rpm at 8 leptons, it made for a very nice cruiser.

So, which other cars, with good refinement, cruise at 7 to 8 leptons at low rpm?

That's quite low geared by todays standards - the VX Insignia hire car I had a couple of weeks ago was an 'ecoflex' wotsit (spit!) and that was showing 1600rpm at 70mph. Couldn't pull the skin off a skimmed milk rice pudding either and sounded like a skeleton wking in a biscuit tin, but that's another story.

[The Wookie]

Lotus Evora with the standard ratio gearbox, even my sport ratio one is ~2400RPM at 70!

[Fas1975]

Vauxhalls are usually pretty low geared.

From memory, 300C was at around 1800 RPM in top gear at 75mph

[mnkiboy]

MarkRSi said:

Lexus 220d is supposed to have epically tall gearing?

Due to which it got bad reviews due to being 'off boost' at the UK motorway speed limit, and therefore they brought out a Sport version with shorter gearing.

[SD1992]

My Mondeo ST24 is actually good for this, sits around 2500 at 70 which is nice - compared to 3000-3500 from my old 1.6 Astra!

[muthaducka]

I would love to know the the full spec of a vetra diesel hire car I had for a couple of days.

It was a diesel auto, older shape and must of had some serious overdrive going on. It was sub 2.5k at 10 leptons - phenomenal cruising ability. Should have asked the mrs to take a photo but then that would mean waking her up!

[k15tox]

Caulkhead said:

sounded like a skeleton wking in a biscuit tin, but that's another story.

hahahahaha!

[phil_cardiff]

muthaducka said:

I would love to know the the full spec of a vetra diesel hire car I had for a couple of days.

It was a diesel auto, older shape and must of had some serious overdrive going on. It was sub 2.5k at 10 leptons - phenomenal cruising ability. Should have asked the mrs to take a photo but then that would mean waking her up!

That's incredible. I know diesels don't rev as high but still.

[Deva Link]

phil_cardiff said:

Nothing European then?

I don't know the numbers, but a BMW 530d 8 speed auto can't be doing many revs at 70MPH.

My Merc C270 is only just on 2K RPM at 70 and I think the estates, such as mine, are a bit lower geared than the saloons.

[mrmr96]

Deva Link said:

I don't know the numbers, but a BMW 530d 8 speed auto can't be doing many revs at 70MPH.

My Merc C270 is only just on 2K RPM at 70 and I think the estates, such as mine, are a bit lower geared than the saloons.

BMW 730d (6sp Auto) does just under 2,000rpm at 80mph. It's ace, as it has plenty of torque from the 3.0L straight 6 engine, and the extra weight and long wheel base make it nice and solid at speed too.