What final gear does a 2003 350z touring model come with? Compared to my previous cars the z seems ridiculously geared. My camaro was at around 1k rpm in 6th gear and 55 ish mph. My z is at 2k rpm in 6th gear and 55 mph.

 

 

Thanks. That doesn't look bad at all. My camaro was 3.42. Didn't know 5th gear was 1:1 in these cars either. Thanks for the reply.

What rpm is everyone else at 55mph in 6th gear?

 

Automatic: 3.3XX FD
Manual: 3.5XX FD

 

Exactly the same as your car.

 

RANT

(if they didnt have Images blocked at work now I would have seen that someone posted a chart... thanks new owners!)

 

Sixth gear in the Z28 6-speed was around 0.500 IIRC. With the Z gearing, 55mph in 6th is somewhat under 2K rpm. Your observations appear valid Kimosabe. BTW, there are a bunch of rpm/speed calculators out there.

 

Good to hear. I'm kinda glad these cars come geared the way they are. Surprised people go higher still. Seems like first gear is too short as it is.

 

Use 2.809 [6th x diff ratio] times tire loaded to arrive at engine rpm.....~~ just at 2288 rpm at 60 mph [2098 at 55 mph] depending on tire make model inflation.

EPA highway mileage sticker is calculated at 55 mph average and never in excess of 61 mph in any emergency condition including a pass of other vehicles. No AC no passengers no extra trunk weight at 68-81F on Indolene Clear lab fuel.

Unfortunate most don't drive like that NOW [1980's with 55 mph speed limit]

The gear span and ratios were set as perfect quarter mile racers to optimize every tenth and mph in quarter nothing else was considered except that 6th gear created enough rpm to lugg a fully loaded AC on with fat [fast food challenged] americans up an incline at 55 mph without too much bucking.

As a comparison my 90 Q [4000 pounds] had a overdrive [4thAT] gear of 3.538 x 0.694 =2.445 total x 26" tires and turned 2000 rpm [12.5% less] at 60 mph but V8 have a bit more low load torque at that rpm vs high tune V6..........which need the extra rpms to function even in lighter vehicle.

When you compare the REAR WHEEL PEAK torque of the V6 manual with the 4AT V8 things are just about equal.

 

the Z is a 3.5 liter V6, not a 5.7 liter V8

it needs the more aggressive gearing to make 6th gear a worthwhile gear otherwise

my celica GT and my wife's 4 cylinder jeep wrangler in 5th gear are something like 2750 rpms

If the gears were weaker, you'd have problems with accelleration or too large of a gap between gear changes and possibly stall it

I bet you the LS2 at 1000 rpms has as much torque as the VQ35 at 2000 rpms simply because it's almost twice the size

 

A Z in stock form, the stock 3.6FD is perfect. If you are trying to save some gas, you shouldn't have bought a Z. lol

 

I'm not concerned about gas. I was making close to 400rwhp in a cam + bolt on fbody. I was getting 17-18 mpg in the city, compared to 20.5 in the 350z.

I love the z. Every aspect of it seems like made for me. I can't think of anything i would change on it. The car let's you drive any way you want without punishing you, as long as you have some basic knoledge on how things work. The only other car i was considering next to the 350z was a vette. But they are still too pricey for the same year milage as the z.