The gearset came out way before the '04...

 

Hockey-

Thank you for rerecognizinghe validity of my question.

I am most interested in this topic because I currently autoX and the S would replace my present car for that duty as well as a daily driver. My point is that in autoXing 2nd gear is VERY important due to the nature of most courses. ie. It is the gear that we spend the most amount of time in.

This is why I prefer the older model.

Although I would like the "quicker" response of the MY04. As I looked at the mods (gearing) that people were performing to get the best of both worlds I realized that the critical thinking about the MY04 was exactly what they were creating and it has made me rethink which car will fit me best. This is why I mention that the 00-03 vs 04 arguement will really begin and end once ALL mods are available for both engines.

Thanks for input Hockey. It is much appreciated.

Ace10- Consider yourself enlightened.

 

We had two local owners do some runs on the interstate. Basically the same
set-ups (intake/exhaust/springs, etc). One car had 4.77 gears, the other stock.
If I can remember (chime in Joe or Ritchie if you're spying), they took off same gear
around 60mph. The 4.77 car got the quick lead but as soon as the car crossed into
triple digits, the stock car overtook the 4.77 and had two cars on it by 120.

Now, I could of horribly gotten the details wrong but suffice to say, it was
apparent to me that the aggressive gears really show their negatives beyond
100 when side by side against a stock car. Now...ask yourself...how often
are you doing 100mph? I'm going 4.57 myself.

 

Okay NECurve,

I have a little more for you. I went to the auto-x here @ Qualcomm Stadium to check out the scene. What did I find? I was lucky enough to witness one of the first tests of an 04 v 02. They even went to the trouble of switching wheel and tire sets for each car so they had the same traction.

The result of the two cars after 2 different drivers and multiple runs.........04 slower by 1 to 1.5 seconds every time.

Why?? Second gear was too short. The straightaway provided enough room that the 04 would bounce off the rev limiter, and it was too short a distance to go grab third for .5 seconds just to downshift again. So they just held it on the limiter and made the best of it. The 02 ran up to it's wonderful 9K just at the end of the same straight.

The driver was VERY reputable, as far as auto-x goes. I have no doubt in his consistency behind the wheel.

In conclusion, I'd think the 04 is handicapped by gearing in some auto-x layouts. Unfortunately those courses change often.

Food for thought.
David

 

Thanks for the info. David.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as more 04's are used in autoX events.

In a sperate thread they were discussing the possibility of using a slightly "taller" tire on the stock rim and this was allowing them to reach 61.5mph in 2nd with an o4. Can't find the link right now, but it is an creative alternative.

 

No it doesn't! With the exception of 4.77's and higher (numerically), none of the aftermarket gears will lower "real world" top speed.