To use or not to use 6th gear

[Viper Granny]

Ok so here's the deal, the consensus of opinion among the instructors at Skip Barber Driving School is that 6th gear should only be used if you're going over 100 mph...which I will NEVER do. Does that sound right? I have found that my awesome car loves 5th gear. She purrs like a...well not a house cat kitten...more like a Sabre Toothed Tiger kitten. My TT Stealths were comfy in 6th over 60 mph. I know, comparing apples to oranges but still. Any input is greatly appreciated. You guys are awesome and I value your experience. Thanks.

Michelle

[EZ 2B Green]

I think the first thing that has to be stated is which 6th gear ratio you are referring to, 0.63 or 0.50?

[NT-ACR]

At 60 mph in 6th gear, you should be around 1700 rpm, so if you're just cruising I would definitely say use 6th gear. However, I know most car companies advise you to vary your engine's rpms (basically don't set cruise control for 2+ hours) to break them in properly, so maybe that's why the Skip Barber folks were advising you to not use 6th. Can't really think of another reason.

[Stealth78]

I object. The first question should be, why the heck..... how the heck will you never go over 100mph??? I don't think I've ever taken my car anywhere and not gone over 100mph! That's normal right?

[Viper Granny]

I think the first thing that has to be stated is which 6th gear ratio you are referring to, 0.63 or 0.50?
Um...ok you got me there. How do I determine which one?

[Bruce H.]

6th gear is perfect for highway cruising and fuel economy. It can also drop rpms below the exhaust drone zone depending on vehicle speed. Were the instructors saying otherwise, or were they just referring to not using 6th on track?

[EZ 2B Green]

I object. The first question should be, why the heck..... how the heck will you never go over 100mph??? I don't think I've ever taken my car anywhere and not gone over 100mph! That's normal right?

Stealth78, talking about speed on the internet is like talking about Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is, you don't talk about Fight Club. :D

[Viper Granny]

At 60 mph in 6th gear, you should be around 1700 rpm, so if you're just cruising I would definitely say use 6th gear. However, I know most car companies advise you to vary your engine's rpms (basically don't set cruise control for 2+ hours) to break them in properly, so maybe that's why the Skip Barber folks were advising you to not use 6th. Can't really think of another reason.

Ok yeah that makes sense. But they seriously said they don't even use 6th when they go OVER 100. Maybe that's just racing. I'll use it with the appropriate rpm's. Thanks.

- - - Updated - - -


Stealth78, talking about speed on the internet is like talking about Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is, you don't talk about Fight Club. :D

Yes that.

[Dfunk]

6th is worthless under 2000 rpm with a big cam. Cruising 75-80mph it's perfect.

[EZ 2B Green]

Um...ok you got me there. How do I determine which one?

It depends on the car. The 0.50 started in MY 2015 in certain Viper models (i.e. the GTS). I think GTC's without the T/A package and all the ACR/ACR Extremes have 0.50. SRT's have 0.63

[NT-ACR]

Um...ok you got me there. How do I determine which one?

I forgot about that but he's referring to the change in 6th gear for all 2015 non-TA or ACR models (if I remember correctly). They got an even longer gear ratio which dropped the engine's rpms even lower than what I stated. My stats are the gearing for all 2014 or earlier cars.

If I remember correctly, you have a 2016? GTC which means you would have the longer gears.

[NT-ACR]

6th is worthless under 2000 rpm with a big cam. Cruising 75-80mph it's perfect.


Don't take this the wrong way, but how is this relevant? She has a (to my knowledge) stock car.

[NT-ACR]

Ok yeah that makes sense. But they seriously said they don't even use 6th when they go OVER 100. Maybe that's just racing. I'll use it with the appropriate rpm's. Thanks.

That is strange and you're welcome.

[Viper Granny]

It depends on the car. The 0.50 started in MY 2015 in certain Viper models (i.e. the GTS). I think GTC's without the T/A package and all the ACR/ACR Extremes have 0.50. SRT's have 0.63

Mine is a 2017 GTC. And stock.

[Policy Limits]

6th is finally functional and not an overdrive gear like in prior gens. It's use is appropriate on the highway on a road trip. RPMs drop, engine works less and mpg increases. 5th is usually just fine though. You do need to be up there in speed to hit 6th

[Stealth78]

Stealth78, talking about speed on the internet is like talking about Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is, you don't talk about Fight Club. :D

Roger that!

[Stealth78]

6th is finally functional and not an overdrive gear like in prior gens. It's use is appropriate on the highway on a road trip. RPMs drop, engine works less and mpg increases. 5th is usually just fine though. You do need to be up there in speed to hit 6th

Even though 6th is now used to obtain the cars top speed technically 5th and 6th are still overdrive gears as 4th gear is still 1:1.

[ViperPete]

I use 6th over 50 mph.

[dmann]

Definitely different gearing between my old '13 and the new '15. The '15 has a taller gear in 6th. Less drone too.

[Policy Limits]

Banging 4th is my top gear on the track. No where near 5th or 6th. On the highway, 6th is a nice cruising gear especially on a road trip or rally. Good point of how gearing changed a bit during the fifth generation model years.

[Viper Granny]

I drove interstate for a 2 hour trip today. I took your advice and 6th was great pretty much the whole trip. I watched my rpm's and shifted accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

[swexlin]

I like 6th in my 13, it's actually usable. My 2003 6th was good only at 70+ - did give me 22+ mpg though. 6th in my 13 is good at 60, and still have some passing power without downshifting.

So Granny, how are you enjoying the new beast overall?

[texasram]

I use 6th over 50 mph.

You to? we have too much in common, first how we wash our cars and now how we drive

[texasram]

I think this info was only for the track, they were not speaking of street use

[Viper Granny]

I like 6th in my 13, it's actually usable. My 2003 6th was good only at 70+ - did give me 22+ mpg though. 6th in my 13 is good at 60, and still have some passing power without downshifting.

So Granny, how are you enjoying the new beast overall?

Oh man I absolutely LOVE driving this amazing piece of eye candy!! Fun, exciting, an attention getter for sure! You guys weren't exaggerating! It shifts smooth, the ride is NOT uncomfortable at all for a car of this caliber. I hate NOT driving my car. Any excuse works...the sun is shining; it's cloudy; it's windy; the gas tank is down a gallon, better go filler up; it might rain next week or next June. Whatever. I just love looking at it in the garage even. I'm so glad I decided to have one more go around with a sports car before I'm too old to keep my license...and what a great choice I made! Thanks for asking.

[Dr.Ron]

I use it all the time on the highway or when I'll be consistantly going over 60 mph.

They likely meant NEVER on the track.

Ron

[One Viper Bite]

I use it all the time on the highway or when I'll be consistantly going over 60 mph.

They likely meant NEVER on the track.

Ron

Agreed. They probably meant never use 6th gear on the track. I don't know any tracks with a straight long enough to use 6th gear. Considering the car's top speed in GTS trim is 206 MPH, the bottom of 6th gear has to be somewhere upwards of 160+ MPH. No need to short shift into 6th when you're on the race track unless you're in the middle of a bumpy corner, in which that case you wouldn't be anywhere near the speed you would be to need to short shift into 6th.

[viperr]

I have a 2014 GTS with the .63 gears and I use 6th on the highway at 60 mph and it runs about 1700 rpm. I rarely get to use 6th on track as most of them are too short. I did shift into 6th at the Mojave Mile in April as it pulls the top speed in 6th. I shifted out of 5th at 184 mph, which was redline and the 6th continued to pull to 193.5. If I had a bit more distance I am sure it would have run 200, but my GTS is completely stock.

[DoctorV8]

I use it all the time on the highway or when I'll be consistantly going over 60 mph.

They likely meant NEVER on the track.

Ron

That is absolutely what they meant. 6th is great even as low as 65-70 mph, as long as you are on level pavement.

[Viper Granny]

That is absolutely what they meant. 6th is great even as low as 65-70 mph, as long as you are on level pavement.
Yes, and Florida is all that and more. Thanks for the input.

[Jack B]

Here is a speed calculator for a .63 sixth gear:

_____5th____6th
1800 53.65 65.57
1900 56.63 69.21
2000 59.61 72.86
2100 62.59 76.5
2200 65.57 80.14

[Terminator02]

Every gear. Use them. Every rpm. Use them. =good engine.

[EZ 2B Green]

I have a 2014 GTS with the .63 gears and I use 6th on the highway at 60 mph and it runs about 1700 rpm. I rarely get to use 6th on track as most of them are too short. I did shift into 6th at the Mojave Mile in April as it pulls the top speed in 6th. I shifted out of 5th at 184 mph, which was redline and the 6th continued to pull to 193.5. If I had a bit more distance I am sure it would have run 200, but my GTS is completely stock.

I wonder if top speed in a 0.50 6th gear equipped Gen V (non ACR) is now in 5th gear like it was in Gen IV.

[DoctorV8]

I wonder if top speed in a 0.50 6th gear equipped Gen V (non ACR) is now in 5th gear like it was in Gen IV.

No question. That gear is way too tall to put the car anywhere near its HP peak. Much like every 6 speed manual Corvette from 1989-2008.

[EZ 2B Green]

The Gen V does have 3.55 gears vs. the Gen IV's 3.08s and more HP/Torque so if it can pull more than 184 MPH in 6th (per Viperr's post) then it's still possible for top speed to be in 6th. Someone on this forum must know.

[Viper Granny]

Here is a speed calculator for a .63 sixth gear:

_____5th____6th
1800 53.65 65.57
1900 56.63 69.21
2000 59.61 72.86
2100 62.59 76.5
2200 65.57 80.14

Good to know. Thanks!

[Viper Granny]

Every gear. Use them. Every rpm. Use them. =good engine.

Where is that "Thumbs Up" button when you need it? So thumbs up and will do, T02!

[EZ 2B Green]

Doing some math and using Viperr's data of 184 MPH at 6200 rpm in 5th, that should translate to ~4000 RPM in 6th (0.50) ratio. At that RPM the V10 is putting out about 400 HP and 525 FT/LBS Torque. The question: Is that enough to overcome the aero drag so the car can continue to accelerate?

[ViperSRT]

So which current Vipers have the 0.63 6th gear?
ACR
TA ?
TA Group ?
Any other?

[Jack B]

The rpm will drop to 4100 from the 5/6 shift, it is doubtful, that it has enough torque (at 4300) to accelerate with all that drag. Keep in mind the max torque is at a higher rpm in the G5, versus the G4.

[EZ 2B Green]

Thanks Jack. The Gen IV would also be ~500 RPM lower on the power curve on the 5th to 6th shift point so another disadvantage there.

[viperr]

As I understand it the 2013 and 2014 Vipers had the .63. The factory info showed a top speed of 206, which may be possible with a long enough run. When I ran at Mojave I hit 183 mph in the standing mile and only gained 10.5 mph in the next 1/2 mile. It started pulling nicely after I shifted into 6th, but the air resistance was really noticeable. I wished I had checked to tachometer after my shift into 6th, but I was pretty busy focusing on the track ahead. I did see that I was still gaining speed at the end of the run. In talking to some veterans there, they said I either needed another 80 - 100 hp at the wheels or another 1/2 mile to make it to 200. The guy I talked to had a 1,000 rwhp Ford GT and he was running 235 in the mile and a half. When I got back I thought about doing the heads and cam and headers and returning, but it is a bit expensive to get another 10 mph at Mojave. I guess I will pencil the engine mods into my bucket list in pencil only.

[SilveRT8]

Here is a speed calculator for a .63 sixth gear:

_____5th____6th
1800 53.65 65.57
1900 56.63 69.21
2000 59.61 72.86
2100 62.59 76.5
2200 65.57 80.14

I like to cruise at 70 to 80 in my '13 GTS with .63 sixth, but the drone is ever present at those speed.
My ideal combo would be .50 sixth along with a 3.73 rear gear, to get me just Under 2000 rpm.
But that would involve changing trans gear and diff, wonder how big a job that would be. Is it better to change the whole rear diff (like Gen4) or just gears ?

[donk_316]

All TAs (package and not group) also kept the 0.63 6th gear.
So it's available 2013-2017

[texasram]

I use it all the time on the highway or when I'll be consistantly going over 60 mph.

They likely meant NEVER on the track.

Ron

i said this wayyy earlier in the thread

[Dr.Ron]

in said this wayyy earlier in the thread

Ok, so I was just concurring. ??

[BlueAdder]

You paid for that 6th gear, might as well use it.
I use it all the time to get a better fuel economy, although that sound somewhat silly to have Viper and MPG in the same sentence :D

[texasram]

You paid for that 6th gear, might as well use it.
I use it all the time to get a better fuel economy, although that sound somewhat silly to have Viper and MPG in the same sentence :D

ikr an acr at a gathering sat night's license plate said MPG HA

[ViperSRT]

All TAs (package and not group) also kept the 0.63 6th gear.
So it's available 2013-2017

So is this a difference between standard TA and the GTC with TA group? I could not find the trans ratios documented anywhere.

[BlueAdder]

ikr an acr at a gathering sat night's license plate said MPG HA

I want a custom plate for my ACR and some of my choices were:

LOW MPG (N/A)
LOL MPG (N/A)
LAMEMPG (Avail)
50YPG (50 Yards Per Gallon, which no one would understand)

But I'm going a different route :D

[Viper Granny]

You paid for that 6th gear, might as well use it.
I use it all the time to get a better fuel economy, although that sound somewhat silly to have Viper and MPG in the same sentence :D

Honestly, Blue, my DD is a 2004 F150 which I've had since new and it gets about 17 mpg. After 12 years of this, the couple of miles difference to drive a VIPER is unimportant. I love this car and btw, 6th is a great cruising gear, so you're right, bought and paid for so might as well use it.