i used to get 22mpg with my 89 350 pickup, i only really used 2,3,and 5. lets see a hemi get that in the real world. its more about the efficiency of the engine

Actually it would be efficiency of the ENTIRE drivetrain. Every part can help: motor, trans, rear axle, tires. It isn't solely one part. The point is Dodge is kinda behind on keeping current in that one department.

Also let'* see your 89 350 beat a SRT8. Kinda comparing apples to oranges.

i was more talking about the trucks, i could haul the same, the engine is the same size, and got twice the mileage as the early ones the later ones i guess are better. they dont get what they claim and its pretty bad they cant beat a 30+ year old truck. its about making a flat torque curve on the engine and optimizing the final gear and the rear to use it best. the dodges are geared for acceleration which only mildly helps city efficiency but who drives a truck in the city, not many i would imagine. all the hemis i personally know of get 11-13 rural and the newer ones 16-18. they claim like 21-22 but thats bogus. i only know one person who has a srt8 charger she drives like 4 miles a day so i asked what the mileage was and they dont care to pay attention

as far as beating one if i had the infinite design capability like the oems have im sure i could do better with just a 4-5 spd optimized for the enigne have the first 3-4 gears optimized for acceleration and the last really over-driven, like t56 firebird with a ls1 alot of people can get 30mpg with one of those. you dont need two overdrives though, the car has 400 hp

You're focusing too much on the 8 gears. I'd be happy with 6 even, like the Camaro, Mustang, and yea that'* right most cars now (heck the Mazda 6 comes in 6 manual or auto). It'* just that 5 that irks me. They CAN do better, they're choosing not to

Man, your pics are broke.

it is all about the final drive not how many gears you have. even the t56 has skip shift when you are trying for economy so its essentially a four speed. 5 or 6 or 4 even doesnt matter, more isnt better, only that its well matched for the engine and car

Yea I forgot to watermark them when I uploaded. They'll be reuploaded here shortly

Ok album is back up