2007-01-29 10:35:22 · 12 answers · asked by eagle eyes 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
it's the number of speeds the transmission has, like a bike, (10 speed or 12 speed...)the more you have the better fuel efficiency you get since your engine does not have to rev so high for each gear.
2007-01-29 10:39:36 · answer #1 · answered by cadillacrazy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The idea here is that a gasoline engine is most efficient and powerful in a narrow range of RPM's. The more speeds in your transmission, the better your car can take advantage of its engine. A 5 speed transmission can potentially make the car accelerate better, have better passing power on the highway, and be more efficient while cruising.
There are 6, 7 and 8 speed automatics on the market now, and in most cases more is better. I would consider 5 the minimum number of speeds that a new car should have. CVT transmissions have basically an infinite number of speeds, so they can always maximize power and efficiency at any road speed.
2007-01-29 10:45:04 · answer #2 · answered by Nick N 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the obvious is one has an extra gear. depending on car, year of design and transmission gears, sometimes the 5 speed will have an overdrive fifth gear that lowers the rpm of the engine at 60 mph. Sometimes the 5 speed is just a close ratio transmission where 5th gear is the same gear ration as the 4 speed.
2007-01-29 10:41:37 · answer #3 · answered by david d 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i true 5 speed has one more gear than a 4 speed, although many 5 speeds are actually 4 speeds with an overdrive. the 5th gear in this case is only for driving at a constant speed on highways. It is not as bad with 5 speeds, but in some cars with 6 speeds, such as trans am's, the 6th gear is actually slower than 5th. When you are about to reach redline in 5th, and shift to 6th, the car will bog, and actually slow down because the engine cannot push the car at such high speeds unless it is reved up higher. the reason for the overdrive is to save gas mileage.
to answer your question, it is exactly what it sounds like, one more gear.
2007-01-29 10:50:03 · answer #4 · answered by createdtodestry 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
that's exactly what it skill. some transmissions have 4 forward speeds (gears) and a few have 5 or maybe 6 speeds or gears. The extra gears the extra effective the motor vehicle will function using fact the engine will stay extra in its power zone and not could strengthen and decrease rpms that plenty. stable success
2016-12-13 03:54:12 · answer #5 · answered by minissale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Differance is the extra gear. Hence the term 4-spd vs. 5-spd. In a four speed gear #3 is 1:1 and 4rth is overdrive, while in a 5-spd 4th is 1:1 and 5th is overdrive.
2007-01-29 10:42:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
4 speed has 4 gears plus reverse and 5 speed has 5 gears plus reverse. More gears means> smaller ratios between gears means>less power it takes for the engine to accelerate, means>faster accelration. That is if your tlaking about the same engine.
2007-01-29 10:42:23 · answer #7 · answered by turbo_mr_mark 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the amount of gears in the transmission. and usually if a car says "4 speed", it is an automatic transmission. if it says "5 speed", it is a manual or straight-drive transmission
2007-01-29 10:43:02 · answer #8 · answered by john m 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
your 5th grear may be an over drive in a standerd and the motor will not work as hard on the hiway
2007-01-29 10:40:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
One more gear to shift.
2007-01-29 10:40:36 · answer #10 · answered by Ironball 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋