Good point, though of course, half the fun is in the shifting.
However, that brings up the other part of the question - is OD different
than 5th gear in ways other than the fact that it simply doesn't have a
stick position? Is pushing/sliding the little OD button effectively the
same as choosing 5th gear or does it do something very different?
TIA,
- Tab
At 02:06 PM 2/21/00 -0500, wizardz wrote:
>Stop and think of the era in which the cars were designed.
>Yes the major market was the US but they didn't design them
>by driving around on US roads. No it was the small country
>lanes regional to the factory.
>The speeds are up and down, constantly through the gears.
>....not flat out cruising and 70+ like the US.
> The requirements for gearing were dictated by the design.
>
>Lightweight... high ratio drive line.. scoot down that crooked lane....
>missiles.
>with 10 to 50kph Accel. times of less than 3 seconds.
>
>
>
>
>Paul Tegler wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
>OBie - '73 BGT - daily driver
>http://www.teglerizer.com/mgstuff/ob_description.htm
>Punkin' - '78 Spitfire - corner ripping screamer
>http://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/spit78.htm
>Lil' Greenee - '73 RWA Midget - lady killer
>http://www.teglerizer.com/midgetstuff/index.html
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tab Julius <tab@penworks.com>
>To: MGS@autox.team.net <MGS@autox.team.net>
>Date: Monday, February 21, 2000 1:43 PM
>Subject: Why OD on 4spd and not just 5spd?
>
>
>
>I apologize if a greater mechanical background for me would have made this
>obvious... but:
>
>I first saw OD on an automatic. My Toyota automatic has one, as have other
>vehicles I've owned, and I've always thought of it as the equivalent of 5th
>gear (and a gear "over drive", fwiw).
>
>My Saab has 5 speeds, manual, and no OD. This reinforces my "OD=5th gear"
>assumption.
>
>So, when I had a chance to think about it, I realized that the 4spd + OD on
>MGs didn't fit into the equation. Is my understanding of OD wrong? Why
>not just have 5 speeds / stick positions? Why 4 speeds plus a switch?
>
>Any enlightenment appreciated...
>
>Thanks
>
>- Tab
|