any way to change the gear ratios in manual?

[sierra]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

My dad's LS460, equipped with an 8 speed automatic, spins at 2000RPM at 80mph. 4.6L V8 engine IIRC.

Desperate measures to reduce the fuel consumption of something so heavy and with the aerodynamics of a brick.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by sierra

Desperate measures to reduce the fuel consumption of something so heavy and with the aerodynamics of a brick.

Oh absolutely. 25MPG cross-country highway on a recent trip. That's decent for an AWD V8. My point was it has the torque to back that up as well, we don't. Doesn't really matter because the trans will downshift to the proper gear anyway.

[sierra]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Oh absolutely. 25MPG cross-country highway on a recent trip. That's decent for an AWD V8. My point was it has the torque to back that up as well, we don't. Doesn't really matter because the trans will downshift to the proper gear anyway.

There's not such a huge difference in torque when you take the weight into account. The 86 has almost 70% of the Nm per kg of the Lexus and you can close that gap further as the speed rises and the aerodynamics come into play.
Granted the Lexus 'might' have a bigger % of its torque at 2000rpm but as you say, as soon as it needs torque it changes down to source it from higher rpm's, same as the 86.

Don't forget the auto 86 is ony pulling about 2,300rpm at 70mph and quite happy to cruise at that.

Brilliant fuel consumption on that trip!

[Laika]

Originally Posted by sierra

Desperate measures to reduce the fuel consumption of something so heavy and with the aerodynamics of a brick.

I hate going off topic but just want to say, although it's a different car of the same concept, my E39 was about as aerodynamic as my BRZ (c.d. of .29 I think). And top gear at 3k rpms was at a brisk 107mph . I can assure you that thing handled highway cruising with good fuel consumption just fine.