"Kaz Kylheku" <kkylheku@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1145913104.853560.73380@g10g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> Bob Jones wrote:
>> 4-cyl Accords are not sporty, so I don't think they will be made with
>> 6-speed manual.
>
> There are good non-sporty applications for a 6 speed gearbox. Even in
> ordinary use, five speeds can sometimes feel a little bit too wide
> apart over a weak inline 4, particularly one with poor low-end torque.
>
> In day to day city driving, I keep the RPM in the 1800 to 2200 range
> most of the time, sometimes venturing into the 2500-3000 zone (often
> because there isn't a good gear available to avoid it!) In this narrow
> "conservative band", it is just as useful to have more gears as it is
> to have them in the power band.
>

I agree, don't they use a 6 speed in the TSX that uses the same engine
(although with a higher compression ratio)? seems like they coudl just
standardize the manual to be a 6 speed with minor gearing tweeks for the 2
different engines. Hell, if they want to boost highway efficency, they could
put 5th and 6th as overdrives, and just make 6th a super tall gear. 40 MPG
highway?? ;-)

-Nick