As I've tried to preach so many times before to guys considering the low first gear 998 and 999 AND 4 speed over drive. In these light little cars, it can be overkill.
Exactly. A light car, and especially a light, high horsepower car will hate a steep starting line ratio. But a heavy car with not so much power will want more starting line ratio even if it makes the gear splits wider.
2750 with me in it and depending what engine had between 670 and 750 HP still liked a 3.09 first gear, even with a 5.57 axle ratio. If I had a lower RPM it would have hated that starting line ratio.
There is more to first gear ratio than just claiming a close ratio box is all that.
