Does any 6 speed owners see a need for a gear indicator?

[2001ragtop]

I used to work with a guy who had a bachelor degree in chemical engineering. (though he never, ever acted like it.)

I swear he came to work one day and said he blew the engine on his small pickup truck because he left the shifter in 3rd gear on the highway instead of 5th.

When I heard him say this, i wanted to laugh but I didn't. i have a feeling his truck didn't have a tach. (actually i did laugh quietly at my cubical but he did not see it.)

I was nice and acted like what happened to him could happen to anyone.

[DTM]

Originally Posted by duder4thgen

Your car has a gear change indicator.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by duder4thgen

Your car has a gear change indicator.

Thank you... was going to say the same thing! Oooor maybe, just look at the shifter? Just sit in the car with it off, put it into all 6 different gears and observe the differences in angle of the shifter.

[Mark A Collier Sr]

BOTTOM LINE! If you can't tell what gear you are in... You SHOULD NOT be driving a Standard Transmission! Some Drivers need IDIOT lights for a reason!

[CamaroFemme]

Originally Posted by Mark A Collier Sr

BOTTOM LINE! If you can't tell what gear you are in... You SHOULD NOT be driving a Standard Transmission! Some Drivers need IDIOT lights for a reason!

Then why does the automatic Camaro have a

P
R
N
D
M?

Why does it tell you you're in drive on the dash as well?

Plenty of cars tell you what gear you're in. He's just saying he wishes the manualmaro did.

All this not-so-righteous outrage is stoopid.

[Dan3]

This is so out of proportion on every side of the argument.

Aggressive/blunt posters: Text is open for context interpretation by the reader. What some of us see as good-natured ribbing, others take as an overtly hostile or rude statement. Just think about how it COULD be taken before you hit post (I'm guilty of this and have several post edits in my history to prove it).


Posters chastising those other guys: Misinterpretation of text on forums is a common mistake. People post stuff thinking one thing and the guy at the other end reads it differently. It happens, get over it, quit escalating the situation.


EVERYONE: This is the internet. Furthermore it is a forum. Forums are where people with ideas and opinions they wish to express go to do so on the internet. This inherently means that strongly opinionated people are going to give their opinions on anything posted. If you post something expecting everyone to agree, you're either posting something pointless or you're incredibly naive. If some random, faceless entity attacks your idea or opinion from the other side of the great fortress wall that is the anonmymity of the internet, and it affects you enough that you are afraid to post again you need to grow up and get a thicker skin or stick to email.

That said...

OP: No, it doesnt need another idiot light. A light indicator for reverse... sure if you really need it w/e. Idiot-proofing cars is just enabling more idiots to drive, which everyone but the idiots in question agrees is a bad thing. If you were cruising down the road in 4th and didnt know it, you weren't paying attention. If you aren't paying any attention, you arent going to notice a little idiot light saying what gear you're in. So if we go off of your example, what you really need is some loud, obnoxious chime to go off if you cruise at RPMs higher than 2k for more than X minutes. Sounds like a terrible idea to me.
Solution: Pay attention when you're driving (duh). If you're offended, see above, then get over it.

[rocketman 12]

Originally Posted by Foster26

I agree with the OP, it would be nice if down by the odometer there was a small indicator. You guys jumping all over him about this is silly.

I agree. I think it you should be able to choose between having the compass displayed or show the gear you are in, you could change it just like the display in the DIC.....

There are several things this car (and others) have that may seem totally unnecessary. How about the digital speedo AND the analog one. Do we really need two?

This IS necessary, the analog speedo has too large of a needle and too small of gaps between the speeds, you really can't tell how fast your going by looking at it, in fact I almost NEVER look at the analog speed display, just the digital one in the DIC.

To the OP: Some of the guys on here can be REAL d!@#'s, but you calling them out on it doesn't really help, in fact I think they get off on making people angry, so just don't respond to them.

I had the same trouble as you for the first several hundred miles, the pattern on this car is just completely different than any other manual I've driven(mostly trucks, so there was MUCH more room between each gear...). But over the last couple hundred miles I haven't had near as much trouble knowing which gear I was in.

[Dan3]

Originally Posted by CamaroFemme

Then why does the automatic Camaro have a

P
R
N
D
M?

Why does it tell you you're in drive on the dash as well?

Plenty of cars tell you what gear you're in. He's just saying he wishes the manualmaro did.

All this not-so-righteous outrage is stoopid.

The manual tranny does have one. You've probably seen it, it looks kinda like...
1..3. .5..R
|--|--|--'
2..4. .6


So... your argument is

stoopid

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by Dan3

The manual tranny does have one. You've probably seen it, it looks kinda like...
1..3. .5. .R
|--|--|--'
2..4. .6

Actually on the V6 its:

R 1 3 5
|--|--|--|
2 4 6

But yes, same concept

*edit - ok, that didn't line up nicely like yours did, but you get the point...

[Dan3]

R..1..3...5
'--|--|--|
...2...4..6

Replace spaces with white colored periods. Anytime you put 3 or more spaces in, the forum reduces them.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by Dan3

Replace spaces with white colored periods. Anytime you put 3 or more spaces in, the forum reduces them.

ahhhh i see.

[Stewcam]

Originally Posted by themossman

here is your gear indicator....

missed one finger................

[THUMPER20X]

Originally Posted by Stewcam

missed one finger................

I did that for comedic purposes about 2 pages back lol. For those that missed it lol

[ClaymoreZ28]

At risk of getting flamed by my brethern here ....

I drove sticks exclusively before coming to the US and have been driving an auto here now for last 9 years - only driving stick when abroad on vacation.

It took me a couple of hours to adjust to shifting with my right hand - but I also have to say that there is also a process of calibrating on use of a 6 speed box - especially when 6th is right/back - when I am more used to 5 speed - right / forward as top gear

Net is that as some of the gang have tried to convey in best internet fashion (!) - This is something which ultimately gets down to developing a feel for the gearbox and the car - as well as developing similar feel for best gears to be in for various road conditions

I have hardly used the radio in the new car at all since I am calibrating to the sounds and feel of the car - and thats part of the fun of driving stickshift - i.e. its a far more active experience and you need to have a "feel" for it to drive well

An indicator could be useful for first few days - but once you are used to the car I believe you will find that you really dont need it

I am just glad that you are one of the faithful ;-)