Heya fellers,

I am by no means a sports car aficionado or gear-head. I'm ordering the 2011 V6 and am debating between the 2.73 and 3.31. I really want the higher mpg, but don't want to be disappointed with a car that wont accelerate ( curse you V6 Charger ). Then again, I'm not looking to race the local high school kids either.

Is the 2.73 really that bad? Will a rookie like me even notice? Is the 3.31 going to make a huge difference? How bad will it impact the mpg?

I am torn, please help.

Thank you kindly

 

if you've not been in like cars w/different ring pinion sets you would not notice
but...
if you get an auto car 6th gear in the 3.31 is like 5th in the 2.73
the manual trans is not as drastic because of the individual gears

as far as mpg's, if you hammer it or "jackrabbit" start with the 2.73 your mpg's will also suffer so it's a tossup
someone babying a 3.31 car might do better than hamfisting a 2.73 car
if your commute is mostly highway and you leave it at 55 or 65 best guess is a 1 or 2 mpg difference between the 2

think about how/where you drive
IMO, i woulg get 3.31 and work on getting good mpg's instead of just relying on 2.73s for it and not have the "oomph" 3.31s will give you

 

To me, going with a little more mechanical advantage (3.31) is worth every penny and the downside of the gas mileage is minimal and can be mitigated anytime you want by not pressing the gas pedal as hard.

 

If you are really sold on the 31 mpg, get the standard gear. If you want an auto that will be very close to the "tested" 1/4 mile manuals, get the 3:31s.

According to M4reapr, your looking at 2,000 RPM (3:31) at 70 MPH or 1,600 RPM (273) at 70 MPH, and thats how they got the high mileage.

If you don't mash the pedal often, there is no need for the 3:31s.

 

Probable mileage hit in the 2-3 MPG range on the highway and 0 difference in town.

3.31 geared car has run 13.7 1/4 mile, 2.73 car will most likely be 14.0-14.2 1/4 mile.

Just my predictions by the way...

 

I ordered my 2011 with the 3.31 because I have a 2008 V6 Mustang with the 3.31 standard and even though it is fairly (massively, IMO) lagging in power it launches off the line quite nicely. If you want a little more fun, get the 3.31 and go easy on the pedal to conserve like the others have already said.

 

3.31 all the way! Best of both worlds if you watch your driving.

 

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the input.

Now.... does ordering white make me gay?

LOL. But seriously, does it?

 

Only if you put pink stripes on it...

 

funny, I was just thinking about the same thing
(the gears, not the gay white car )

and I was leaning toward the 2.73's, here's why:

- I doubt I will ever actually race the car; if it does ever see a drag strip, it will be "just for fun", I would not expect to be competitive
- it will be a daily driver including a 100-mile-round-trip commute at least a couple times a week
- I want it to be fun to drive; but also economical

With the 2.73 rear, I effectively get a higher 6th gear, to really get the RPM's down on a light cruise like on the highway or on a downhill.

The 2.73 gears also makes first gear a little higher . . . but how often do you really need a low low first gear? For "spirited driving" I figure I can just tach-out a lower gear a little longer and / or downshift a little sooner; I can't think of many situations where first will actually be "too high"

The steeper rear also makes the ratios a little wider spaced . . . so maybe the closer-ratios with the 3.31 would be a little more fun to row through; but I don't think the wider spacing with the 2.73's will be a bad thing.

 

2.73's will KILL performance. i mean kill it. performance is night and day between 2.73 and 3.31.

 

White is fine.

 

I ordered my V-6 with the 3.31 gear ratio. I read somewhere at 60 m.p.h. the engine is only going to be doing 1,800 r.p.m. I can't remember if it was with the automatic (like i ordered) or the manual transmission. My little 4 cylinder Dodge does 2150 r.p.m. at 60 m.p.h. I'm going to be very happy with the 3.31 ratio.

 

And when have you driven two 2011 V6 Mustangs with the two different gears back-to-back, or even at all to be able to make this statement?

You can't make comparisons based on any previous year model car because the 2011's are a totally different animal.

The 2.73's aren't going to kill the performance, just won't be quite as quick on acceleration.

That being said, I would not order one without the optional gear but if mileage were tops on my list I would.

 

I've heard of heterosexual men going to prison and becoming homosexual until they were released. I've never heard of one's sexual preference being reversed by a car color. Even if some people think of certain colors as feminine, who gives a ****? Buy what you like. I saw a Dodge Challenger in the new color Furious Fuchsia at the Chicago Auto Show. It could be described as a hot pink metallic and I thought it was awesome.

 

So, which bathroom stall would you like to meet in?

 

This

And this

Go 3.31. My Z28 had 2.73's from the factory. Hated them. I'm sure I'd hate them more in a car with less down low torque. The mileage will be minimal at best on the highway. It's not like you're going with 3.73's.

 

Wow, that's the first homosexual proposition I've had in 20 years. For a variety of reasons, I'm going to have to pass on your kind offer.

 

Add's new meaning to the term HIGH STALL CONVERTER!

KC