My Viper is a 5 speed....

RMBSRT · Aug 6, 2007

Does anyone use 6th gear? Who did the gear ratios on this car?

I did a weekend road trip in my 06 coupe and quickly realized that i needed to be near 100mph for the use of 6th gear....what gives? Looks like it is time for the 3.55's.

Did they design these ratio's with the expectations of buyers to go to aftermarket gears?

2002_Viper_GTS_ACR · Aug 6, 2007

No, they did it for gas milage and to lower gas guzzler tax, as if it wasnt bad enough.

Jon

PS. You should have plenty of torque so that 6trh still moves along just fine, with anything over 65 mph.

RMBSRT · Aug 6, 2007

6th gear at 65mph?? Are you kidding?? The engine would be at 1250 rpm or less ...kind of low for highway driving?

05Viper · Aug 6, 2007

When on a road trip, what's wrong with 1200/1300 rpms? I use 6th at 60/65 all the time. I can shift when I need to pass and it is not like it is chugging or anything.

fluffy · Aug 6, 2007

6th is usable from about 45mph. I use it all the time starting at about 50.

Bill Pemberton Woodhouse · Aug 6, 2007

Totally usable for highway driving, and understandable you haven't used it , as most cars don't have the torque of the Snake and folks think they have to keep a vehicle wound up.

Just cruise down the road, and pop it into 6th, as you will see your fuel mileage catapult. I would frequently get 23mpg driving to Kansas ( speeds between 65 to 80 mph ) in 6th and no of others who see the same --- and you are right you are loafing along at 1250 rpm much of the time.

Fast Viper · Aug 6, 2007

I agree with RMBSRT, I cant use 6th comfortably unless im at 100 plus. It feels like the car is going to die.

B767DRIVER · Aug 6, 2007

I agree with Bill P. I use it on the road and get around 22mpg. Cruises fine at 1250rpm.

viperDoug · Aug 6, 2007

I use it all the time about about 70 mph. It is simply overdrive on the highway and gets me better mileage. I actually have good passing power in 6th gear at 70 mph. Why would you want to keep the car at 2200-2500 rpm on the highway if you don't need to?

mike & juli · Aug 6, 2007

Bill Pemberton said:
Totally usable for highway driving, and understandable you haven't used it , as most cars don't have the torque of the Snake and folks think they have to keep a vehicle wound up.
Just cruise down the road, and pop it into 6th, as you will see your fuel mileage catapult. I would frequently get 23mpg driving to Kansas ( speeds between 65 to 80 mph ) in 6th and no of others who see the same --- and you are right you are loafing along at 1250 rpm much of the time.

Yep, what Bill said~~we use 6th on the highway and ignore those who want us to 'get on it' when they pass us by--yep, no matter what speed we go, there are always those who HAVE to go faster!! LOL.....6th is good for gas mileage, if you are concerned about that.
ENJOY!!~~juli

All Car Guy And Viper NJ · Aug 6, 2007

RMBSRT said:
Does anyone use 6th gear? Who did the gear ratios on this car?

I did a weekend road trip in my 06 coupe and quickly realized that i needed to be near 100mph for the use of 6th gear....what gives? Looks like it is time for the 3.55's.

Did they design these ratio's with the expectations of buyers to go to aftermarket gears?

I have the 3.55's and it is still uncomfortable at 75 in 6th. I can feel the engine is just not happy much under 2000. If I look in the rear view mirror I see a slight vibration in 6th. If you are changing gears go to 373 not 355 not big enough diff wish someone on here would have told me that. If anybody is using 6th in a stock viper at 45 or 50 they must be on pain medication or their engine was made on Sunday. My car has random tech cats and corsa track, I can feel every breath of the engine maybe I am just more aware of it, and being too concerned.

Kai SRT10 · Aug 6, 2007

Rather than change to 3.55 gears, you can do what I did; just change out 5th and 6th gears. I went with closer ratio 5th and 6th gears, so the car would pull harder in 5th.

Gas consumption suffered a little, but not much, and the car no longer bogs when shifting hard from 4th into 5th. 5th is now .8 and 6th is .62 (compared with stock gears of .74 and .5)

MikeR · Aug 6, 2007

6th gear became very popular with high performance sports cars. I remeber driving Vettes and my Camaro's back in 97 that had 6 speeds and allowed you to get 25mpg. Not bad for a High performance car.
Sure you never need to use 6th gear,but if your on a trip and just want to cruise, 6th gear is great and you get better mileage. I only use 6th gear on long trips.

Hamrhead · Aug 6, 2007

I had 3.55's installed a couple weeks ago. Now I can use 6th gear at 50mph if I want!

70 mph is about ~1,500rpm.

(1st gear is kinda fun now too!!

)

Peter Nielsen · Aug 6, 2007

RMBSRT said:
6th gear at 65mph?? Are you kidding?? The engine would be at 1250 rpm or less ...kind of low for highway driving?

I try to keep it around 1000-1250 all the time. That's why no other car feels asgood as the Viper! If you need to go above 1500 (except when accelerating), you might as well use a car with a high-rpm asian sewing machine type of engine... :rolaugh:

Both my Viper and Mustang run great on 800 rpm... My Z06 Vette was not so happy about those low rpms, so I never enjoyed driving it and got rid of it...

Peter

Jeff Lemke · Aug 6, 2007

I also use it all the time. If I try hard enough I can get 24 mpg if I wanted.

Jeff

dave6666 · Aug 6, 2007

I bought the friggin Viper to NOT get 22 mpg. I WANT to get 10 mpg cause that's what driving a Viper like a Viper results in! 6th gear is good for fuel economy at 150 mph+ only.

RMBSRT · Aug 7, 2007

Thanks for the input....

Maybe it will take some getting use too...but 6th gear at 65 in my car just does not feel right. It just seems like you are putting too much strain on the motor at such low rpms...

I guess that is the benefit of a a V-10...80% of torque at 1250 rpm.

(Still feels kind of strange...)

MQQNVPR · Aug 7, 2007

Yes, the 6th gear was designed for fuel economy -- as with the skip-shift, 2-3 lock-out -- but as others have said this beast was truly designed for low end torque -- remember it was derived/loosely based on the heavy-duty truck cast-iron V10. The EPA driving cycle developed for the Viper, with skip shift functional has the driver shifting into the following gears at the following speeds:

1st-4th at 15mph
4th-5th at 25mph
5th-6th at 35mph!!

It's got a forged crank with six main bearings -- it WILL NOT lug nor hurt the engine. It feels weird at first, but you've got to trust me on this one.

Corvette uses the same ratios, but not as well as the Viper. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT!

Warfang · Aug 7, 2007

The only issue and reason why I don't use 6th for cruising anymore is the battery. I was told that at such low rpm's sometimes the batteries don't charge... especially on a weaker/older battery. Mine died once on a long trip in 6th with the radio blasting AND ac. I got parked it, got back in my car an hour later, and no juice.

I've since gotten a new battery, but not worth risking being dead away from home.

05Viper · Aug 7, 2007

I've driven all over with Massachusettes being the longest trip and I have had no battery issues. I use 6th all the time for cruising at 55+. It does not feel abnormal to me, it is like the car is just idling at that speed. Laying in wait, coiled, but relaxed and comfortable - ready to strike!

RMBSRT · Aug 7, 2007

MQQNVPR said:
The EPA driving cycle developed for the Viper, with skip shift functional has the driver shifting into the following gears at the following speeds:

1st-4th at 15mph
4th-5th at 25mph
5th-6th at 35mph!!

Now that is funny! 6th gear at 35mph?? I guess you can't fool the EPA :rolaugh:

! Such games....oh well...time for a Paxton! :headbang:

DodgeViper01 · Aug 7, 2007

05Viper said:
When on a road trip, what's wrong with 1200/1300 rpms? I use 6th at 60/65 all the time. I can shift when I need to pass and it is not like it is chugging or anything.

Same here. I use it for long trips but around town or on short drives I rarely do because I tend to do a little spirited driving

.

Vypr Phil · Aug 7, 2007

Well, I like the title of this thread but I would have called it "My Viper is a 4 speed"

Some of us like to tool around at 1250 rpm.

Others like to get 24 mpg.

I say to each his/her own; whatever floats your boat or moves your Viper!

For another point of view, here is an interesting thread:

http://forums.viperclub.org/showthread.php?t=597896&page=2

For those who like their engines to scream near or at redline and do not care about noise or fuel mileage, there are some good choices in axle ratios (3.33 seem to be the sweet spot) and modified 5th and 6th gear transmission ratios as well.

A Viper can actually be geared to hit redline in 6th, but you will be rowing thru the gears a whole lot more.

Yes, you can turn your Viper into a real 6 speed and use all the gears.

As I said, to each his own.....

Vypr Phil

dave6666 · Aug 7, 2007

Vypr Phil said:
Some of us like to tool around at 1250 rpm.

Others like to get 24 mpg.

I say to each his/her own; whatever floats your boat or moves your Viper!

As I said, to each his own.....

Vypr Phil

This thread seems to be HEAVILY biased by people bragging about their ability to get great mileage. Did you forget to save some money for gas, or are you just hoping to save the planet in some microscopic way? :drive:

your Viper :burnout:

Somebody post something stupid they did, manly they did, or wasteful they did! And we'll all congratulate you! You'll be a hero!

Chuck 98 RT/10 · Aug 8, 2007

I'm not concerned about gas mileage. I'm going for 500,000 miles on the odometer. 1250 rpms will get me there with less problems than 2400 rpms. Factor in the heat difference and the benefit of low rpm increases exponentially.

And for the record, I've done as many high speed runs and 1320s as the next guy. I just don't see the need to be tooling around "at the ready." Besides, if downshifting requires more skill than you have, buy paddles.

dave6666 · Aug 8, 2007

Chuck 98 RT/10 said:
I'm not concerned about gas mileage. I'm going for 500,000 miles on the odometer. 1250 rpms will get me there with less problems than 2400 rpms. Factor in the heat difference and the benefit of low rpm increases exponentially.

And for the record, I've done as many high speed runs and 1320s as the next guy. I just don't see the need to be tooling around "at the ready." Besides, if downshifting requires more skill than you have, buy paddles.

A new twist to the plot... LONGEVITY!

05Viper · Aug 8, 2007

Longevity is a definate wish! I have 25,000+ on my 05 already and I hope to be able to pass this car on to my son one day. Like when he's 30 or 40 and won't kill himself!

MikeR · Aug 8, 2007

dave6666;2420774 Somebody post something stupid they did said:
This one time, I did a burnout.... and it was cool.

dave6666 · Aug 8, 2007

MikeR said:
This one time, I did a burnout.... and it was cool.

You are a HERO!!! Did you get great mileage during your burnout??? No, you weren't watching the fuel gauge! Your GF was "helping" you, and there's no cup holder for your beer! Plus you were doing a burnout. Great story, huh. A hero. :usa:

My Viper is a 5 speed....

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