[dugrant153]

Just wondering how the gear ratios (final drive ratios) compare to other cars?

Subaru's in general have a lower final drive ratio, so they have more torque than the Mazda 3.

How about Civics, Corollas, Tiburons, etc?

 

[dinu01]

Well I guess you have to check other manufacturers' websites to get your answer, then post it here, then we may discuss it

So get the research going!

 

[gtgray]

The 3s auto sedan and hatch are both 4.416 which sounds quite low. You have to also consider the in gear ratio and the tire diameter to get the overall gearing to make a comparison. I seemed to remember reading the gearing is taller on the 6i ATX. Seems like the 6i ATX was a 4.16 with the same internal gear ratios but ran a 60 series tire so it might be very close when the taller tires are taken into account.

I wish the 3s ATX was a five speed so that the rpms would not drop quite as much between shifts, and it would allow for a slightly taller top gear.

Oh well, the 3s MTX has things covered pretty well. Still a six speed for the MTX and a 5 for the ATX would have been ideal. Maybe in a future model year.

 

[bluong1]

one can find the RPM at two cruising speeds in the second table in here: http://groups.msn.com/BrunoLuong/transmissionspec.msnw

Hope it would give you some feeling about gear ratios.

 

[Kazbaeden]

What exactly is the final drive ratio?

 

[bluong1]

What exactly is the final drive ratio?

There are few pulleys that convert the rpm down (and torque up) just before the engine power going through the wheel axles, regardless which gear you are using. The ratio of conversion is called final drive ratio.

The total engine-wheel rpm/torque conversion is simply the product betwen gear ratios and final drive ratio.

 

[gtgray]

one can find the RPM at two cruising speeds in the second table in here: http://groups.msn.com/BrunoLuong/transmissionspec.msnw

Hope it would give you some feeling about gear ratios.

Great link, I am surprised at the wheel offset of 52.5 mm

 

[CL]

It's too bad that Mazda didn't retune the gears for the 2.0L engine . . . I'd say that 148hp should be a pretty good number for a sedan in that class. In fact, I'm getting carried away. The 2.0 seems to be a capable engine, but the 2.3 is definitely a lot more fun.

 

[98LX]

Also, if Mazda can get 148 hp out of 2.0 liters, shouldn't the 2.3 be closer to 170 hp?

 

[LeeLee]

Ya, the 2.3 is a little disappointing to me in terms of specific output. I would have expected 180HP.

Perhaps there is significant gains with bolt-on components, however unlikely this is starting to look:

CAI : already available, and no one has published significant gains.
Header: stock header is already a pretty good design.
Exhaust: custom fabrications are already available, and no published significant gains.

Oh well.

 

[budgy]

Ya, the 2.3 is a little disappointing to me in terms of specific output. I would have expected 180HP.

Perhaps there is significant gains with bolt-on components, however unlikely this is starting to look:

CAI : already available, and no one has published significant gains.
Header: stock header is already a pretty good design.
Exhaust: custom fabrications are already available, and no published significant gains.

Oh well.

What company makes a CAI LeeLee?

 

[LeeLee]

I heard that the Injen CAI for the Mazda6 2.3L is a drop-in. I read it either here or on one of the other Mazda3 boards.

 

[CL]

Ya, the 2.3 is a little disappointing to me in terms of specific output. I would have expected 180HP.

Notice the lower compression ratio of the 2.3 (9.7:1)? Good for engine longevity, but not for balls-out power. Maybe Mazdaspeed has something in mind for the future? It wouldn't surprise me if a higher output engine with a turbo is released as a 2004.5 or if a factory turbo unit becomes available for the 2.3 as a dealer distributed option

 

[CL]

Ya, the 2.3 is a little disappointing to me in terms of specific output. I would have expected 180HP.

Notice the lower compression ratio of the 2.3 (9.7:1)? Good for engine longevity, but not for balls-out power. Maybe Mazdaspeed has something in mind for the future? It wouldn't surprise me if a higher output engine with a turbo is released as a 2004.5 or if a factory turbo unit becomes available for the 2.3 as a dealer distributed option

 

[AzMs3]

I heard that the Injen CAI for the Mazda6 2.3L is a drop-in. I read it either here or on one of the other Mazda3 boards.

I'm sure that went South and did not work. Aem is close to done from what I heard. Bosal said could be 3 - 4 months on there cat-back whick is on the Mazda3's ar Rev It Up.

---Herb---

 

[Bombadil]

According to the Car & Driver April Issue, Page 42, Mazda is readying a 280hp version of the 2.3L. Don't know if it will be released in NA.

I posted this in a different thread earlier today, but thought it was appropriate to post here too.

 

[fascin8d1]

I was doing some research on the 2.3 in the Mazda 6 and it looks like the final drive ratio of the EU spec vs the US spec is different. I also noticed the compression ratio is lower (10.6 vs 10.0) on the US spec.

Transmissions EU US
Manual transaxle 2.3L
Clutch
Clutch diameter 215 x 150 215 x 150
Gear ratio
– 1st 3.307 3.307
– 2nd 1.842 1.842
– 3rd 1.233 1.233
– 4th 0.97 0.914
– 5th 0.755 0.717
– Reverse 3.166 3.166
– Final drive ratio 4.388 4.105

Is this also true in the MZ3? Is Australia gets the EU spec car this may explain why Mandee is getting better ETs than most other drivers that post here...

 

[fascin8d1]

Ahah! Just did more research and the Australian MZ3 does have a taller gear!
http://www.mazda.com.au/specifications_pl.cgi?ID=45

4.388 vs US 4.105

Wonder if there is an even taller gear set that would make for better accelaration...

 

[mica3speedy]

Interesting. This may be useful later on for people looking for mods 8) .

 

[Mandee]

The Euro spec has a higher compression ratio than the Australian spec!

The Aus spec Compression ratio is 9.7:1

The Aus spec mazda 6 has a compression ratio 10.6:1

Therefore, our mazda 6 is the same as the euro spec and our mazda 3 is the same as the US spec...i wish we got the euro spec as i would be running even quicker times as it has an extra 6 kw from its higher compression ratio!!!

So apart from the 15.3 sec 1/4 mile time, what time is the quickest so far...we should get a 1/4 mile tally happening to compare and keep up to date!