Could find any posts about this so imma put it on out there. wonder why GM decided to go with the 5 speed manual tranny for the SS/SC instead of the 6 Speed that is used in the Vibe GT? if you have any insight please post...

 

I would guess to stay with in close price range of the SRT-4 and 6-speeds aren't always better IMO

 

Probably because we would be shifting every time we let the clutch out all the way.
I do wish 1st was not as tall and there was another OD gear.

 

With another OD gear I might actually get decent gas mileage.

 

Only reason I wish we had a 6-spd tranny, as stated above, a better OD gear....

 

Vibe is a Toyota powertrain.
And the only F25/35 6 speed kit is a dogeared racing kit. Through Quaife.
It would be nice, but I personally like less, longer and taller gears for a supercharger instead of a lot of short gears..

 

good point... i mean im happy with the 5 speed, but a 6th would be nice for better gas mileage...

 

I'm getting 36-40mpg on the highway with the 5-speed. Was getting less than that with 6-speed Focus I owned.

 

how fast are you driving, at 55mph i can get 40 but at 70-80 it's about 27-28, which i mean is a step up from my 11-13 all around in my ranger, but i mean gas is friggin expensive...

 

Normally a 6 Speed will not have a higher final drive. Just the gears are closer for better acceleration..

 

As said its a toyota powertrain, a better reasoning is behind the G6 GTPs 6 speed...but the car is more expensive because of it.

 

i use my 6th gear as my arm rest since i don't have one.

 

 

LOL



the saab 9-3 2.0 turbo uses a 6spd , and the shifter looks really close to the ss/sc shifter

the 5spd came from the saab also


you would have to check the mounting to see if they are similar , then do a gear compairison to see how the final , and 1-6 ratios are to see if its even worth swaping

 

I have a hard time using all 5 gears let alone 6.... I rarely hit 5th gear unless I am on the freeway.

 

A six speed transmission doesn't make one car better than another. Pretty much any FWD car uses a six speed to make up for a lack of engine power.

First gear in the Cobalt SS/SC is to short not to tall. I thought first gear in my Mustang was worthless until I bougt my Cobalt. A six speed would do our cars no good unless it only added a higher OD but that also is a waste.

 

I've never had a 6 speed so the shift pattern would confuse me for awhile . I think that GM probably had their technical reasons. I don't think that the 6 speed you're talking about would handle the abuse we put our (or at least I do) cars through.

 

maybe not, but i dunno, i don't go WOT unless someone is ******* with me, and down here no one will even try...

 

GM extensively tested a 6 speed when they were developing the Cobalt SS . They said their was no performance benefit over the 5-speed that ended up in the car . I could see maybe for someone who uses their car for roadcourse type racing would probably appreciate the tighter gear spacing . But honestly in day to day driving thru traffic , and drag racing ....I cant really where the SS would benefit from the extra gear . I dont have any probs at all keeping the car in its powerband with the 5 , so I doubt the tighter spacing would help it too much . The 2nd od doesnt always = better economy either . The 06 vette went from a 3.08 final drive and 4 speed auto , to a now optional 2.52 final drive with a 6 speed auto and baaaarely saw a increase in fuel economy at all .

The acura and honda both need that tighter gear spacing of a 6 speed to stay in their HIGH powerband at WOT and deliver good economy results at the same time . Plus that extra gear scrubs off cruz rpm from their steeper 4.5x final drive ( correct me if Im wrong honda guys). The cobalts final drive is 4.09 if I remember right (correct me if Im wrong their too) . If 5 gears for us gets the job done , why have a 6 gear just for sake of having one . I love how the big 3 car mags and people in general bash a car for only having 5 speeds because a 6 speed is "expected" in todays cars , ignorance is bliss I wasnt saying anyone here was bashing the SS for 5 gears , I was just making a general comment .

 

I disagree. If our cars should have a shorter 2,3,4, 5th should be a little longer then 4th(like maybe to 150mph...) and a longer 6th.... it would be perfect.

For example... my friends CRX with a b16 had much shorter gears... We'd be even in 1st, hit 2nd at the same time, and then he would start pulling away from me... he would hit 3rd and I would still have about 15mph to shift, so I'd pull back in on him. I'd hit 3rd, he would pull away some more, and then I would reel him as I was hitting 4th....

But fron any roll above 50 or so I would pull from him...

I think thats a perfect example of why shorter gears would benifit us.... IMO