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

menonrajesh · 22nd January 2007, 14:52

For me its Tacho, may be since I have one in my car.
Backhome in kerala, for my M800, its engine sound and feel of the vehicle!

pow3r2dawh33ls · 22nd January 2007, 16:52

nothing better than the engine sound (where possible) to give an indication of a upshift. A downshift is another story altogether.

theMAG · 22nd January 2007, 22:07

Technically only the engine sound is sufficient to indicate gear change (Opel had made a big PR stunt for their Astra back then when they said all Indian drivers change gears from engine sound, but ours cant be heard), but the revs complete the loop

Absar · 17th February 2007, 23:05

Hey! If I'm driving normally (opposite of power mode), it's the tacho. And if I'm doing power mode, its engine sound. Had to get used n learn the sounds and their respective rpm reading before I could do a perfect shift most of the times. I love the sound the ikon gives when you do a perfect shift.

abhibh · 18th February 2007, 12:24

For me its th engines sound. Never look at the tacho or speedo.. Though if running out if petrol then always look for speedo and as soon as it reaches 30 slot the 4th gear

(sometimes even at 27 -28).

Only look at the speedo when i see a Traffic Interceptor.

raajks · 18th February 2007, 13:26

Engine sound, My car and bike talk to me...we are in a state of romance when we drive.......

veyron1 · 18th February 2007, 20:03

Has to be engine note, tacho read and the speedo read, all combined, for me. The engine notes suffice for normal driving, and/or marking minor differences. Else, it has to be all three.

revvedup · 18th February 2007, 20:44

Racing-see my avataar-shift into the next gear @6000 rpm(for most non-tuned indian petrol cars this is where peak power is made) or at the particular rpm where the engine is making the most power otherwise rely on the speedometer(in cars withot tacho) theory that any petrol car worth its salt can do 100 in 3rd gear and shift acordingly.(My style)
Driving fast but not racing-
Into gear@rpm
2nd@20kmph
3rd@55kmph
4th@80 kmph
5th@110kmph
Honda style gearshift changes

Conservative city driving
2nd@20kmph
3rd@30kmph
4th@40kmph
5th@50-55kmph
Maruti style gearshift changes
P.S-never rely on engine note since it is music to my ears

Aditya · 18th February 2007, 21:07

My Conti dosen't have a tachometer. So, I voted for the last option.
Anyway, I wouldn't care much for a tacho except while running in a new car. Engine sound rules!

Zappo · 18th February 2007, 23:33

In the order of preferance its the engine sound followed by the tacho. In crowded city roads one can't keep looking at the tacho. So first my hearing senses tell me when to change the gear. At this point a quick glance at the tacho confirms things and I shift gears.

1100D · 18th February 2007, 23:51

For me its the speedometer to choose the right gear, however I use the tacho for matching revs on downshifting (or upshifting even)

karan561 · 19th February 2007, 00:03

well both ...... but can do without a tacho also ......

esteem_lover · 19th February 2007, 14:16

I like to do it based on the engine/exhaust sound. But, in reality, when windows are rolled up & music playing, the speeds & level of acceleration help me to decide on gear shifts.

salilpawar1 · 4th April 2007, 21:55

Just bumped this thread up so that newbies and other bhpians can post their comments/polls.......

manikjeet · 4th April 2007, 22:09

Its the engine note for me always tacho can go wrong but the note will never fail

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

22nd January 2007, 14:52	#46
menonrajesh BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 211 Thanked: 2 Times View My Garage	For me its Tacho, may be since I have one in my car. Backhome in kerala, for my M800, its engine sound and feel of the vehicle!
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 16:52	#47
pow3r2dawh33ls BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 52 Thanked: Once	nothing better than the engine sound (where possible) to give an indication of a upshift. A downshift is another story altogether.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2007, 22:07	#48
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Technically only the engine sound is sufficient to indicate gear change (Opel had made a big PR stunt for their Astra back then when they said all Indian drivers change gears from engine sound, but ours cant be heard), but the revs complete the loop
	() Thanks

17th February 2007, 23:05	#49
Absar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Madras Posts: 560 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	Hey! If I'm driving normally (opposite of power mode), it's the tacho. And if I'm doing power mode, its engine sound. Had to get used n learn the sounds and their respective rpm reading before I could do a perfect shift most of the times. I love the sound the ikon gives when you do a perfect shift.
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 12:24	#50
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	For me its th engines sound. Never look at the tacho or speedo.. Though if running out if petrol then always look for speedo and as soon as it reaches 30 slot the 4th gear (sometimes even at 27 -28). Only look at the speedo when i see a Traffic Interceptor.
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 13:26	#51
raajks BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: BLR Posts: 578 Thanked: 119 Times View My Garage	Engine sound, My car and bike talk to me...we are in a state of romance when we drive.......
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 20:03	#52
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	Has to be engine note, tacho read and the speedo read, all combined, for me. The engine notes suffice for normal driving, and/or marking minor differences. Else, it has to be all three.
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 20:44	#53
revvedup BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 269 Thanked: 24 Times	Racing-see my avataar-shift into the next gear @6000 rpm(for most non-tuned indian petrol cars this is where peak power is made) or at the particular rpm where the engine is making the most power otherwise rely on the speedometer(in cars withot tacho) theory that any petrol car worth its salt can do 100 in 3rd gear and shift acordingly.(My style) Driving fast but not racing- Into gear@rpm 2nd@20kmph 3rd@55kmph 4th@80 kmph 5th@110kmph Honda style gearshift changes Conservative city driving 2nd@20kmph 3rd@30kmph 4th@40kmph 5th@50-55kmph Maruti style gearshift changes P.S-never rely on engine note since it is music to my ears Last edited by revvedup : 18th February 2007 at 20:48.
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 21:07	#54
Aditya Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 17,801 Thanked: 76,767 Times View My Garage	My Conti dosen't have a tachometer. So, I voted for the last option. Anyway, I wouldn't care much for a tacho except while running in a new car. Engine sound rules!
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 23:33	#55
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,918 Thanked: 2,652 Times	In the order of preferance its the engine sound followed by the tacho. In crowded city roads one can't keep looking at the tacho. So first my hearing senses tell me when to change the gear. At this point a quick glance at the tacho confirms things and I shift gears.
	() Thanks

18th February 2007, 23:51	#56
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,079 Times View My Garage	For me its the speedometer to choose the right gear, however I use the tacho for matching revs on downshifting (or upshifting even)
	() Thanks

19th February 2007, 00:03	#57
karan561 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 5,068 Thanked: 22,243 Times View My Garage	well both ...... but can do without a tacho also ......
	() Thanks

19th February 2007, 14:16	#58
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	I like to do it based on the engine/exhaust sound. But, in reality, when windows are rolled up & music playing, the speeds & level of acceleration help me to decide on gear shifts.
	() Thanks

4th April 2007, 21:55	#59
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 852 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	Just bumped this thread up so that newbies and other bhpians can post their comments/polls.......
	() Thanks

4th April 2007, 22:09	#60
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,618 Thanked: 295 Times View My Garage	Its the engine note for me always tacho can go wrong but the note will never fail
	() Thanks