hi onkel- agree with what you say. have a 92 wagon with the 5speed and that is the only thing that saves it. it keeps right up with the 80 mph group and even at 40 around town. it has the 3.31 axle which i think replaced the 3.73 in older wagons. with the .80 od in 5th it runs well and is peppy except on takeoff where i often get f bombs and foul hand gestures. this gives it a very high gear of 2.65 in final drive. this must be pretty common with 240s. automatics have tobe a lot worse. never got that kind of lip in my slantsixes or small v8s. being a sensitive guy my feelings get hurt. but the tank pumps 28 mpg around town and 30 on the hwy so i shouldnt complain. is this your experience too? regards oldduke