Hi All. I am new here and will be ordering a GT Premium 6-speed manual in a couple of months. I am doing research on gear options vs. gas mileage, and I have read several strings but I don't see an answer to my question.
The GT will be my DD. Mostly city, but I make two runs a year from PHX to Seattle and back....3200 miles round trip.
I'd like the performance of the 3.73's, but am concerned about the drop in gas mileage on trips. The mileage numbers shown by Ford are (I believe) based upon the 3.31's. Does anyone have any data on what the mileage is with the 3.73's? I read in the road test in Motor Trend that they were getting around 11 mpg (with some agressive driving).
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Oh, and I won't be doing any racing....drag or track with this car.

Thanks to all!
Desert Dog

 

If only used as a daily driver and no performance driving then get the 3.31 gears, but gas mileage will not really be any different with the 3.73 unless you do lots a highway.

 

You could get 410's and be fine given its a six speed. I have 410's and still get 23 when i go on a road trip and 20 just driving around. You cant go wrong with either gear. Dont think about it to hard and just do it. I recommend and CAI and tuner from brenspeed

 

ya the 11mpg was aggresive lol. Im seeing high teens and low 20s so far with 2 fill ups under the belt. Should go up now with the 93 in it and some miles on her 600ish so far. I dont drive every day in it but most and have 25 miles one way to work. O and just the rumor I heard it will shut down in 5th even with the 373 in it so why not Also have been doing some "aggresive" driving so you should be good.

 

Really depends on how big of a factor MPG is to you. The 3.31's will still be plenty to get the car into the high 12's stock. If you decide on gears 3.73 would be the limit.

 

I ordered 3.73s for mine but it wont be a daily driver.I haven't driven a 3.73 geared '11 yet,but with the gearing the new 6 speed has[3.66 1st,2.42 2nd and 5th being 1 to 1] I figure it will be nearly as low geared in 1st-4th as my 4.30 geared '01.BTW I can get 21 mpg or so with my '01 so it really shouldn't make much difference in mileage.

 

I saw a 2011 5.0 today. Base model. Only option was the 6 speed auto. Sticker said it had 3.15 gears. Wow. Never seen a rear end ratio that high.

And I absolutely would not make a gear selection based on a trip I take once or twice a year. I'd make my choice based on what I want to enjoy the other 362 days out of the year.

 

Thanks to all who replied! I do appreciate it!

Desert Dog

 

I got a 2011 2 days ago and got the 3.55's. So far I am averaging 18.6 mpg exactly, and that is mainly city (stop and go) driving. I also might add that I am doing tons of playing so I am sure I could do a little better if I tried.

 

Thanks 2011cs/gt. Love the color...I think I will go with black also. Your mileage with the 3.55's in the city is realy good I think. Good photos of the car! Thanks,

Desert Dog