Is 6 speed manual really better ?

[coyfish]

New friend of mine with an evo was kind enough to let me drive his car while he drove my speed. The car was pushing 350 wheel so it was no doubt faster but the thing that suprised me was the 1st gear. The evo was the only other sports car manual I have ever driven. It was so much easier and smoother being able to shift to 2nd at like 40 mph instead of like 5mph in my speed.

Maybe its jut my imagination but it would be interesting to drive my car in a 5 speed version with longer gears. The first gear is so rough and nasty feeling. The engine is rev'd up to 1 million and making all this noise yet im still only going 20 mph lol.

My question is basically is 6 speed better then 5 ? I understand shorter gears = more response but the point is you still have to shift. No matter how fast or how good you shift the point is you still have to take your foot off the gas which means you have to let the turbo respool / boost build.

 

[MAZDA_SPEED]

i feel your pain =[

 

[PCspeed3]

Its not the 5 or 6 speed trans. in general to be blamed, its the ratio of our gears. Our car is meant for acceleration and bottom end rather than top end. My old man's Z06 is a dream to drive because only 3 gears are needed for around town driving. That thing will do 60 in first gear because it is geared more towards top end.

 

[coyfish]

Yet it still hits 60 mph in like under 5 seconds

 

[Qwik6]

Yea first gear is very annoying. 2nd gear is too tall to take off in and have to ride the clutch a lot longer. I find it best as soon as you get it moving throw it in second fast and dont look back. But then again 2nd doesnt last too long.

 

[coyfish]

Interesting ill try throwing it in 2nd earlier and see how it goes.

 

[MikeLikesMazda]

if i really drive it hard 1st gets me to 25-27ish haha

but it pulls hard all the way to redline if that counts for anything