1st gear too short

[LENNY127]

I don't do any road course racing or autocrossing on ocasion some 1/4 passes and some brisk street driving (allegedly).
I am driving yesterday and I start thinking that I really dislike how short first gear is. I realize that all close ratio 6 speeds are like this and I since 99% of my performance vehicles have been Chevrolet musclecars (all automatics) it really kills acceleration times to have to shift so often to even reach 60mph.
Dont get me wrong I live my silver 07 ms3 and I have 23k miles to prove it but I dont see why first was made so short , even 2nd gear is too short specially when you really can't pull any more than 6k rpms. Anyone else think this way (I am sure I will catch slack for saying something negative but that is how I feel)

 

[silverspd3]

I totally agree. If we could hit 60 in 2nd gear the times would be easy low 5's given traction. !st gear is just about worthless even stock. They shoud have made 1st and 2nd a little taller for sure. I enjoy the wheelspin occasionally but I hate buying tires. Maybe a taller tire would make it better once we have a tuner to adjust for them? I dont know. The drag guys are putting shorter tires on if I remember correctly. The gear ratios are liveable but they could be better.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

What if you were to try and launch in 2nd? Build up enough revs and go from there?

 

[SwampAss]

I don't know that they are really all that short. We just get through them quickly. I think 2nd is good for 56mph

 

[ericrapp]

I don't know that they are really all that short. We just get through them quickly. ]

I agree!

 

[enganear]

Any set of gear ratios is a compromise. If all 6 gears were shifted upward, the MS3 would likely not be able to reach 155mph, a major marketing goal.

Having 6 gears instead of 5 is also a plus.

Personally, I would not change a thing.
-enganear

 

[SPEED305]

I don't know that they are really all that short. We just get through them quickly. I think 2nd is good for 56mph

is the 56 mph at "redline"? none of us ever up there.

 

[SwampAss]

I imagine so. That's Mazda's published stat.

 

[6262MS3]

If this car was a high-revver instead of a torque-monster the gearing would be perfect. But as it is I wish the final drive was a bit taller, then 1st would be more friendly and it would turn lower rpm's on the highway. The spacing between ratios is perfect though, not like my old 5 spd 626 which had such a huge gap from 1st to 2nd that I'd have to over-rev slightly in 1st to avoid falling out of the power band in 2nd.

 

[Kooldino]

What if you were to try and launch in 2nd? Build up enough revs and go from there?

Not enough torkz to do so.

:mad:

 

[LENNY127]

I will say this though, it will definitely help if the AP does unlock the throttle plate and we can run it up to 6750.

 

[amascio]

The gears on a MS3 kinda feel like the ratios were set up for a rally car instead of a street driven pocket rocket.

Having said that, I like the gearing these cars have!

 

[AutoXRacer]

I wish 1st and 2nd were slightly taller...

The current setup seems perfect for a NA engine...but for our torque rating, slightly taller gearing would have been nice.

 

[jeffmsp]

put bigger wheels and tires on the car or change the diff.

and people have been able to launch in 2nd in msps, you sure a ms3 cant?

 

[ericrapp]

Plenty o torque

Not enough torkz to do so.

:mad:

I have launched on stock tires in second at the track quite a few times I wouldn't recommend for sake of the clutch but there is def enough power to spin the hell out of them wheels in second gear launch. or you can roll it out in a 2nd.