86-88 Turbo 4 spd vs. 89 G-50 5spd
 

I have miles in the 915 tranny and some in the G-50. The 915 grows on you but the G-50 is awesome. Looking to add a 86-89 turbo to my collection and wanted some comments on the turbo 4 spd shift quality versus the G-50 from members with seat time in both. I have heard that closing the ratios with 5 gears was a huge improvement given the turbos powerband. Would be interested in comments on this also. Thanks.

It's a personal choice. I've driven many 4spds and many 5spds and can honestly say I don't like the gearing on any of them. The G50 may as well be a 915 with it's short gearing; great for a stock engine sux when the power goes up. The 4spd is an abomination of bad gearing with 2-4 being too high. To make it work you need to go max on boost threshold reduction and a thick midrange torque band. Both trannies need custom gears to match the engine mods in my opinion.
So to answer you question, if the engine is stock I favor the G50. Modified go 930/4spd.

I like a 4 speed in a 930 for most driving. The more gears you add, the less I like it. A turbo doesn't need short gears for the street.

JR

This is all helpful. From a design standpoint the turbo 4 spd is more like the 915 than the G-50, correct? Also, is shift quality more like the 915 or the G-50? Thanks.

The four speed shifts better than the 915, even though they share a lot of design similarities. There's nothing wrong with the way a 915 shifts either, unless it's not in good condition. The people that complain about the 915 usually have never driven a car with a good transmission/linkage.

The 915/930 use a different syncromesh design than the G50. I prefer the earlier feel.

My advice is to drive an example of each before you start looking for a car in earnest.

JR

I'd give my left nut for a G50/52 or 930 box over my G50/01. As Brian stated, the low gears don't take advantage of the torque of the motor.

I'd add that a 930 box is like 50 lbs lighter than the G50/52 IIRC.