Stock GT geared well/not so well for highway??

[MustangJunkie]

Driving on the highway in my Mustang is a bit of a conundrum. At around 60-65mph the engine will rev at roughly 3000rpm which is too high for my taste with respect to gas mileage. However, shifting to 5th gear brings the RPM all the way down to around 1700-1800 which is too low with respect to torque and power. You have to be driving at least 75mph to make 5th gear worth your while where the RPM will be over 2000.

Plus, I've been told that running that low in RPM makes you stick your foot into the pedal for any decent acceleration and actually makes the car LESS fuel efficient than driving at a higher RPM where you don't have to press the pedal in as far to get the acceleration you need. Is this true?

I don't know if I'm being too analytical about this but any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MustangJunkie]

Oops. I forgot to say that the car revs at 3000rpm at 60-65mph in 4th gear.

 

[Snarf]

I think you're way over analyzing the gear ratios man. 5th gear is an overdrive basically. its made to be really low so you can just basically idle along on the highway. Its not a passing gear. You consume less gas, less wear on engine parts.. and if you really want to pass someone, just double clutch to fourth and go right by em.

I toss my cobra vert into fifth as soon as I can get to it when I'm just trying to get from point A to B.

I have the stock 3.27's in mine and I've got no plans to change them

3.27 = teh **** on highways.

 

[spree]

However, shifting to 5th gear brings the RPM all the way down to around 1700-1800 which is too low with respect to torque and power. You have to be driving at least 75mph to make 5th gear worth your while where the RPM will be over 2000.

That's why I got 4.10's...problem solved

 

[MustangJunkie]

Hmmm...I wish I could test drive a Stang with 4.10's...

 

[ChrisWorrell]

Im sorry that I am such a noob at stuff but what exactly is double clutching? Someone please explain how to do it?

 

[john_324]

Double-clutching is a shifting technique from the days before synchromesh transmissions. It's not stictly necessary with a modern transmission, but some people still do it to reduce synchro wear and because it's fun. Basically, the idea is to match the engine rpms to the gear you're going into: clutch in, shift into neutral, clutch out, rev engine, clutch in, shift to next gear and finally clutch out. All pret-ty fast.

 

[ChrisWorrell]

nevermind i googled my question