Overdrive in 3rd, what's the benefit?

[mazfg]

Having never had a car with overdrive before, I have it on 3rd and 4th on my Vitesse 6. I can see the benefit in 4th as it's like a 5th gear. But what's is the point of OD in 3rd, is this not just like going into 4th gear normally?

Thanks

[James]

Saves left foot effort, that's all.

[Deleted User]

I typically drive my overdrive equipped Vitesse as a five speed (including using the clutch when engaging and disengaging overdrive because it is easier on the metal work). However, sometimes I find myself reaching for the gear lever when changing down around a slower corner...must be the ingrained habits from driving manual cars for nearly 34 years...:)

[heraldcoupe]

When accelerating, it gives a faster change with no lifting off the throttle pedal.
Also useful for town driving with frequent changes between 3rd and 3rdOD, as already suggested,

Cheers,
Bill.

[GT6]

Overtaking, flick a switch instant go!

[Paudman]

3rd O/D with a column mounted switch is perfect for town driving, both hands on the wheel and it's up down in and out / shake it all about as required. Effortless driving.

[Hogie]

When touring in hilly areas - Germany, Black forest etc - 4th is often too much so 3rd and 3rd o/d make the straights and bendy bits a doddle.

Roger

[G8HSV]

I though it was on tghird and fourth gear purley because if the inhibitor switch arrangement on the 'box.  Arrangeing just O/D on fourth and not third would have bee difficult.

[heraldcoupe]

1863 wrote:

Arrangeing just O/D on fourth and not third would have bee difficult.

On the 3-rail it would be a doddle, it's more of a designed-in feature on the single rail, but still hardly rocket science.
Plenty of non-Triumphs have overdrive available only on the top gear, it's really not difficult to engineer. Triumph's engineers saw O/D as beneficial on 3rd and 4th and I have to agree with them.
Whether overdrive on 2nd was worthwhile is a question I'll leave to the TR drivers....

Cheers,
Bill.

[G8HSV]

1863 wrote:

Arrangeing just O/D on fourth and not third would have been difficult.

What I really should have said is that the arrangement on the Herals/Vitesse was cheap to engineer!