Final Drive Gearing G35X

[HObrien]

I just purchased a 2005 Infinity G35X with 33K miles and, based on appearance and maintenance records, has had wonderful care. This car will be driven primarily by my wife, but it is also the "family" car.

My question concerns the overall gearing of the car. I searched the forums as well as I could, being a new user, but did not see anything directly related to my concern.

The performance of the car is great, but, Holy Cow!, this thing turns approximately 2900 RPM at 75 MPH. I am used to driving my C-5 Corvette, (6spd manual trans.) which turns approximately 1600 RPM at 75 MPH, and my older commuter car, a Pontiac Firebird Formula (also a V-8 with a 6 spd manual trans.) turning 2000 RPM at 75 MPH.

I have no doubt that the Nissan/Infinity engineers know what they are doing and had a specific purpose for using the gearing in the car. The G35 engine has a lot of power, both HP and torque, and is seems that it could easily have used a "higher" final drive ratio without great sacrifice in performance. I am guessing that fuel mileage also would be improved with taller gears.

I did not buy the car for gas mileage, but intuitively, I wonder whether there is also more wear on the engine as the result of higher RPM's?

Does anyone know Nissan/Infinity's thinking on the high RPM cruise speed of the engine?

Any information will be appreciated.

P.S. The overall gearing in the Corvette is extreme in the other direction. Although it has a mountain of torque, it doesn't exactly jump out from under you if you want to accelerate from 75 MPH in 6th gear.