Rear End Gears: 3.55s or 3.73s?

I can't decide which gears to buy for my stock LX (5 speed).

I was originally going to go with 3.55s to leave a little highway room, but I'm wondering if I'd be happier with 3.73s? I do drive my car occasionally on the highway. Anyone know the difference in cruising RPM between the two (say at 70 mph)?

I had 3.73s in my '90 hatch, but it had a Tremec 3550 with a lower than stock 1st gear ratio--I burned up my tires in 1st gear even when I didn't want to.
 
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How come?


because i hate how short the shifts are and driving around in 3rd gear on main streets. I'm more of a highway driver, and when i drop a gear, i hate how as soon as the car gets into the powerband, it's through it and i need to shift.

I like lower gears as it offers a better feel on the highway. My '03 GT had 3.27's and i thought they were perfect for the car.

I am seriously debating switching out my 3.73's for either 3.55's, 3.27's or maybe 3.31's
 
I have 3.73s and at first I loved them but at times when traffic is heavy and there is a lot of stop and go it can suck. Highway speeds I'm around 2100 rpms.
Bolt on's, stock t5, 18x9 265/35 18x10 285/35's. If swapping gears was cheaper I would consider 3.27's as well since I take the stang out of town every few months (bout 5 hour ride). It would nice to be below 2k at 70mph.
 
If your car is mostly stock I would go with 3.73. I put 3.55s in my car before I installed a keene bell air to air setup and wished it was lower ether way you go 3.55 or 3.73 it will make you car fill 1000 pounds lighter :nice:
 
If your car is mostly stock I would go with 3.73. I put 3.55s in my car before I installed a keene bell air to air setup and wished it was lower ether way you go 3.55 or 3.73 it will make you car fill 1000 pounds lighter :nice:

My car is totally stock except for a cat-back exhaust.

Here is my plan for the car:
FRP shorty headers, h-pipe with hi-flow cats, either keep the flowmaster cat back or get something else, pulleys-maybe a few other bolt ons. Maybe ported stock heads and intake down the road. I want to keep the car on speed density and running good.

Now I'm thinking I may just do the 3:73s-