Topic: Mazda 6, Jeep Cherokee Named Canadian Car, Utility Of The Year By AJAC

[Black Hatch]

The 6 needs its 5door version back on our soil!

Agreed...
and manual while we're at it.
Maybe add in optional AWD too.

[Solstice2006]

The 6 needs its 5door version back on our soil!

Agreed...
and manual while we're at it.
Maybe add in optional AWD too.

Don't forget the diesel, all for under $35k!   

[dewey9315]

I can't remember the exact points, but the C7 lost by 1 to the Mazda 6, and the Mazda 3 was only another 2 or 3 points behind the C7.

[Solstice2006]

I can't remember the exact points, but the C7 lost by 1 to the Mazda 6, and the Mazda 3 was only another 2 or 3 points behind the C7.

Here you go:

[MarkStevenson]

Just to update you guys on the Cherokee:

Over the weekend, I finally got it to shift into ninth. To say I'm not impressed is an understatement.

Basically, you have to be doing over 130 km/h and on a downhill that's fairly steep. As soon as it starts to flatten out, the transmission will shift back to eighth. If it sniffs an uphill, it'll go down to seventh or, under load, down to sixth.

On the good side, if you aren't under load and slowing down on a flat highway to slightly under 80 km/h, it'll stay in seventh the whole way, even with maintenance throttle.

[tpl]

Well either they need to alter the ratios or the final drive ratio or change the software in the transmission...or both probably.
A gear that only works at 130 km/h is pretty useless in Canada.

[MarkStevenson]

Well either they need to alter the ratios or the final drive ratio or change the software in the transmission...or both probably.
A gear that only works at 130 km/h is pretty useless in Canada.

Especially when the only way you can make use of a marketed feature is to break the law.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Quite a few highways in the US have 75mph (120km/h) limits now, and a very few have limits higher than that. I'd think the top gear is aimed at the high fliers.

But does it really matter? With 6th to 9th all being overdrives, as long as it picks a gear and settles in without unnecessary hunting, I wouldn't notice or care which gear it was in.

I would be curious to know the reasoning behind having a gear that tall though.

[Solstice2006]

Quite a few highways in the US have 75mph (120km/h) limits now, and a very few have limits higher than that. I'd think the top gear is aimed at the high fliers.

But does it really matter? With 6th to 9th all being overdrives, as long as it picks a gear and settles in without unnecessary hunting, I wouldn't notice or care which gear it was in.

I would be curious to know the reasoning behind having a gear that tall though.

I think it mostly has to do with the principal of the fact, 9 speed transmission, when the last gear never gets used.....

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Quite a few highways in the US have 75mph (120km/h) limits now, and a very few have limits higher than that. I'd think the top gear is aimed at the high fliers.

But does it really matter? With 6th to 9th all being overdrives, as long as it picks a gear and settles in without unnecessary hunting, I wouldn't notice or care which gear it was in.

I would be curious to know the reasoning behind having a gear that tall though.

I think it mostly has to do with the principal of the fact, 9 speed transmission, when the last gear never gets used.....

It won't get using in all areas, but 80mph traffic is not unusual in some areas.

It does seem to return pretty good fuel economy though, getting only marginally worse on the highway than the 4 cylinders offered by others, and much better than the Terrain, one of the few V6s left.

[tpl]

Maybe they would get even better economy if they tightened it up a little so that it would use 9th at 120 km/h. Then one would in 9th even just cruising down the 401.

[MarkStevenson]

Maybe they would get even better economy if they tightened it up a little so that it would use 9th at 120 km/h. Then one would in 9th even just cruising down the 401.

120 km/h makes sense to me. It's 10 km/h over the highest speed limit in Canada and 10 km/h over the limit tends to be an average cruising speed on most roads and highways. If that's when it kicked in, I would have no problems.

BUT, it isn't just the high speed that irks me. It's a downhill-only gear, even at 130 km/h. As soon as you flatten out, back to eighth you go. What's the bloody point?

If you are COASTING downhill without throttle, most engines don't even use fuel anymore.

[tpl]

I wonder if it won't go into and stay in 9th if the throttle is open at all.  Which imho is a bug.   That would possibly explain the downhill and could be tested by accelerating further while going downhill in 9th.   See you in jail. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

BUT, it isn't just the high speed that irks me. It's a downhill-only gear, even at 130 km/h. As soon as you flatten out, back to eighth you go. What's the bloody point?

I see this like the top gear on my bicycle. My route back home was too hilly to use it very often. Out here I can use it with the wind, but not against it typically.

Also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygr5AHufBN4

 

[MarkStevenson]

BUT, it isn't just the high speed that irks me. It's a downhill-only gear, even at 130 km/h. As soon as you flatten out, back to eighth you go. What's the bloody point?

I see this like the top gear on my bicycle. My route back home was too hilly to use it very often. Out here I can use it with the wind, but not against it typically.

Also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygr5AHufBN4

 

That's by far one of the most random videos I've ever seen.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That's by far one of the most random videos I've ever seen.

Just when I start believing I'm weird, I see something like that and I suddenly seem relatively normal. 

[mixmanmash]

Quite a few highways in the US have 75mph (120km/h) limits now, and a very few have limits higher than that. I'd think the top gear is aimed at the high fliers.

But does it really matter? With 6th to 9th all being overdrives, as long as it picks a gear and settles in without unnecessary hunting, I wouldn't notice or care which gear it was in.

I would be curious to know the reasoning behind having a gear that tall though.

Yep.  And in Utah and Texas some Interstates are 85 mph (136 km/h).  And they are considering raising those to 90 mph (144 km/h).

[quadzilla]

Yep.  And in Utah and Texas some Interstates are 85 mph (136 km/h).  And they are considering raising those to 90 mph (144 km/h).

Lots of nothing around so might as well drive fast. Nebraska needs to also consider this.

My 6-wgn would turn over 3,000rpm at 150kph with the 6 speed auto. It made for a great hwy cruiser.

[mixmanmash]

Yep.  And in Utah and Texas some Interstates are 85 mph (136 km/h).  And they are considering raising those to 90 mph (144 km/h).

Lots of nothing around so might as well drive fast. Nebraska needs to also consider this.

My 6-wgn would turn over 3,000rpm at 150kph with the 6 speed auto. It made for a great hwy cruiser.

My Protégé is turning 3500 RPM at 120 km/h...

[wing]

I don't get the complaint. Is it revving too high?

Do you complain that when you cruse on the highway with a CVT equipped car it could have ratios left you can't use?

Seems like it's just a mental problem not a car problem