I have to say I agree, I kind of like a well built engine with a wide power band winding out in each gear, not changing gears every 500 rpm. I have never figured what all the close ratio hype is, these aren't formula 1 cars...
Yes, if you notice, close ratio transmissions came mostly in very hot street cars. Chevy is a good example.....I know Chevy. lol But TONS of their cars got the M20 and M21 wide ratio transmissions. Much fewer cars got the M22 close ratio "rock crusher" transmission. The ratios are closer to keep the engine RPM up in its power band for performance reasons that are not really necessary on a daily driven street car......or necessarily desirable. Most mild street builds don't need all the RPM from the close ratios and it burns extra gas, too.
