That's pretty normal. They made 6th gear a little higher in the 2010 models, but in a 2009, that's what you get. It's the way VW decided to gear it, and we just have to live with it (unless you want to spend big money and replace your transmission with a 2010 model's gearbox). There are several threads here about the changed gear ratios in the 2010 models.MPBsr said:
When all is said and done, it would seem that if you are @ 2,500 rpm and @ 75 mph, that your car has been "optimized" for that speed aka America. SPEED wise, it would be senseless to gear in such a way as to have 2500 rpm @ for example 95 to 100 mph. !!?? ( upper max torque range).JSWTDI09 said:
ruking said:
x2!! I like the slightly shorter gearing found in the '09 MTs better because it allows you to use all 6 gears just about all the time, urban/suburban/highway, whereas the taller gearing in the '10 MTs pretty much locks out 6th gear for all but highway driving. Also, 6th in the '09 MTs is taller than 5th in the ALHs; verified that with my dad's car multiple times.TwoTone said:
According to my service manual the 2010 is a CJAA engine.isa540 said:
JSWTDI09 said:
totally agree here, 6th any higher and it would be useless in the city. Maybe some people can specialize their vehicles for 75mph by swapping gears but seems right on the money for city and mild "55mph" highway speeds.Pelican18TQA4 said:
Yes, but...(and it's a big but). read this:isa540 said:
True. When driving home from school in Tucson, at 77 i usually get 46-47mpg. Going 68 nets about 54.isa540 said:
I am a tad confused given the post. As (your) 09 oem owners manual says on the technical specifications page, max torque is delivered between a range of 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. This is the same whether you have DSG 6 spd/6 spd manual, since you can not do much about the DSG/6 speed manual gears. So one can do this for whatever " mph/speed". But for best economy, given good efficient engine operation, operate at lower range of max torque, i.e., 1,750 rpm. For efficient operation and best mpg range, albeit slight hit, operate closer to 2,500 rpm.isa540 said:
But the '09-'10 TDIs aren't as frugal as your '02 ('09s have more power, more weight, and much cleaner emissions...all mpg sappers). My dad's car ('02 5-speed) can get high 40s all day long at 75-80 mph. In order for my car ('09 6-speed) to get high 40s, I can't drive any faster than about 65 mph without resorting to pseudo-hypermiling techniques (no thanks!!). Of course, if I lived in a part of the country that was dead flat (e.g., Florida) and/or had little traffic, I'm sure I could go at least 5 mph faster and still get the same mpg, but no way a '09 is getting high 40s mpg at 75-80 mph unless it's downhill.IndigoBlueWagon said:
I run the A/C just about every day between June and September here!wild03 said:Yeah but then you will need the AC! ask me how I know!
Correct. 6th gear in my '09 MT is only marginally taller than 5th gear in the earlier 5-speed MTs. The gears in-between are closer together, which allows greater fuel economy and better acceleration characteristics. The newest car gearboxes are 8-speed autos and they don't have a super tall 8th gear, but rather have a huge overall ratio spread and therefore can offer enhanced acceleration and fuel economy.compu_85 said:
