My Car Feels Slow...

[Robe81]

It's not...but it feels it. I think I know why and how to fix it, but I would like some smarter people than me to sanity check my logic. I'm not the most knowledgable with gearing so any help is appreciated.

For comparison sake, I am coming from a 2018 Camaro 1SS (non-1LE) 6-speed. I understand this car has 3.73 gears and hit peak torque at 4,400 rpm. (I bought it used so I cant speak to every spec on the car). This car delivered immediate throttle response and would slam you back in the seat with little effort. The car just "felt fast."

My Mustang GT is a non-PP 6-speed. I understand this means 3.55 gears (highway). I also understand that the peak torque is at 4,900 as well. This combo seems to overall make the car "feel" much slower. The car simply does not have the "slam you back in the seat" feel that the Camaro had.

I am thinking of swapping out the 3.55 gears for the Ford Performance 3.73 gears. Lots of threads on here about them being a good "all around" gear. Thats not my question. The question is, for those that can compare, will the 3.73 gears replicate the type of acceleration that I am looking for (aka 2018 Camaro SS) or are there other factors I need to consider.

For additional context, my Mustang is my "economical car" so I would be hesitant at this point to go shorter, such as 3.92 or 4.10 due to commute and gas prices.

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[BuckeyeBOSS]

It's the difference in the way the two engines make/deliver the power. I don't think a mild gear swap will get you what you're after. Add a supercharger.

 

[Robe81]

It's the difference in the way the two engines make/deliver the power. I don't think a mild gear swap will get you what you're after. Add a supercharger.

Interesting. From most of the reading I've done, the Coyote is the preferred engine of the two.

 

[GhastlyTT]

Maybe it's just your new baseline? Unfortunate side effect of fast toys is the fast becomes normal and we crave faster. My car scares the piss out of the people I give spirited rides to but like you, I want more

You're also likely acceleration limited by your tire and traction control. If you turn traction control off and your tire lets go, then better rubber is probably your most effective first mod.

 

[BuckeyeBOSS]

Interesting. From most of the reading I've done, the Coyote is the preferred engine of the two.

"Preferred" and by whom? They just make power that feels different, it's not necessarily right vs wrong. The Coyote is DOHC and smaller displacement while the Chevy's have pushrods and more displacement. Just different ways of going about things.

 

[Robe81]

"Preferred" and by whom? They just make power that feels different, it's not necessarily right vs wrong. The Coyote is DOHC and smaller displacement while the Chevy's have pushrods and more displacement. Just different ways of going about things.

Just some reading I did while researching. I can't remember exactly and I'm not sayings its right. I clearly prefer the acceleration of the 6.2 personally based on my question. Much more prefer Mustang for almost everything else though. I appreciate the incite though.

 

[BuckeyeBOSS]

Just some reading I did while researching. I can't remember exactly and I'm not sayings its right. I clearly prefer the acceleration of the 6.2 personally based on my question. Much more prefer Mustang for almost everything else though. I appreciate the incite though.

No worries. Honestly, I prefer the lower end tq that throws you back in your seat, too, but the S650 has a lot of other great qualities. I plan on a supercharger this winter though.

 

[Westphal]

I noticed the same thing comparing my wife's Mustang with my GTO. They're probably equal in power as I've done some work on my GTO (full exhaust, LS3 heads/intake, tuned), but the GTO feels much more lively under 3k rpm due to it's huge torque advantage.

 

[robvas]

The MT82-D4 needs 4.09 gears. Compared to the TR6060 in the Camaro, you're in each gear for longer. Part of that is the gear ratios and part of that is the Coyote engine revs about 1,000rpm farther.

MPH ranges of each gear (2nd, 3rd, 4th):
(3.55) MT82D4: 28, 39, 50
(3.73) TR6060: 30, 33, 38

Don't worry about the fuel economy aspect, it won't change a ton. You won't have to push the gas as hard to stay at the same cruise mph, you'll be able to use 6th more, etc etc. And it's only a 200rpm difference between 4.09 and 3.73 @ 80mph

 

[MidwayJ]

It's not...but it feels it. I think I know why and how to fix it, but I would like some smarter people than me to sanity check my logic. I'm not the most knowledgable with gearing so any help is appreciated.

For comparison sake, I am coming from a 2018 Camaro 1SS (non-1LE) 6-speed. I understand this car has 3.73 gears and hit peak torque at 4,400 rpm. (I bought it used so I cant speak to every spec on the car). This car delivered immediate throttle response and would slam you back in the seat with little effort. The car just "felt fast."

My Mustang GT is a non-PP 6-speed. I understand this means 3.55 gears (highway). I also understand that the peak torque is at 4,900 as well. This combo seems to overall make the car "feel" much slower. The car simply does not have the "slam you back in the seat" feel that the Camaro had.

I am thinking of swapping out the 3.55 gears for the Ford Performance 3.73 gears. Lots of threads on here about them being a good "all around" gear. Thats not my question. The question is, for those that can compare, will the 3.73 gears replicate the type of acceleration that I am looking for (aka 2018 Camaro SS) or are there other factors I need to consider.

For additional context, my Mustang is my "economical car" so I would be hesitant at this point to go shorter, such as 3.92 or 4.10 due to commute and gas prices.

Another factor is the tall gear ratios of the manual transmission itself. In the S550 the ratios changed with the 2018 refresh and I understand they're the same in the S650. In the 15-17 GTs the 1/1 ratio is 5th and the only overdrive gear is 6th. In the 2018+ 4th is 1/1 and both 5th and 6th are overdrive ratios.

That, combined with the way the Coyote delivers power, is likely why you feel such a difference. The performance pack cars come with 3.73 gears. You might want to test drive one because I'm not sure it will make enough of a difference for you. The lower gear options like the 4.10 is probably the best option for what you're looking for.

 

[Robe81]

Ok this is good input. I think my next steps is to go test drive a GT w/PP and see what the 3.73 feels like. I like the idea of the 4.10 gears but if this job prospect thats 45 min away works out, I may have to hold off.

Thanks everyone.

 

[armyGT]

I get the same feeling since my A-10 Auto has 3:15 gears. It is slow on the take-off. At high rpm's it's O.K. The BULLITTS I owned in the past had 3:73 gears. They were just right.

 

[Robe81]

I get the same feeling since my A-10 Auto has 3:15 gears. It is slow on the take-off. At high rpm's it's O.K. The BULLITTS I owned in the past had 3:73 gears. They were just right.

Wouldn't the automatic have drive modes that adjust acceleration?

 

[MidwayJ]

I get the same feeling since my A-10 Auto has 3:15 gears. It is slow on the take-off. At high rpm's it's O.K. The BULLITTS I owned in the past had 3:73 gears. They were just right.

I had the same feeling with my '19 GT (3.15 gears) in normal mode, but sport mode was fine. I just drove around in sport mode most of the time.

 

[RJW]

As others have pointed out, the Coyote needs to be wound out more than the Chevrolet's larger engine before making maximum power. Want faster acceleration? Downshift.

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