Every morning when I cruise down the tollway at ~80mph, my RPMs are pretty close to 3,500. That seeks high to me. I keep checking the shifter to make sure I'm not in 5th gear.

The engine isn't under a tremendous load (~10% throttle?), I think it would do fine at 2,750 RPM at that speed (less turbo, better fuel mileage?)

Anyway, just my Countryman observation for the day.

 

Sport mode engaged?

 

In sport mode 95% of the time, but this is a manual transmission.

 

Similar in the auto, I too think its a tad short.

 

taller gearing would cause lower rpm but higher load so probably a wash imo.

 

I have thought the same thing with my three 6 spd... My 2009 Dodge Challenger drops RPM all the way down to about 1500 at 65 mph when I drop it in 6th gear... great for gas mileage. Would really like it if the MINI's 6 spd did about the same, I figure the fuel mileage on the highway would jump up to 40 or so for the MCS.

But... it doesn't ... so I live with the ever present mindless muscle memory of trying to shift into 6th when it already is about every 15 or 20 minutes on the highway.

Motor on!