MR2 Owners Club

I've got a fairly straightforward question regarding the S54 transmission. On a UK model 3S-GE, is 5th gear considered an overdrive gear? (as in a gear with a ratio less than 1:1, or meaning 4th gear would achieve a higher top speed)

Thanks

webb2800 wrote: ↑24/11/22 5:42 I've got a fairly straightforward question regarding the S54 transmission. On a UK model 3S-GE, is 5th gear considered an overdrive gear? (as in a gear with a ratio less than 1:1, or meaning 4th gear would achieve a higher top speed)

Thanks

I believe these are the gear ratios for the S54 box
3.285 1.960 1.322 1.028 0.820 Diff: 3.944
Hope this helps

As the car will not pull anything near peak revs in 5th, I would call it an overdrive, like most moderns. The gearing is arguably odd, as it is slightly faster in 5th than 4th.

yeah, looking at those ratios Byrney gave is interesting. Plugging them into a calculator gives ~127mph top speed in 4th and ~159mph in 5th (Standard wheel/tyre height, 7250 rpm). I'd be suprised at a standard n/a hitting 140. In real terms 5th is only getting you that final 10-15mph when talking purely top speeds.

So, not technically an overdrive but certainly fuctions as one in any practical capacity.

nick wrote: ↑24/11/22 12:19 As the car will not pull anything near peak revs in 5th

i beg to differ it will it just takes time to get there, im talking rev 3 na