WOW first thread-gearing

[desertrat]

I have a manual xa and 5th gear sucks. Geared way too low. I have never heard of gearing a car to be revving at 3500 at 70mph. Has anyone regeared or even thought about it?

[lazermule]

Originally Posted by desertrat

I have a manual xa and 5th gear sucks. Geared way too low. I have never heard of gearing a car to be revving at 3500 at 70mph. Has anyone regeared or even thought about it?

May not make a huge difference, but I would start with taller tires.

LM

[touriSt]

there's nothing you can do.. unless you go with a tranny from the echo

[HwyPilot]

I'm right there with you on the gearing - car needs taller gears all the way through. 1st gear is way too short, all the way through to 5th gear. My opinion? I'm with the poster above about taller tires, and I'm sure there's a way to correct the speedo. Plenty of room in the fenders, I have 205/40R17's and should've gone at least a profile up this last time - I didn't.

Seems to me TRD's wheelset and tire sizing was different (and larger) - might want to check that out and see if that's the case. I'd like to have lower revs to get better mpg. I've gotten my best mpg at 59mph (41) and my worst around 80 (33). For once, I have absolutely no idea what they were thinking in gearing this car the way they did. Way too short all the way through - it needs bigger tires (not wider, just more diameter).