What I meant if I said overdrive. Today we had a small car for part exchange and I asked 'Does it have an overdrive' (meaning 5th gear)

I got all these funny looks from people. Some knowing what I meant.

Was I not using the term correctly?

Bit of an old term really, I'd know what youy meant but its not a term used much these days unless talking about some Jap auto's.

overdrive just a gear that allows for crusing on the motorway at lower revs EG: 6th on the fabia

Overdrive is what they had when the largest number of gears in a gearbox was usually 4. It involved engaging an extra cog in the 'box, thus making the ratios for which it worked 'longer'. For instance, the TR6 I hired for SWMBO's 30th had overdrive that worked on 3rd and 4th, but because of the way it worked, the gear ratios went 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd O/D, 4th, 4th O/D. It was engaged using a stalk like for the indicators, and was quite handy when cruising on the motorway (switching between 4th and 4th O/D), and on the B roads (switching between 3rd and 3rd O/D)

The overdrive system was never brilliantly reliable, and once 5-speed 'boxes became practicable for all cars, they stopped being produced. Having said this, the 6-speed box on the Fabia vRS works on a vaguely similar principle, with 5th and 6th being the same ratio as 3rd and 4th, but engaging with a different final drive (I think...)

I remember an old mate had a Mitsi Colt on about a B plate, and it had a big overdrive lever next to the main 4 speed box. Meant that all 4 gears could be in overdrive, but he tended to just use it as a fifth while the stick remained in 4th. Not sure how it mechanically worked. Would be interested to know.

Old volvos had a switch on top of gears srtick.

Old volvos had a switch on top of gears srtick.

The one I drove did ....until I switched and ping .....the switch shot out in a load of bits and hit the headlining ...instant four gear box

So it doesn't apply to a citreon ax?

So it doesn't apply to a citreon ax?

No just plain old 5th gear..

Depends on its age, possibly early AX was available with a 4 speed manual in base model, for example '88 astra mk2 was still availabe with a 4 speed, so to ask if a car from this period, especially a base spec, as a 5th gear is a good question IMO, overdrive a short winded way of asking if it as a five speed box? Probably looked at you funny for knowing the phrase overdrive at your tender years and the fact your a bird :lol: Similar to going into a dealer and asking for a shooting brake.

What is a shooting break?

not over drive as said above but 5th

Drivers of a certain age still refer to fifth gear as overdrive, allthough technically it is just another gear.

A shooting brake was a custom build estate from a luxuary saloon eg jag, aston etc for the sporting rich, then mass produces like Ford recognized a market and the estate was born, again older generation or from the upper classes may refer to an estate as a shooting brake

What is a shooting break?

Estate car.

Not sure how it mechanically worked. Would be interested to know.

This is as good a technical description as any.

Depends on its age, possibly early AX was available with a 4 speed manual in base model

My 95 AX 1.0 (base model) was still only a four speed.

I will insure to use the term 'shooting break' in the next week at work

"An overdrive" was a bolt-on extra step in the transmission, usually behind the gearbox. Usually either electrically or hydraulically activated, it involves re-routing the drive through a set of planet gears to increase the final drive ratio. Usually these were offered as an option, increasing the cost of the car, but most gearboxes were still 3 or 4 speed, to keep the cost of the standard item down.

Occasionally this term is used to describe an "overdrive gear" the term meaning a gear where the output shaft from the gearbox is driven at less than engine revs. There's still the differential which will bump up the final drive ratio to around 3:1, but that's where the term comes from. In this case, it means a gear within the gearbox, as 5th or 6th gears are nowadays. The separate overdrive has gone the way of all things, since people demand 5 gears as standard these days.

Nick (72 MGBGT - with overdrive )

I will insure to use the term 'shooting break' in the next week at work

Let us know the reaction you get:P

are there anyother good terms I can use at work to make people think I know more about cars then I actually do?

are there anyother good terms I can use at work to make people think I know more about cars then I actually do?

Just chuck the odd 'flange sprocket' or 'giggle pin' into conversation, everyone will think your an expert

are there anyother good terms I can use at work to make people think I know more about cars then I actually do?

Study a haynes manual for say a 205, or a more modern pug if they've done one yet. Just have a look at the piccies and remember some of the words. It will probably be as good a thing to do as any.

What I meant if I said overdrive.

nope! but I think I'm in dumb mode tonight, I keep asking silly questions! hehe!

Just chuck the odd 'flange sprocket' or 'giggle pin' into conversation, everyone will think your an expert

I think if I ever dropped phrases like that into conversation I'd be the one giggling! hahaha!

When looking at prospective purchasers trade-ins practice tutting, shaking head, sucking in air through teeth, saying 'oh dear' in a sad voice, and looking at them with pity usually helps to keep your day free from annoying customers !!

I think if I ever dropped phrases like that into conversation I'd be the one giggling! hahaha!

Any chance you could get me a skirting ladder?, or pop over the road for a long weight?

I really pity that poor apprentice boy I had all those years ago!!