After owning my 2011 GT for more than 6 months, I'm starting to think buying the 3.55 was a mistake and I should have gotten the 3.31.

I drive mainly in traffic and rarely get out on the open freeway, and I'm shifting way too often. I don't know if things would be a lot different with the 3.31, but with the 3.55, I find that 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears are almost useless. The RPMs climb so fast that the car never feels comfortable until it's in 4th. I drive in fifth gear at 40 MPH and above. So I'm shifting five times just to get up to speed and start moving along, then I hit a traffic light and the whole process starts again.

I wonder if any 3.31 owners can tell me if they have this experience or if their cars are better in congested areas, and also I wonder if I can change to 3.31.

 

I have 3.31s as well and I almost feel the same way! Maybe not quite as bad but close.

1st and 2nd are pretty useless. In the city I do 60km/h (38mph) and do that in 4th. I have to get out of 1st before I'm even through the intersection.

 

OMG - are ever breaking 2K/2500? Your engine must be so carboned up by now.

 

Should have gotten an auto if you are driving in that much heavy traffic.

 

Yes - I do break 2,000 and 2,500. Of course. But I'm not always revving the car up.

I thought about buying an auto, but I really do enjoy shifting and would miss that. I just didn't think I'd be shifting this much!

 

With 3.73's...

I start in 2nd in normal traffic/driving and go right to 4th. Takes some effort out of driving the car

 

Replace "effort" with "fun" and you have my opinion on this. Seriously, I actually enjoy shifting gears even in traffic, though I do avoid bumper-to-bumper nightmares generally. Even then having 3.73s actually helps in these situations if you ask me, makes plodding along in 1st at 1k RPM only about 5-6 MPH. Handy sometimes. Still gets annoying when the jerk in front of you is going uphill at 2 MPH.

 

Wrong, you should have gotten 3.73s!

 

That's basically my post in a nutshell.

 

^^^ I do this as well with 3.55's and normal "stuck in traffic" type driving.
Then when I want to do spirited driving, don't mind running up the gear shifts

 

Another vote for 3.73s...

 

I sometimes cruise around at like 1700 rpm. Are you saying this is bad? :-P

 

I went with 3.73's and I thought like you for a short time and know after 6100 miles and counting I must say I really love the set up I have, their is power everywhere even in 5th. I just love that

FORD FOR LIFE

 

You don't have to go thru all the gears. Skip shift

 

I understand cruising, but I believe in an Italian tune up once a day. (After the engine is completely warmed up of course - not just the water temp). These are high revving engines - so continued low rpm driving loads them up.

 

Love my 3.73s & wouldn't trade them.

 

Dear lord people...
I shift at 3,000-3,500 when I'm granny'ing it.

 

This.

 

1-3-5-6

 

There is not that much difference between 3.31 and 3.55.
Do the math.
The engine is just way too powerful for you.