Tachometer vs Engine sound. What do you prefer more while gear shifting?

mobike008 · 20th January 2007, 12:50

I love the upward swing of the tacho when i pedal to the metal followed by the engine purring or is it shrieking...pure bliss

revtech · 20th January 2007, 13:03

my current ride doesnt have a tacho so i have too rely on the engine noise and also the speed.if i had a tacho like i do on my bike i would use it along with the sound of the engine.

theexister · 20th January 2007, 15:15

Well in my Maruti it was only engine since no tacho but on my new Fiesta it is engine first and then a look at the tacho just to figure out the match between the tacho and engine noise so I dont need to rely on the tacho,

yogi1771 · 20th January 2007, 17:33

well usually the sound of the engine once in a while tacho

theEnd · 20th January 2007, 21:16

When on level ground and driving sensibly in the city I use the speedo.

When on a highway I use engine sound.

When I've gone mad I use the tacho so I can upshift just before the redline.

rks · 20th January 2007, 22:05

My car doesn't have tacho. Generally rely on sound. Shifting pattern depends on whether I am shifting for pickup (usually on highways) or for normal driving (city). In city my instincts pretty much match the recommended shift speeds (4th at 40 kmph, 5th at 50). While accelerating on highways, I go to 4th at 50-70 kmph and 5th at 60-90, the precise speed depending on whether I am climbing or on level ground and whether accelerating hard or just sedately. Sometimes look down on speedo while shifting from 5th to 4th, as I would not like to go below 45 kmph in 5th.

ess_a · 20th January 2007, 22:38

Firstly- There aint any tacho in my car.
So...
1) A normal unhurried drive- Either of speedometer reading or (cant really express it in words) speed/acceleration sense.
2) A maniac's run- SOUND!! Engine sound...

abhijitvp · 21st January 2007, 15:10

For me its the engine sound!

newcoolgadgets · 22nd January 2007, 11:41

I agree with rks. I too rely on the engine sound and on the type of driving situation, i.e. city driving, highway driving, overtaking or just plain adrenaline rush! For each situation, I shift at different RPM's but never redline (punish) the engine for more than 10 seconds in lower gears.

v1kram · 22nd January 2007, 12:38

It's engine sound and feel of the car..

prabuddhadg · 22nd January 2007, 12:58

I pay a little more attention to the tachometer than to the engine sound, though during smooth driving in light traffic, I listen to the engine more. Anyway, in bumper to bumper traffic you hardly shift gears. I usually drive with a light foot and shift frequently. So, basically I find out the lowest rpm's to comfortably upshift and try and maintain that.

netarchie · 22nd January 2007, 12:59

Tacho for sane driving, engine sound for insane driving.

Psycho · 22nd January 2007, 13:01

Well not all gears give you the same performance to the redline, the engine sound is the best bet when one has to gauge when to shift.

PS: I do have an add on tacho

nkapoor777 · 22nd January 2007, 13:04

no tacho on my ride either.. so its got to be the speedo. i religiously follow the speedo and the engine sound..

salilpawar1 · 22nd January 2007, 13:10

Hmm... This poll is getting interesting. First I thought that tacho will be ahead hands down in the polls since many TBhpians have cars (especially souped up cars) with big tachos. Not to mention the revving tachos in the avatars of many Bhpians. Anyway, let the polls continue.....

View Poll Results: What do you prefer to refer while gear shifting?
Tachometer	41	22.16%
Engine Sound / Exhaust note	90	48.65%
I can't drive without both of them	32	17.30%
Other (e.g. speedometer) Please mention	5	2.70%
My car doesn't have a tachometer	17	9.19%
Voters: 185. You may not vote on this poll

20th January 2007, 12:50	#31
mobike008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 11,702 Thanked: 14,828 Times View My Garage	I love the upward swing of the tacho when i pedal to the metal followed by the engine purring or is it shrieking...pure bliss
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 13:03	#32
revtech Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,992 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	my current ride doesnt have a tacho so i have too rely on the engine noise and also the speed.if i had a tacho like i do on my bike i would use it along with the sound of the engine.
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 15:15	#33
theexister BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hyderabad...now moved to Bangalore Posts: 173 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	Well in my Maruti it was only engine since no tacho but on my new Fiesta it is engine first and then a look at the tacho just to figure out the match between the tacho and engine noise so I dont need to rely on the tacho,
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 17:33	#34
yogi1771 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 697 Thanked: 15 Times	well usually the sound of the engine once in a while tacho
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 21:16	#35
theEnd BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 534 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	When on level ground and driving sensibly in the city I use the speedo. When on a highway I use engine sound. When I've gone mad I use the tacho so I can upshift just before the redline.
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 22:05	#36
rks BANNED Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ?? Posts: 1,238 Thanked: 17 Times	My car doesn't have tacho. Generally rely on sound. Shifting pattern depends on whether I am shifting for pickup (usually on highways) or for normal driving (city). In city my instincts pretty much match the recommended shift speeds (4th at 40 kmph, 5th at 50). While accelerating on highways, I go to 4th at 50-70 kmph and 5th at 60-90, the precise speed depending on whether I am climbing or on level ground and whether accelerating hard or just sedately. Sometimes look down on speedo while shifting from 5th to 4th, as I would not like to go below 45 kmph in 5th.
	() Thanks

20th January 2007, 22:38	#37
ess_a BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 317 Thanked: 6 Times	Firstly- There aint any tacho in my car. So... 1) A normal unhurried drive- Either of speedometer reading or (cant really express it in words) speed/acceleration sense. 2) A maniac's run- SOUND!! Engine sound...
	() Thanks

21st January 2007, 15:10	#38
abhijitvp BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 152 Thanked: 48 Times View My Garage	For me its the engine sound!
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 11:41	#39
newcoolgadgets BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Nagpur Posts: 183 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	I agree with rks. I too rely on the engine sound and on the type of driving situation, i.e. city driving, highway driving, overtaking or just plain adrenaline rush! For each situation, I shift at different RPM's but never redline (punish) the engine for more than 10 seconds in lower gears.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 12:38	#40
v1kram BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Coimbatore /YEG Posts: 465 Thanked: 242 Times	It's engine sound and feel of the car..
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 12:58	#41
prabuddhadg BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 812 Thanked: 81 Times View My Garage	I pay a little more attention to the tachometer than to the engine sound, though during smooth driving in light traffic, I listen to the engine more. Anyway, in bumper to bumper traffic you hardly shift gears. I usually drive with a light foot and shift frequently. So, basically I find out the lowest rpm's to comfortably upshift and try and maintain that.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 12:59	#42
netarchie BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 397 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	Tacho for sane driving, engine sound for insane driving.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 13:01	#43
Psycho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 110 Times View My Garage	Well not all gears give you the same performance to the redline, the engine sound is the best bet when one has to gauge when to shift. PS: I do have an add on tacho Last edited by Psycho : 22nd January 2007 at 13:16.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 13:04	#44
nkapoor777 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 608 Thanked: 143 Times	no tacho on my ride either.. so its got to be the speedo. i religiously follow the speedo and the engine sound..
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 13:10	#45
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 852 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	Hmm... This poll is getting interesting. First I thought that tacho will be ahead hands down in the polls since many TBhpians have cars (especially souped up cars) with big tachos. Not to mention the revving tachos in the avatars of many Bhpians. Anyway, let the polls continue.....
	() Thanks