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Reply to "Who has this Transaxle?"

3.78--2.06--1.26--.93--//--3.44 r&p

Go here and look at this vs what you've spec'd.

The main differences are in the 2-3 spread vs the 3-4 spread. Your package gives a closer 2-3 gear spread and a longer 3-4.

The other main difference is expense: The above gears are all stock late Bug ratios and only the R&P is custom. They are money now but they didn't used to be expensive and I suspect production will again catch up to demand before you're done building your car.

If you're the kind who wants to pretend you're screaming down Mulholland Drive in 1957 then maybe that tighter 2-3 spread makes sense and you won't be as bothered by the longer reach to 4th when you're spinning up the on ramp. Or if you are bothered by that, just order a .89 4th gear and live with the higher highway revs.

If you're a more typical type of driver and you want the evenest 4 gears you can get (albeit in wide-ratio format) with a 3000 rpm highway cruise then the stock gears/ 3.44 combo pack will do you. I currently have two cars with those gears: an MG replica on a full '69 Bug pan, powered by a bone-stock Subaru EJ22 (137 hp in an 1770 pound car), and a new-build 550 Spyder with a Jake Raby 1915 cc Type 1 (120 hp in a 1550 pound car). Both run 165/60-15s. Both engines max out around 5500 rpm. Both cars are plenty quick and have a good gear for any situation. Both do 70 mph at 3000 rpm which leaves plenty of top end to evade pursuit & etc.

Obviously the no-compromise play here is the Berg 5 speed, which is spendy but reportedly worth the outlay and the wait. It all depends on how you pan to drive the car.

Last edited by edsnova
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