Any truth to the "speedo straight up" myth?
09-22-2003, 08:31 AM
#1
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Any truth to the "speedo straight up" myth?
Way back, I heard that auto makers always align the speedometer so that when cruising on the freeway (at the then normal cruising speed), the speedometer needle would be straight up. This is to help drivers quickly determine if they are exceeding the speed limit at a glance (such is the advantage of the analog instrumentation, with digital, you must look at the gauge and then decipher what the numbers mean).
For example, if you look at the 2004 models, you will notice that 80MPH is the straight up position, which is the current cruising speed. You will also notice that some cars have their speedometers going from 0-160MPH, just so the 80MPH would be in the middle (straight up) position -- even for cars that have absolutely no hope of ever coming close to 160MPH with a tail-wind and going down-hill
Sometimes the speecometer would be "tilted" or rotated just to keep the cruising speed at the straight up position. Back when the speed limit was 55MPH in the US, cars had the 55-60MPH position as the straight up, even though cars were normally driven must faster than that.
Has anyone else heard this myth? Is there any truth to it?
For example, if you look at the 2004 models, you will notice that 80MPH is the straight up position, which is the current cruising speed. You will also notice that some cars have their speedometers going from 0-160MPH, just so the 80MPH would be in the middle (straight up) position -- even for cars that have absolutely no hope of ever coming close to 160MPH with a tail-wind and going down-hill
Sometimes the speecometer would be "tilted" or rotated just to keep the cruising speed at the straight up position. Back when the speed limit was 55MPH in the US, cars had the 55-60MPH position as the straight up, even though cars were normally driven must faster than that.
Has anyone else heard this myth? Is there any truth to it?
09-22-2003, 08:39 AM
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Never heard of that one. But then again, I can see the digital gauges in my peripheral vision w/o looking down at them when I'm driving, so I don't see the use.
09-22-2003, 10:08 AM
#4
Ha! I thought this was about swim trunks
09-22-2003, 07:39 PM
#5
Actually, I had heard that this is the way airplane cockpits are designed. The needles on the guages are set to all be in one position or orientation, say straight up, when everything is ok. I don't know if this is true, but it sounds reasonable.
I didn't know it was being done in cars.
The only manipulation I'd ever heard of was with the fuel guage. Many cars have the half position at more than half of the guage. I forgotten the theory behind this but it was done to give the perception that the car was using the fuel more slowly (I think).
I happen to like the digital speedometer. When I drive my 4Runner I realize how nice the digital gauge in the S is.
I didn't know it was being done in cars.
The only manipulation I'd ever heard of was with the fuel guage. Many cars have the half position at more than half of the guage. I forgotten the theory behind this but it was done to give the perception that the car was using the fuel more slowly (I think).
I happen to like the digital speedometer. When I drive my 4Runner I realize how nice the digital gauge in the S is.
Oh my, what has this world come to?
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09-23-2003, 05:15 AM
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Most race cars have the guages rotated so that the pointer's normal operating position is straight up. This allows the driver to glance at the guages and if any pointers are other than straight up he know there's a potential problem.
09-23-2003, 05:21 AM
#9
The closest that I've heard to this is for Porsche (especially 911) owners who rotate their dials to a better position than stock, such as rotating the tach so that redline is straight up. I've heard it said that 911 owners who DON'T do this are considered 'pretenders', not real Porsche enthusiasts!
JonasM
JonasM
