Rev counters.

[SteveDGY]

What is the reason some small cars don't have these? When my brother had his seicento, I don't remember it having a rev counter, and from a few threads ive read, it seems a lot of other small cars don't.

Seeing as a lot of the cars that don't have them are driven by new drivers, is this something that should really be there?

Thanks..

[Carfiend]

Cost mainly, bottom spec 106s and Saxos had a clock instead.

[PoleDriver]

In my day very few cars had rev counters. We used to listen to the engine note to know when to change gear!

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I'll probably be told to hand in my PH card for this but I don't really see the need for a rev counter on a road car. Unless I do it subconsciously I change gear without needing to look at the rev counter.

[HustleRussell]

My driving instructor used to cover the tachometer up. I seldom look at mine, you can tell by the sound and vibrations when the engine is over-revving.

[V88Dicky]

My 1989 Cavalier 2.0i L didn't have one. In fact it didn't have electric windows, alloys, ABS, airbags, sunroof etc etc. Just a simple strong engine, four doors and a stereo. What more would you want?

[Mastodon2]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

I'll probably be told to hand in my PH card for this but I don't really see the need for a rev counter on a road car. Unless I do it subconsciously I change gear without needing to look at the rev counter.

They are always pleasing to look at when shifting up at 8000rpm! My old Fiesta 1.3 didn't have one, it had a picture of a car instead - not to add in warning lights or show you which doors were open, just a piece of plastic with a picture of a car on it, nothing more. The car depicted was not even a Fiesta!

[djglover]

why do any cars have them, I mean if you are gunning it then its hardly a good idea to stare at 2 dials on the dash is it.

[james_gt3rs]

You get used to driving without them... Only thing is I would like to know what the actual redline on my car is.

[Blayney]

My partners Punto doesn't have one. It doesn't normally make a difference. However on the motorway at 70mph it will struggle up hills in fifth and she is convinced she will hit the limiter if she changes to fourth for the hill. That's the only time I can think of where I've really needed a tacho.

[Perd Hapley]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

I'll probably be told to hand in my PH card for this but I don't really see the need for a rev counter on a road car. Unless I do it subconsciously I change gear without needing to look at the rev counter.

I never saw the point either, they're only useful for engine diagnostics, setting the idle etc.

[sebhaque]

I quite like subconsciously looking at the needle drop when I change gear (typically not when I'm hooning it), there's something oddly satisfying about it. I like having a rev counter anyway, I only tend to use it when I'm on a hill or travelling at one of those "in-between gear" speeds, which annoyingly for me is 30mph. It also helps me figure out the best time to change gear, but that's primarily because half of the damn thing lights up like a christmas tree at 7500rpm

[Mr Obertshaw]

My Micra doesn't have one and I can't say I've ever missed it. You can quite clearly hear and feel the moment when what little power you have disappears. When I drive other cars I don't look at the rev counter anyway as I prefer to watch the road.

[12gauge]

My poverty spec megane didnt have one. Instead it had a large clock where the rev counter would be. And another clock in the driver info screen, and another one on the radio. French quirkyness i guess, 3 clocks and no tachometer.

[moronic]

I wouldn't want a car without one. I hardly ever redline anything, infant I've only ever done it three or four times in my life. But I like a rev counter so I can work out the most economical gear to be in for the car. I like to get into 6th as soon as possible.

[carmadgaz]

I like having a counter but I don't lose sleep if I don't have one, the truck makes it very clear when it needs an extra gear without a dial telling me.

ETA I love the one on the Volvo

Edited by carmadgaz on Sunday 25th March 18:36

[Mastodon2]

moronic said:

I wouldn't want a car without one. I hardly ever redline anything, infant I've only ever done it three or four times in my life. But I like a rev counter so I can work out the most economical gear to be in for the car. I like to get into 6th as soon as possible.

What is happening to Pistonheads? I'll file this one away with the guy who owns a Mondeo ST220 but said that he would only ever "change up at 3000rpm because I don't drive like a tw@t".

[gog440]

moronic said:

I wouldn't want a car without one. I hardly ever redline anything, infant I've only ever done it three or four times in my life. But I like a rev counter so I can work out the most economical gear to be in for the car. I like to get into 6th as soon as possible.

What an appropriate name.....

This may be a bit of a surprise to you, but putting the car into 6th asap is not the best thing for your engine, for your emissions or for your fuel economy. It is much better to be in the correct gear for your engine at that speed and load.

[moronic]

gog440 said:

What an appropriate name.....

This may be a bit of a surprise to you, but putting the car into 6th asap is not the best thing for your engine, for your emissions or for your fuel economy. It is much better to be in the correct gear for your engine at that speed and load.

Hold on. Sticking a car of van in 6th of 40 and cruising if the limit is 40 is by far the most economical way of driving your car. I don't accelerate from 30 in 6th but I know how to get the most economy from my car. And for the record with s diesel I think the best revs to change a diesel is at about 1700 and for a petrol about 2000 revs a min. I find that way you will get the most miles for your money.

[davepoth]

Mastodon2 said:

They are always pleasing to look at when shifting up at 8000rpm! My old Fiesta 1.3 didn't have one, it had a picture of a car instead - not to add in warning lights or show you which doors were open, just a piece of plastic with a picture of a car on it, nothing more. The car depicted was not even a Fiesta!

It was there to tell you your car is not as good as an Escort I think, since they shared a dash cluster.