JIM5.0

I assume you mean a very low first gear and a very high overdrive 6th gear.
That would be ideal, the 3.31:1 rear gear multiplied with the MT82's 3.66:1 1st gear is already making a decently steep total gear ratio at the wheels.
The total gear ratio at the wheels is 12.11:1.
And the overdrive 6th is a decent 0.65:1, so with 3.31:1 rear gear, the total gear ratio at the wheels is 2.15:1, with stock tires, that is 2000RPM cruising at about 70MPH.

The problem about going with a deeper 1st and taller overdrive is overall manufacturing cost over thousands of units sold. Ford already cheaped out by hiring Getrag to build the MT82 in China. I seriously doubt that Ford would want to pay a dime more for making Getrag put in a deeper first and taller overdrive.

But I do love the concept though. Even though you would lose the close-ratio of the gears in a 6-speed, going with a much deeper 1st, say 4.50:1, a much taller overdrive 6th gear, of say 0.50:1, and spacing out 2nd through 5th gears to exploit the torque bandwidth, you would get the best of both worlds with only a 3.31:1 rear gear: nearly 15:1 total gear ratio for a great launch (this rivals the stock MT82 with 4.10:1 rear gears) yet you get a great economy for highway cruising with a total gear ratio of 1.65:1 at the wheels.
The draw back us you would need drag radial slicks with such a total gear ratio and you would need some considerable torque to turn 6th gear during cruising.

rangerryda

I think the close ratio setup used now is supposed to take advantage of the high rpm power that is unique to the new 5.0 platform. The car as a whole isn't marketed for straight line only anymore either with the increasing popularity in SCCA and constant comparisons to Euro sedans and coupes. Hence the BOSS LS. Still does both jobs great though in my opinion

JIM5.0

The increasing popularity of track racing rather than strip racing definitely is becoming more of a trend. All too often, other countries have laughed at us Americans as being only straight-line racers or running around in a laughable oval track in circles with nothing more than left turns.

But with the popularity of an actual racing track like LS beginning to step in, it makes sense that cars like the Boss are becoming popular as we shed the boring NASCAR ovals for more KART-like mufti-dimensional tracks.

As such, I can see why the 3.73:1 rear gear is a great compromise given the stock gear ratios of the MT82.

pass1over

I was told basically the same thing when I picked my new mustang up a few weeks ago, that Ford was not offering the 3.73's as an option. Think he said it had something to do with gas mileage, but I wasn't really listening/paying attention to him.

At that point, I already had bought the car, so unless he was trying to ice a cake that was already being eaten, it wasn't a selling push IMO.

Ditty

Yeah....I was told this a week after I had bought it.

rangerryda

I've already got mine and the aftermarket will always be there for those who don't so it's really no big deal.

Sam I am

Per Ford, the 3.73's are restricted to retail orders only, as of September, to help with the nice folks at the EPA.
Yes, I work at a dealership, no, I'm not a sales manager.

We'll see what happens on the newly announced '13 version, it's not in the order guide yet.

JIM5.0

Wow, no longer an OEM option?
Does this mean that unless you are buying a car on the lot already with them on with a build date prior to September 2011, you cannot custom order your car with the 3.73:1 rear gear option?
That sucks.

Ford needs to update their website. They still have it as a "build it and price it" option.

http://bp3.ford.com/2012-Ford-Mustan...xterior/Config[|Ford|Mustang|2012|1|1.|300A.P8C..L6...NFLEE.457.4 4X.GT.COU.LESS.]

darksky1984

I think he says that you have to order a car to get the higher gears. That the dealers can't order them normally.

Sam I am

Winner winner!