3.73 gears
It's not even like that, an A4 has a 3.06 1st gear, while a T-56 has a 2.66 1st gear.
A4 3.06x3.73 = 11.41 1st gear ratio, to get the same 1st gear ratio you'd have to run a 4.30 gear in a T-56, 2.66x4.30 = 11.43 1st gear. As far as needing to start off in second gear, it just doesn't work like that, you're talking about going to a 2nd gear 1.78 ratio with a 4.10 would only be 7.29 1st gear ratio, so in comparison that would be like a A4 with a 2.38 rear gear.
1.78 is the same gear as a power glide, which is used for light or high horsepower cars that don't need the extra 1st gear ratio. For a stock or bolt on car or even with a good amount of power added you still wouldn't run a glide until you we're well over the 500-600 hp mark and would have to use a good amount of stall to get the car to leave hard.
The real problem isn't the gear ratio, the problem is people add power to their car and have no idea how to setup the chassis, then run regular street tires. So it is easy for people that don't know what they are doing to go out spend money on heads and cams and intakes, then get spanked by a car that has it's chassis setup and the right tires with 5k less setup in the car than you have and you are stuck with the excuse, "well I couldn't hook, but if I did I would have beaten him."
For your average LS1 car with an M6 the 4.10 is the most popular street/strip gear ratio. I loved my 4.10s back when my car was pretty close to stock minus exhaust stuff.
Take a look at sixspeed inc's record run when they broken into the 8's, they are running a 5.13 gear I believe, with a 6speed.


