So I'm currently getting info to be more informed when looking for a C5.

#1. Are 2.73 gears really that bad performance wise? I dont plan on doing and "streeet racing" or anything like that. But I dont want to be laughed at either.

#2. I would like to get a 6-speed trans. Did 2.73 even come with the 6-speed (for the early C5s like 1997-1999). I know 2.73 came in the Auto.

Thanks for the help.

 

3.42's came in the 6-speed cars, no worries!

 

Very good news thanks.

But for the small chance I do get an auto did they all come with 2.73?

 

There is a lower performance ratio in some of the Auto cars, around 3:08 I think. Anyway, not to worry. The hot ticket for Auto cars is to install the 6 spd ratio of 3:42. Many available. Hotter ticket is to include a higher stall torque convertor at the same time you change the rear gears. Nose around the forum and keep asking questions about these two tweeks. Good Hunting.

 

auto could be had with 2.73 or 3.15.....you can feel the difference,,,cheaper to get a used set of 3.42 for a 6 speed, but 3.73 are great for autos......JUST DO IT,, whats a vette if its slow...

 

auto w/3.15 is G92 option. good for those who DON'T wan't to upgrade ever or worry about resale.

if you want an auto with some fun, don't get the G92 and get a 3.42 installed. add more for more fun and $$$

i got 2.73 in my a4 and the 3.42 is definitely a common upgrade for a4 owners and is high on my wish list (around $1600 installed with PCM upgrade w/new 3.42, a lot cheaper if you buy used and install/program yourself).

 

Here's a non-Vette story about gearing. When I was a teenager, I was a Mopar nut. I bought a nice, low mileage 73 Plymouth Satellite that had the 400 (big block) engine and 2-barrel carb. This engine was pathetic. It was horribly underpowered, especially for its size, but still managed to burn large amounts of gas and also too much oil. It also had a 2.71 rear axle.

This car wouldn't even chirp a tire from a standstill. My friends with Camaros and Firebirds...even Monte Carlos, would dust me. I was getting sand kicked in my face on a regular basis.

So I did the logical thing...I found a '69 Dodge Super Bee that had been totaled that had the High-Performance 383 4-Barrel engine. I overhauled it, did some porting/polishing to the heads and replaced that dog of an engine with the 383. I also added headers and dual exhaust.

This new engine had at least twice the HP of the old one, but driving the car was still unsatisfying. The 383 had a fairly hot cam and it had to get above 2500 rpm before it really started to come to life. From a standstill, even with the new engine, my car would barely spin the tires. Once it got underway, say 15-20mph, it accelerated pretty well.

Next mod: I found a wrecked '70 Barracuda with a 3.55 posi rear gear, so I bought that for about $100 and installed it.

The transformation was unbelievable. This gearing change was like Clark Kent before and after the phone booth. With the new gear, the car was a terror...it would positively smoke the tires all the way through first gear, then leave another 5' of rubber when it hit second. The acceleration from any speed was dramatically improved. When passing a car on a two-lane road, the strategy was to get the car into the passing lane FIRST, because if you kicked it into passing gear before moving over you stood a good chance of ramming the car in front of you before you could swerve to the left.

Gas was cheap back then, but the 3.55 gear didn't hurt the mileage all that much...maybe 2mpg on the tanks when I kept my foot out it.

There was no doubt that the gearing change (2.71 to 3.55) made a bigger difference in that car than doubling the horsepower.

I have the 3.15 gear in my '04 Vert, but at some point I'll be swapping to the 3.42

 

I have a different thought on the G92.

used 3.15 carriers sell for $400. Every now and then vendors BEG for them for this price.
The G92 as an option was never more than $400. So if you get the G92, and then later upgrade; you get it's useage for free.

now that... I agree with

 

3.42's and yank ss3600

 

ooops, typed w/o thinking of the resale possibilities of non-base c5 stuff! you are absolutely correct -- prospective a4 owners should always try to get the g92 option. and i just watched a 3.15 go on eBay for several hundred...

 

3.15 is MUCH better than 2.73, I drove both and it is no comparison!

Chris

 

So only get an auto if its has the G92 code (if its stock), good to know.

 

Just go find a couple used A4s with 3.15s and 2.73s and drive them. You will be surprised at the difference! Since I had to get an A4 the G92 option was a must have -- I knew it would be years before I could upgrade the diff. and T/C. Since I have had mine for almost five years now, I would have been VERY unhappy if I had gotten the 2.73s.

 

Good plan

night and day difference

 

Go to this site:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/index.php

Up at the top select TECH CENTER

That will give you a drop down menu where you can select

MODEL CENTER

Those pages will give you the specs for any year Corvette you wish to inquire about. By the way, the cars with manual transmissions have 6 gears, you most likely knew that. What you may not be aware of is that the 5th and 6th gears are overdrive gears. 6th gear will be .50 to 1 or .56 to 1 depending on which car and trans you buy. What this means to you is that the M6 cars can tolerate gears as low as 4.10 (they come with 3.42 as stated earlier) and still show very streetable RPM's at highway speeds. 3.90 is about as far down as us A4 guys can go but most of us stop at 3.73. The automatics only have one overdrive gear and it's .70 to 1. Sometimes I wish I had bought an M6, but only sometimes.

Good hunting.

 

Have a friend who is purchasing an '04 Commem. Editition, and I used this exact logic and advice to help him in his decision. After explaining it this way, he didn't even bother to look at 2.73 geared cars, realizing that with the money he was spending on the '04 Commem. he would likely not be spending more on gears any time in the near future and would first rather go with the "essentials", breather, exhaust, and programming.

He even took it a step further, reasoning that he could have a 3.42, 3.73 or 3.90 ring and pinion put into the same case as opposed to buying a new differential when he got to the point to where he would be ready to upgrade gears..

 

Actually, yes they are baaaad .... I wish my perf. axle gears would be the standard 6 spd gear (3.42) and not just 3.15s

 

No one is going to laugh at an A4 with 2.73s but you CAN tell the difference by driving the A4 with the 3.15s. The 2.73s seem a little doggy. The MN6s come with 3.42s. I have 4.10s in my wife's A4 and the difference is incredible. Putting 4.10s in my car this week!

 

My '02 Coupe came with an A4 and 2.73s.

After reading many posts on the forum, I upgraded to 3.42s and a Vigilante 2800 TC. The difference is night and day! Also, just for insurance, while I had everything apart, I installed a heavy duty shaft ($300.).

After many bolt on mods, this is by far the most improvement.

Now, I'm going in Monday to install the Kook's headers!

 

Before I drove my 98 Corvette for the first time, I popped the hatch and looked up the codes and when I saw that G92 listed on there, I sure was happy!