Is having a 6 speed transmission really that much better than a 4 speed? I have been driving my 95 GMC Sierra for 12 years and never had a problem with its 4 spd trans. Whats the real advantage? They both have a very similar final overdrive ratio. Looks like advertising hype to me.

 

Acceleration. More gears for towing. They could put a higher final drive ratio in the last gear for better gas mileage.

 

You should go test drive an escalade or maybe the new tundra when they are out. It's probably like comparing a 69 4spd to a T56....

 

It's the same reason the 3.6 engine hasn't replaced pretty much every GM V6 in production.

It simply takes time to ramp up production of a new major component like an engine or tranmission. As production capacity increases, you'll see these enhancements in more and more cars and trucks.

Give it time, you'll be able to get everything from a Cobalt on up with the 6-speed trans.

 

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=502120

2500's with a 6.0L get a 6 speed auto for 2007.5

 

Offer a 6-speed auto, 6.0L and 2WD in a 1500 crew, with LS trim and a sunroof, and I'd buy one this weekend.

 

I hope when the new 6 speeds come out for the 1500 trucks and SUV's, it won't be hobbled by torque management and/or that funky power delivery found in the current trucks..

 

You can if you get a 2500. Price is close to Toyota Tundra too. Toyota doesn't offer the 6 speed on V6 or 4.7L V8 trucks.

I guess it all depends on what you want from your truck. If you are looking for a hot 2wd reg cab sport truck and want the lightest body you can get because your more likely to drag race than haul anything then the best you can do with the Silverado is a 5.3L. If you want the same truck but need power for hauling big loads then you can get a 2500 w/ 6.0L VVT and 6 speed auto that has a much better payload and tow capacity than the Tundra or 5.3L Silverado.

Reg cab long bed Tundra 5.7L A6 = $24,710
Reg cab long bed Silverado 6.0L A6 = $23,675

 

So Edmunds has the price on the new 2500HDs, even though they aren't on sale yet? Interesting.

But as you mentioned, those two trucks would be geared toward different users, really. The HD trucks, as Kyle and I were discussing in the thread about the new 6L90, use a significantly heavier duty frame than the half tons, and are quite a bit heavier accordingly (something around 600 lbs heavier). If you were wanting to have a bare bones truck that is quick out of the box, you'd be better off with the Tundra than a 2500HD.

On the other hand, if you are really wanting to turn it into a performance truck, starting with a Silverado 5.3 might not be a bad deal, since that truck is a bit lighter than the equivalent Tundra, according to their websites. I'd say the small block aftermarket is quite a bit larger than the new Toyota 5.7L. At this juncture you only get the 4 speed auto with the 5.3, though. I'm sure there will be people swapping 6L90s into half tons before long at all...and it won't be long before the 6L80 is available in the half tons anyway.

 

I have kinda wondered the same thing.

 

With a 6 speed, you can have the short low gears, while having a tall OD gear, and an extra gear or two in the middle.

The shorter lower gears (1st 2nd) drastically help acceleration and stump pulling, especially if the gears are spaced well to keep the engie in the proper powerband.

Tall overdrive gear will help highway crusing.

And the extra gears in between will keep the rpms drops between shifts less, which yields a smoohter ride, and better perfomance and fuel economy.

You get to have your cake and eat it too. Its like having the best of both worlds of 3.73's and 4.10's out back, with better gear "spacing" in between.

Also, if GM does it right, tq management can be far less intrusive, further increasing performance.


Lets start a pool.. with 6 speeds in the light duties, my magic crystal ball predicts trucks will get 10% better fuel economy all around, and knock at least half a second off the 0-60 times. Towing and payload, may change a little too.


I know its a different application, but last I checked with the 6 speed automatic Corvette's, they had a shorter more aggresive lower gears, yet still a better OD than the 4 speed version. Plus, the engine was able to stay in its powerband more since the gears are spaced a bit better.