The gearing on the R8

[HawkeyeJim]

Has anyone else been struck by how low our cars are geared?

I find 1st to be almost useless, and usually start off in 2nd to avoid having to shift after rolling a few car lengths. For that matter, I often just use 2-4-6 because the ratios are so closely spaced.
This means that the revs at highway speed are higher than necessary for such a strong motor.

On the track, I can't drop to 2nd for corners where I did in 911's, even a GT3!

I for one hope that the rumored 7-speed coming for MY2013 will not only add a gear, but maybe move the first 6 up a half-gear or so each.

-Jim

[the_buch]

I like longer gears also. Most manufacturers set up the first two gears to optimize 0-60 times given the inordinate focus on that one metric of performance. I'm guessing the 7-speed could even compress the ratios a bit :-)

[mngolfer]

I suspect they will go to higher gears so they can win the 24 hours at the ring and other venues. The only reason they did not win the ring was they could only get 8 laps per tank of fuel...but what do I know.

[willyjp]

http://www.portlandraceway.com/index...d=25&Itemid=45

The gearing is obviously optimized for 2 things: quick 0-60 (100kph) and high top-end for the autobahn. IMHO, the tranny ratios and final drive are NOT optimal for most of the typically short tracks we have here in the states. At PIR here in Portland, which is admittedly on the short side...but they have had Indy Cars race here, the top 2 gears are essentially useless. On the main straight, if you maximize your exit speed from the last turn, you can just barely touch 5th gear...without much chance to pull through it's torque peak, before you have to shut down for the chicane of Turn 1. At track days with Porsche's, I've noticed that even when I can "out drag" them, they've got gearing that lets them use their top end better down the straight. The entire rest of the course can be run in 2, 3 & 4 (mostly 3 & 4) since there's no other true "straight" (though the "back straight" is indeed pretty hairy in 4th since it has curve in it all the way!).

[NVRL8R8]

First thing I noticed when I got the V10, was that there definitely is some more room in each gear. I'm usually in one lower gear than I was used to with the V8. Unless I'm imagining this....

[KfabR8]

Somewhere there is a post that had the gear ratios for the two cars listed (I can't find it)

I want to say that it's the same gear box in both cars and that the higher reached speeds in each gear in the V10 are due to the fact that the V10 red lines a few hundred RPM more than the V8.

[randombloke]

there was this thread for the v8:

Max Speed in 4th Gear for V8?

SebringSilver posted:

That would be 123 mph @ 8,000 rpm.

For added clarity:

1st gear = 41 mph @ 8,250 rpm
2nd gear = 66 mph @ 8,250 rpm
3rd gear = 95 mph @ 8,250 rpm
4th gear = 123 mph @ 8,000 rpm
5th gear = 154 mph @ 8,000 rpm
6th gear = 187 mph* @ 8,000 rpm

don't recall a similar v10 thread

there's also this one with the specific ratios for the v8:

R-tronic Help?

j09333

Gearbox type
R tronic sequential manual gearbox

Gear ratio in 1st gear / 2nd gear
4.373 / 2.709

Gear ratio in 3rd gear / 4th gear
1.878 / 1.411

Gear ratio in 5th gear / 6th gear
1.126 / 0.928

Reverse gear / final drive ratio
3.713 / 3.462

according to posts on automotivetalking.com - the gear ratios are:

V8
4.373 / 2.709
1.878 / 1.411
1.126 / 0.928

3.713 / 3.462

- - -

V10

4.373 / 2.709
1.925 / 1.502
1.239 / 1.035

3.713 / 3.077

http://www.automotivetalking.com/aud...odel-year.html

http://www.automotivetalking.com/aud...i-quattro.html

[KfabR8]

That would be the post - I must have been thinking it was the difference between the two cars.

[randombloke]

here are the v10 specs from road and track:

gear - ratio/overall ratio/(rpm) mph

1st - 4.37/13.46/(8700) 48
2nd - 2.71/8.35/(8700) 77
3rd - 1.93/5.94/(8700) 109
4th - 1.50/4.62/(8700) 140
5th - 1.24/3.82/(8700) 169
6th - 1.04/3.20/est (8400) 196

Final drive ratio: 3.08

and for ease, the v8 in same format also from R & T:

1st - 4.37/15.13/(8250) 41
2nd - 2.71/9.37/(8250) 66
3rd - 1.88/6.50/(8250) 95
4th - 1.41/4.88/(8,000) 123
5th - 1.13/3.90/(8000) 154
6th - 0.93/3.21/(8000) 187 * drag limited

Final Drive Ratio - 3.46

[ignomini]

Porsche is famous for their long gearing. Don't expect Audi to move the ratios up. I think it more likely they will add an overdrive ratio. That's the part which amazes me. Test drove an S4, and it was turning something like 1,800 rpm at 70. The R8 is more like 3,000 at 70.

Out on the street I'd rather not have taller ratios. If you want to play within even remotely reasonable speeds, as it is you have to short shift to enjoy working the gearbox.