Hey all, I have a 4 speed manual in my 'rolla, and I was wondering if the 5 speed is a better option in the long run. How strong are the 4 speed gearboxes compared to the 5 speed?

 

I'm always happy to learn :happy:

Well usually 5 gears are better than 4. But i'm not a fan of the k50 5 speeds. Mind you i've only used one, but, 1st gear was pretty much unusable as it only nets you like 15kmh and 5th only dropped like 500 rpm and you had to go back to 4th on anything slighty over flat.

 

That was in a cs-x ke70, maybe with a better diff ratio it might be alright

Edited March 8, 201115 yr by Jono.C

really? must got some retarded diff ratio.

 

I'm getting 60kph in 1st at 6 grand, buts its bullshit 500rpm drop! why couldnt it be like 1000rpm?

I have checked this before and the 4 speed and 5 speed gear ratios are all the same.

1st: 3.789

2nd: 2.220

3rd: 1.435

4th: 1.00

5th on the 5 speed is 0.865

 

5 speed would only be worth getting if it was under $150 i think

I wouldnt pay more than that for a 500 rpm drop along the highways.

Might as well put slightly bigger wheels on the back.

Later (KE70) 4speeds and 5speeds are the same. The 5th is an overdrive gear stuck on the back outside the gearbox itself. 5th is nice on the open road, it just drops the revs a few hundred at 100kph. Jono is right, as soon as the revs hit 3000rpm going up a hill its time for 4th.

 

The earlier 4speed had a 2nd and 3rd closer to 4th, which would also be nice. 2nd is 2.022 and third is 1.384 One day I'd like to take the internals of an early box and stick it all inside a 5speed.

 

The diff ratio affects cruising speed also. I'm using an auto diff at 4.3, the manual runs a 4.1 So mine is quite perky around town but revs a bit higher on the open road.

believe it or not but when driving responsibly on open road 500rpm between 4th an d 5th will save a considerable amount of fuel.

 

There is little difference if any at all between the lower gear ratios of the k40 and k50 therefore the 5 speed is a better box as itallows a high top speed and a lower cruising rpm.... if you are just ringing the crap out of your 4k in a paddock, track or on a short trip round town don't fuss about the gearbox.

Edited March 8, 201115 yr by GJM85

Awesome responses guys, I thought I got short changed by having the 4 speed haha but now I know that it's fine :D