Aeros are very long geared. Autobahn running can be embarassing if you try to pull high speed acceleration in 6th (90-140mph) - it needs nudging down 1 or 2 cogs.
Saying that the ratios do seem to suit the cars fantastic A-road ability - IE hold higher gears when loping along around the speed limit enjoying better economy - and then nudged down to make full use of the broad torque band.
0-60 is irrelevent
(No its not, its a hippopotamus)
These are what I found quoted as the ratios for the Getrag box in the Aero and for the ZF 6HP26, which I suspect is what is used by MMC as it was used by BMW on the 7 series. (Anyone know for sure?)
............M...........A
1st gear: 4.05:1.....4.17:1
2nd gear: 2.4:1......2.34:1
3rd gear: 1.58:1.....1.52:1
4th gear: 1.19:1.....1.14:1
5th gear: 1:1.........0.87:1
6th gear: 0.87:1.....0.69:1
Final drive: BTR Limited slip 3.08:1 is quoted for the manual, I'm assuming it is the same for the auto, again does anyone know for sure?
So the manual 6th is very much an Overdrive and on the auto both 5th and 6th are overdrives. This probably explains the much improved MPG and CO2 figures quoted for the auto version.
For real world driving 2nd to 4th are the most usable, but as Ken says, waffling along at 50 to 60 the auto version is probably in 6th, giving close to 30mpg...
