RE: Transmission "upgrade" (16V owners in particular)

["Crane, Damien" <d3c@TENNANTCO.com>]

I have spent quite a bit of time driving an A3 (94, so must be a CHE) and I
found it to be a huge improvement (in the perceived quality/feel department)
over any other VW transmission I have shifted.  I autocrossed it a lot and
even under such 'duress' it felt great.  Synchros were strong and abuse
resistant.  And this was after 120K miles of such use.  I think you will be
very happy it.

> ----------
> From: 	Bradley Peet[SMTP:btpeet@effervescent.com]
> Sent: 	Thursday, October 29, 1998 9:50 PM
> To: 	Scirocco List (E-mail)
> Subject: 	Transmission "upgrade" (16V owners in particular)
> 
> My search for a replacement gearbox has taken a new twist.  Tired of
> shopping around for high mileage 2Y and AGB units, I started looking into
> late-model A3 5-speed transmissions.
> 
> Most '93-'95 2.0 liter Jettas (Golfs, too, I suppose) have a tranny the
> code
> "CHE" which has slightly different gear ratios than the stock 16V but the
> same size input shaft.  In my opinion, for 2.0 liter or other high-output
> applications, the CHE offers at least one distinct advantage: a .805 ratio
> fifth gear.
> 
> I paid well over $200 for a .805 fifth gear kit a few years ago, which I
> am
> very happy with, so a CHE tranny would instantly save the cost of such an
> upgrade.  The only "drawback" is that 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears have
> slightly
> higher ratios than the 2Y/AGB.  This probably won't be a problem if you
> have
> a high-output 2.0 liter engine and don't mind the same 3.67 final drive
> ratio.
> 
> The other advantage is the mileage factor.  It's much easier to find low
> mileage CHE units than 2Y or AGB.  A rebuilt transmission with new
> bearings
> and synchros may be fine and dandy for most people, but for me there's no
> escaping the fact that gears and the ring/pinion set have
> God-only-knows-how-many years and miles of stress on them.
> 
> To sum this up, tonight I came home with a DFQ tranny from a '97 Golf.
> Production of the DFQ began 12/95 and it has the same ratios as the CHE.
> It
> cost me $900 but then again, it only has 13,000 miles on it and I get the
> .805 fifth gear which I believe matches my 2.0 liter 16V perfectly.
> 
> Well, that's my 2 cents.  If anyone thinks I'm mistaken or otherwise
> completely full of shit, please let me know!  :)
> 
> -Bradley
> http://effervescent.com/vw/
> '86 S 16V 2.0 (Tornado Red) about to get the DFQ transplant.
> '87 S 16V "bone stock" (Flash Silver)
> 
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