A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I never really gave this much thought but Im bored killing time amusing myself here at work so bare with me here. Anyways why do you think they made the tachometer the focal point on the drivers dash as opposed to the MPH like everyone else does. As far as I can tell I have yet to see other cars with this set up. Im thinking maybe its because when your racing or doing Autocross as well it seems like hitting the proper shift points is more important than knowing your speed at any given time. Admitedly most people that do autocross go by feel more than speed and really concentrate on keeping the right RPM's going to get through the track. If thats the case then that's just goes to show how much Nissan puts into the design of their vehicles, Z's are track ready. :0)
Anyways thats my 2 Cents, what say you?
06 350 Coupe
Interlagos Fire Met.
A:
maybe is because most of us have the digital speedometer on the small left pod so its better to have tach in the middle?
A:
I agree with your thinking. I think its because on a sports car the gears are spread out to optimize the engines peak performance range. So if you're going for it like in a race, knowing when to shift is more important than how fast you're going.
I know how fast I'm going just by knowing what gear I'm in and what the RPMs are, I don't even need the speedometer anymore.
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1985 300ZX n/a
A:
Same here, wondered that when i first got the car....but as it grew on me i like it.
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04.5 DB Performance
Typhoon Intake
Injen SES Straight Tip Exhaust
Blue Z-Xtreme Grounding Kit
Kenwood MP3 Player
EBC V4 Greenstuff Pads
Clear Lens
Carbon Fiber Piller Covers
20% Tint
5 Coats of Zaino
......
'01 Yamaha R6
A:
New Altima has it too, I believe.
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Owner of the only ALL-white Shiro Special :)
A:
Just depends what you are used to. My first car was 5spd with no tach and very long gears. Redline in 1st was 42, 2nd 74, and 3rd 110. The car maxed out around 115 in 4th. I guess I should say that is where the fuel cut was, I'm assuming that is also where the redline is. This was in a 96 civic hatchback btw. Using the mph I knew percisly when each gear was going to redline, as well as how fast I was going. However, tach's are usually more accurate than speedo's are.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT
A:
on the track. . .why the hell do you care how fast you are going? you might as well cover it up at the track and only use the tach. The only reason to use the speedometer on the track is if you just happen to want to know how fast you went down a straightaway.
My guardian angel has twin turbos. . .
1995 Cobalt Green NA
1988 Maroon 300ZX NA (sold)
A:
It's an image/macho/marketing/expectation/functional thing.
A:
Most sports cars have the tach in the center, at least recent sports cars. It is a racing thing - race cars do not even have speedometers
I never even look at my analog speedometer, rely only on the digital.
Takes some getting used to when not driving the Z.
A:
it's definately a race thing... as said above when you're on a track what do you care how fast you're going... unless you're really that interested... i use my analog speedo all the time however just because i flip through the functions of the trip computer alot... but when i shift its just by the feel of the car... i know when i'm at 3000 or whenever i'm trying to shift... now as for knowing my speed...i just know that in sixth gear with my foot relaxed... i should be going about 50MPH... and normally i am... but that's still to fast because the speed limits around here are 40...
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Chrome Silver '03 Touring -MT-
C.F. Nismo Wing
Shorty Antenna (Stolen!!! Thanks alot!)
Kicker Solo Baric L7 1200w
I don't think, I know...
Well, I don't think you know either
A:
it's easy to know when to shift if you're not racing. it's much harder when you're trying to wait until the last possible second to shift. to do that you have to look at the tach.
A:
On my car the tach is very important when I'm racing. My car will redline at 6000RPM, but the upper intake plenum wasn't designed properly and the engine gets choked for air at around 5,400RPM. I can let it go all the way to the redline, or even past it (rev limiter on z31s kicks in at 6,500) but I get my best times if I shift at exactly 5,200 in every gear instead of taking it to the line.
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1985 300ZX n/a