Use mine all the time when traveling, 70 + mph. But I don't think the car likes it, like it's being punished. Drop it down a gear or two & she smiles & comes alive.
6th Gear - Why?
- Thread starter mattsmusic
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Use mine all the time when traveling, 70 + mph. But I don't think the car likes it, like it's being punished. Drop it down a gear or two & she smiles & comes alive.jcaspar1
Enthusiast
Don't you mean a Toyota!
I have had a Neon SRT-4 blow by me on a turn at Thunderhill. (OK, it had a roll cage and a much better driver)
HyperViper
Enthusiast
I have only put my car in 6th twice in 3000 miles and it didn't stay there long.
lilgookiemonsta
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I put it in 6th when I'm on city streets with 40 mph speed limit. Theres so much torque at idle, I don't even have to touch the gas pedal to stay at 40!! XD
lilgookiemonsta
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I've noticed that 6th gear @ 40mph actually puts the motor on a load that puts the revvs lower than idle but she still moves without stalling. Now that you mention it, is it a bad thing for the motor?
ViperGTS
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There are countries where there is no speed limit on the freeway...6th gear is not useless at 100-150 mph! 
thinking outside the box helps (sometimes) 
thinking outside the box helps (sometimes) VIPER BAZ UK
Enthusiast
new shorter 5th and 6th gears here and love them.......... Donato box....
swexlin
Viper Owner
It is really never a good idea to "lug" any engine. Downshift when needed.
FastestBusaAround
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I have a C6Z and Gen IV Viper. I always use 6th in both vehicles while on the highway at speeds over 70. If you think 6th is too tall - have you ever seen when it force shifts from 1st to 4th?? You can safely put both cars in 6th at 50-60 mph with no issue.
Jon
Viper Owner
IIRC, both 5th and 6th are overdrive gears, 6th just gives you a bit better fuel economy when conditions permit. I don't like to lug the motor so I stay out of 6th until about 70mph. That seems to result in about the same RPM as 5th at 55-60mph.
SilveRT8
Enthusiast
I'm planning on changing gears too as I find the 3.07 a bit too tall, especially when lugging the engine in sixth gear.
I'm undecided between 3.33 or 3.55. I know 3.55 would be better for using sixth gear and probably more fun around town, but are'nt you spinning the tires too easily in first and second gear when nailing it?
I also plan to get around 600 rwhp with a few more bolt-ons.
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Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
I use 6th all the time. Cuts down on heat, increases engine longevity and mileage.
HyperViper
Enthusiast
I don't think being in 6th gear automatically increases gas mileage. Even with the huge amount of torque we have in our engines, there is still a sweet spot for optimum mileage performance.
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There is another option to swapping rear gear ratios. I just swapped 5th and 6th gears in the trans of my 09 ACR. Went to .80 5th and .63 6th. Car really likes these gears with the 3.07 OE rear gear ratio.
FYI, the 2010 Vipers will have .80 5th but retain the .50 6th. 6th is for fuel economy as stated above.
Dan
FYI, the 2010 Vipers will have .80 5th but retain the .50 6th. 6th is for fuel economy as stated above.
Dan
VIPER BAZ UK
Enthusiast
Phun70
VCA Venom Member
Just out of curiosity, what gear ratios is everyone running?? Did you change from stock, and if so, what have you noticed??? Positives, Negatives?? Performance improvement. How did you go about re-calibrating your speedometers???
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Speedo works from the ABS sensors in the wheels, Gen III and IV - no recalibration necessary.
whitebluevipe
Enthusiast
always thought a 5 speed was the perfect set up.
I love driving my 03 in 6th at 65 mph..do it all the time..my only clncern is lets just say somthings happens and you need to quickly acelerate around a vehicle ect for safety concerns..so here you are in your v10 beaste and somthing happens and your aceleratin like a 4 cylinder...dont get me wronng I love 6th gear but man will I feel dumb if im in that gear and somthing happens so suddenly that I cant down shift in time to acelerate out of harms w!y...for this reason I try to use 4th or 5th more often nowadays
Fatboy 18
Enthusiast
Just drive faster so it comes into play
On my drive back through Europe after the 24hrs Le mans race, at times I was the only car on the highway, I found 6th gear worked great and was needed
On my drive back through Europe after the 24hrs Le mans race, at times I was the only car on the highway, I found 6th gear worked great and was needed
compcoupe21
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I thought sixth gear was for doing burnouts!!!
this.........
mattsmusic
Enthusiast
I'm the one that started this thread and this is my 6th day with the Viper as my DD. I've started using 6th when I'm doing more than 70, but man... it sounds like hell with Corsa's and is fairly powerless turning 1200-1300 RPM. I'm hoping the upside to this is better MPG's although that doesn't really seem to be working. I think the manual says 6th is for anything above 48 MPH, which seemed crazy to me until I tried shifting into 2nd and using the skip shift to 4th. Holy cow, does anyone actually use that???
eucharistos
Enthusiast
there are several ways around the skip shift, some cost nothing, some a little 
, some a lot of
, some a lot of 
PhoenixGTS
Enthusiast
I have both .80 5th and .63 6th PLUS 3.55 out back. With 18" tires this is the perfect gearing. Redline in 6th is 200 mph which means the theoretical top speed in the mid to high 180 mph range is right at the power peak on a dyno chart in 6th gear. And 6th is now very nice on the freeway, but I still bever get into 5th driving around town.
