>> Of course, I don't change gear at all, me - I can't imagine how all that unnecessary effort and co-ordination every few seconds or minutes ever caught on...

It's for people who like driving , and most autos are thirstier. I've had a few autos and after a while, I get bored and wish I had a manual. On a tricky road, an auto never changes gear when you want because it can't see whats ahead.

Edited by corax on 09/07/2010 at 18:09

>>Marketing ploy aimed at the bears of little brain, nothing else.

I've always said I am a bear of very little brain. I did think, when I acquired the CRV in 2005, that 6 gears was OTT. However I've revised my opinion. You don't, as has been said, have to use them sequentially. Third in the CRV will do just about anything after you've set off, but clearly longer gears aid economy.

Towing, I stick with 5th - 6th is just a bit too long - but from 50mph, in normal use it's perfectly OK.

5 would be fine I suppose, but I don't change gear any more with 6 - I just have more choice.

Not good for people who can't make their minds up though.

Edited by Manatee on 09/07/2010 at 20:24

Bigger turbodiesel + 6 gears = pointless. Any other 6-speed = probably pointless. Marketing ploy aimed at the bears of little brain, nothing else. What's wrong with five - or even four - carefully chosen ratios coupled to an engine designed to provide proper torque? Of course, I don't change gear at all, me - I can't imagine how all that unnecessary effort and co-ordination every few seconds or minutes ever caught on...

"No doubt after another decade of marketing hype the same sort of people will be arguing that ten gears is actually better than nine."

You could be right there Mike. I can remember as a chid in the 1950s that one of many reasons why my father's Austin was a far better car than equivalent Fords and Vauxhalls (as well as its ability to start in the morning) was that it had a four-speed gearbox. Some Fords and Vauxhalls had three speeds as standard until well into the 1960s.

There must be some point where enough gears is enough - or as you say go automatic. Personally I can't make my mind up: I've had in the last few years two automatics followed by two manuals. My next one might well be something fitted with DSG.

>>But it isn't rocket science, is it?...A top gear which is either sixth gear or fifth, with the same overall ratio will provide the same performance, economy or whatever.

That's the part I agree with ;-)

>>But a six-speed gearbox will require extra effort to get there

Why? I don't have to use the gears sequentially.

The top gear of 5 or 6 is normally an extra overdrive gear anyway, so you're really talking about the difference between 4 and 5 gears. 5 lower gears allows a lower first gear which might not matter to many, but I which appreciate when towing and starting on a hill - the CRV diesel has been produced with 5 and 6 speeds, first in the 5 speeder allows 46kph, in the 6 only 36kph, and I don't find it too short. 2nd is also about 20% lower.

I'd actually like 2 reverse gears - the one I have is too high to reverse a trailer without slipping the clutch.

Please yourself of course. BTW, many autos are now 6 or even 7 speeds too.