Anne Garren wrote:
> Hello listers!
>
> I'm a newcomer to the Spitfire world, having been bitten by the "gotta
> have one someday" bug just a few
> months ago. My first and only Spitfire driving experience was 20 years
> ago on a curvy mountain road
> - I remember it quite well! I've been on the Triumphs and Spitfires
> lists for a couple of months and have enjoyed the comments, questions,
> and helpful replies. I'm starting to look for a car now (one in
> excellent condition, not a project car), and my question is: What are
> the advantages/disadvantages of an overdrive
> transmission? Is this something I should definitely look for, or is it a
> matter of preference?
Anne,
Benefits, you'll cut the revs by about 500rpm at cruising speed(approx
60-70mph), you can use 3rd o/d on short straights instead of 4th, it makes a
good conversational point when people get in and ask what the little switch
is for, then you can tell them that you have 6 speeds. :-)
Dissad's, can be expensive when/if it breaks or wears out! Also if you have
to remove the gearbox, the damn thing weighs about twice the weight as a
non-od gearbox.
Basically, if you have never had one, you probably won't miss it too much,
unless you want to drive the car daily for quite a distance, if you had had
one, then you'd never want to drive a non equipped car again.
Cheerio
Rich
'73 Spitfire MkIV
UK.
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