[Vwdiesel] Rabbit droppings # 81 ---- ( overdrive or NOT -- thats's the question. )

[H.Hagar]

I like to bounce this one off you guys ----it has been a thorn in my foot
for a long long time.

Overdrive to me means that propshaft turns more RPM than engine crank.

High gear say  # 3  means straight through.  1 to 1. RPM.

That was a couple of centuries ago , now things have changed.

Now it seems like all cars have overdrive ----  VW   1 2 3 E    

Why not 1 2 3 4 ?     or  1 2 3 4 5 ?      The 1984 1.6L turbo Rabbit is 1 2 3 4 E.

Those of you who were lucky enough (blessed) to own an  US Army Jeep know
the value of overdrives. I owned one in 1957 and was it fun to go camping or what ?.

Then I upgraded to a 109 inch  Landrover  ----different class of bird that was ---
1960 model Series 2    ----6000 dollars Canadian. A rolls of Utility Vehicle.
 I wanted to install an overdrive ----only to be told by Leland that it already
had overdrive.    SO  4 on the shift knob was "E".

I hope some of you mechanics can clarify the issue for all of us.  TIA.

Hagar.

PS:   I know that in the old days the rear end ratio had something to do with it.