mk5 Golf 1.6 FSi

A mate of mine has picked up his temporary company car, a mk5 Golf 1.6 FSi and it has a 6 speed box, is there any reason why it needs to be a 6 speed ?

 

for cruising at lower rpm on the motorway? We've got one as a company car as well.

 

do you reckon its an economy factor then less revs less fuel consumption ?

 

I would say so.

The Fiat Punto 1.4 had a 6 speed gearbox as well

 

really...... you would of thought they would of changed the length of gearing rather than add another.

 

Go drive a Mk4 1.6 and you'll understand why they put a 6 speed box in the Mk5 - the engine is turning at a buzzy 4000rpm at 80mph in 5th. If you just lengthened the 5 speed gearing or put wider spacing between each ratio, the 1.6 wouldn't have the torque/power to pull all that weight around and still keep up with the competition.

 

From our road test in the October issue of
Volkswagen Driver:
The Golf 1.6 FSI has something else going for it. The
six-ratio gearbox, fitted as standard, not only helps
keep the engine on the boil, by providing a much
better spread of gears to keep it near its high torque
peak, but it also shifts smoothly and quickly. Its a
major improvement over the six-ratio gearbox in the
Mk 4 TDI and GTI, used primarily for its physical
strength, which earned a reputation for being
deliberate at best, at worst notchy and recalcitrant.