Jim Muller wrote:
(Lemme' see if I can get this straight.) Cars destined for non-US had the
same diff (3.27:1) with or without OD, which gave "ridiculously high gearing".
Bit of a tangle ain't it, Jim? Depends too on whether you're considering GT6
Mk 1, Mk 2/GT6+ or a Mk 3. The mists of time are descending again so the
memory banks are getting foggy but ISTR the Mk 1 had a 3.27 diff for
non-overdrive (all markets) and either a 3.54 or a 3.89 for overdrive cars.
The lower ratios were used in a non-overdrive condition for mountainous
markets in Europe - I think it was the 3.54. On the Mk 2/GT6+, factory ratios
changed a bit. Non-overdrive cars were 3.27, overdrive cars (non US) were 3.54
and the GT6+ (US only) was a 3.89. Don't have any recollection at all for Mk
3's. But casting my mind back to the Mk 2 / + I recall very tangible
differences in their 'driveability.' Perhaps because I owned a Mk 2 at the
time and frequently drove our GT6+ export demo car. The + always felt a bit
breathless in terms of power but was much more tractable in London traffic.
The Mk 2 by contrast, felt 'lazier.' On the open road, the + was 'whirrier'
and tended to sound a bit more strained at high road speeds, the Mk 2 was far
more composed.
My own car had a 3.27 WITH overdrive and yes, it did provide "ridiculously
high gearing" but I got the best of both worlds. High speed cruising a low rpm
AND with very encouraging fuel consumption. An important consideration in a
country where fuel has always been grossly overpriced.
Jonmac
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