http://www.gruppe-s.com/Subaru/subtrn/STIRAV6-special.htm

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The STI RA (Special Edition) V6 gears are a great upgrade for guys that want to keep the stock 5th gear, but still have a shorter ratio down low. 4th and 5th gear ratios are retained, which allows for a smoother transition to 5th (instead of the grinding when you just leave the stock WRX 5th gear in).
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Is what it says...but when you compare the ratios...they are longer than the stock ones in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears.

Gear Ratios:
First Gear 3.166
Second Gear 1.882
Third Gear 1.296
Fourth Gear 0.972
Fifth Gear 0.738

Compared to Stock WRX:
3.454 (1st) 1.947 (2nd) 1.366 (3rd) 0.972 (4th) 0.738 (5th)

Wheras the regular RA gear ratios are:

First Gear 3.083
Second Gear 2.062
Third Gear 1.545
Fourth Gear 1.151
Fifth Gear 0.825

So, is this a typo for the special edition? I would imagine having shorter gears would help...is the SE just a gas saving version of the RA gearset that's just ment to be stronger?

Having a taller first and shorter second would be great, I dont know why you would want a taller second though.

The only place you'll really see a major gas savings is if you can drop the RPMs even more in a TALL 5th or 6th gear over drive. A lot like the Tremec T56s in Cobras, Camaros/Firebirds, Vettes and Vippers that have a .50~.68 6th gear overdrive. This will help extended highway runs, allowing the engine to lug (well, in the V8 world) down around 2k~2200 RPM @ like 70 or 75.

Now I have to remember, in the gear box the smaller the gear #, the physically lower the gear is (correct?, but in the diff, the lower the gear #, the physically higher the gear (this one I know for sure). My brain is having a gear fart this morning.

Comparing to the std. RA set, yes, the SE version would theoretically be more fuel efficent in top gear, but compared to the OEM USDM WRX 5spd, there should be no difference in top gear.

But my question is, why does gruppe-s advertise it as being shorter down low...when it's even LONGER than the oem wrx gears...