I was drivin today...goin about 80 to stay with traffic and I was noticing my RPMs. At 80mph on a flat surface, my car stays between 3.1-3.3 RPM. Is this normal? This is my first manual and V6...maybe that has something to do with it

 

Sounds about right. I believe at 75 I am at about 3100 rpm, but my car is a 5-speed.

 

My auto is around 2800 RPM's at 80, 2500 RPM's is 72MPH. I wonder why the 5 speed is geared so differently up top then autos.

 

Yea..... Ummm..... because the auto's only have 4 speeds?

 

7200 rpm..

 

having an auto, ~2800RPM

 

yea, my 5spd is around 3100-3300 at 80

 

My 5spd @80mph=3100-3200

 

FOR SE with 215/60R15 tires

1st= 3.285
2nd= 1.850
3rd= 1.272
4th= 0.954
5th= 0.795
Reverse= 3.429
Final Drive Ratio= 3.823

RPM=6,550

MPH=(engine RPM X Tire Radius) / (Final Gear Ratio X 168)

Tire Radius (inches): aspect ratio(215 X .60=129)X .0394 (mm to inch conv.) = 5.08in
5.08 + 15(rim size) X .5
5.08 + 7.5=12.58

Final Gear Ratio: gear ratio (.795=5th gear) X final drive (3.823)=
3.04

MPH = (6,550 x 12.58) / (3.04 X 168)

MPH = 82399 / 510.72

max MPH in 5th gear = 161.34mph

MPH/RPM = 161.34 X 1000 / RPM

MPH/RPM = 161340 / 6550

MPH/RPM = 24.63

24.63 X 3000rpm = 73.9mph
XXXX X 3100rpm = 76.4mph
XXXX X 3200rpm = 78.8mph
XXXX x 3,250rpm = 80.0mph
XXXX X 3300rpm = 81.3mph