Acceleration And Gearing

[MacRS200]

Found THIS article whilst browsing. Found it quite interesting.

[maneesh]

I agree with you, it's a very interesting article. Most people are so obsessed by 0-60 times that they don't understand that that statistic doesn't correlate well to how it drives around town at low revs etc.

I test drove so many cars before lumping for the GS. It's got low gearing, but it just makes for a relaxing drive as you don't have to rev the nuts off it to drive in normal traffic.

Interestingly enough, when BMW release a "Sport" model, not only do they change the seats and steering wheel, but they actually make changes to the gearing and rear final drive. Hence, the "Sport" models are actually quicker than the non-Sport models. I know Lexus don't do the same, it's mostly cosmetic and handling upgrade.

[spitfire]

BM Sport models have the same gearing as the SE and ES models, the last proper BM Sport models where the E30 Sports which had an LSD and different gearing.

My last 2 previous cars before my GS where E46 325se and then a 325 Sport, no difference in performance at all betwen the 2.

just my 2p worth.

[Roonaldo]

Interestingly enough, when BMW release a "Sport" model, not only do they change the seats and steering wheel, but they actually make changes to the gearing and rear final drive. Hence, the "Sport" models are actually quicker than the non-Sport models. I know Lexus don't do the same, it's mostly cosmetic and handling upgrade.

Not quite true. The Lexus IS220d Sport has different gearing to the other diesels.

[maneesh]

BM Sport models have the same gearing as the SE and ES models, the last proper BM Sport models where the E30 Sports which had an LSD and different gearing.

My last 2 previous cars before my GS where E46 325se and then a 325 Sport, no difference in performance at all betwen the 2.

just my 2p worth.

Ok, I was referring to my knowledge of the old 7 series sport models. I don't know what BMW do with Sport models nowadays. See this blurb I got from a review of a 1999 740i Sport

"The Sport also has a shorter final drive ratio, 3.15:1 instead of the usual 2.81:1, for quicker acceleration. It also includes a torque converter with a higher stall speed for a quicker jump off the line. "

The Sport also has a shorter final drive ratio, 3.15:1 instead of the usual 2.81:1, for quicker acceleration. It also includes a torque converter with a higher stall speed for a quicker jump off the line.

Not quite true. The Lexus IS220d Sport has different gearing to the other diesels.

Thanks for pointing out. I just realised that the gear ratios for new IS220d are identical, but the final drive ratio is shorter for the Sport (3.2 vs 2.474). I suppose it just means the car is quicker in certain aspects only, since the the conventional benchmark of 0-60 is identical to the non-Sport model. (I've taken my stats from the Nov 2005 press release). I don't believe that Lexus made any gearing changes for the mk1 or mk2 GS Sport models though...

[spitfire]

[

Ok, I was referring to my knowledge of the old 7 series sport models. I don't know what BMW do with Sport models nowadays. See this blurb I got from a review of a 1999 740i Sport

"The Sport also has a shorter final drive ratio, 3.15:1 instead of the usual 2.81:1, for quicker acceleration. It also includes a torque converter with a higher stall speed for a quicker jump off the line. "

The Sport also has a shorter final drive ratio, 3.15:1 instead of the usual 2.81:1, for quicker acceleration. It also includes a torque converter with a higher stall speed for a quicker jump off the line.

Not quite true. The Lexus IS220d Sport has different gearing to the other diesels.

Thanks for pointing out. I just realised that the gear ratios for new IS220d are identical, but the final drive ratio is shorter for the Sport (3.2 vs 2.474). I suppose it just means the car is quicker in certain aspects only, since the the conventional benchmark of 0-60 is identical to the non-Sport model. (I've taken my stats from the Nov 2005 press release). I don't believe that Lexus made any gearing changes for the mk1 or mk2 GS Sport models though...

BM Sport models on all are the new cars are just trim levels really, slightly lowered, sports seats, M gear knob & steering wheel, M alloys etc.

Mind you most manufacturers "Sport" models are just a trim level, you have to buy the branded M3, RS4 etc cars to get proper sporty specs.

Rip off if you ask me.