What are peoples' opinions of shift lights?

[BF]

I'm having a healthy debate with Jing about the merits of shift lights. It all started with the v-tec light in the new civic type r, which I'm not sure even functions anything like a shift light. As a matter of fact, I find it a bit of a gimic and rice.

Nevertheless, I'm wondering about peoples' opinions of shift lights. I personally don't see the need for shift lights. Jing says they are necessary for race cars and the race track. I personally have never driven a race car or been on the track so I can't really comment.

What are your opinions and experiences?

Please, before posting your opinion, first indicate whether or not you have a shift light.

[M a i k e r u]

i wouldn't mind a vtack light in my car

[nipnip]

well... i got the small pivot one, mainly because i had a habit of hitting redline when i gave it a hit, having said that, i havn't seen it light up for a while... so yeh, for me its the rice factor

[Jingers]

it is an item which helps advise and lets the drive focus on driving more. as i told you previously i thought of shift lights as rice. Infact i took off a shift light chucked it away sold it too. However after some further experience i feel that a shift light is a very functional mod on the race track.

All race cars, gauge clusters including leman/f1/cup cars use shift lights. The reason why is simply to aid the driver in knowing where to shift. Granted the cars they drive are alot faster and revs alot faster it still functions on the same principles. End result = driver more focused at what he does.

[noodleman]

if you have a car with a tacho like jings, then you will find a shift light = very useful.....you cant even see the needle of the tacho under the sun

if you have a daily car that never hit the track which never needs a warning to you to shift gears then it is rice....

personally i think shift light are uselful, so you can keep your eyes on the track instead of the tacho

[T-BaGGeR]

well, I think that if you haven't been on the track or you don't plan to go, you don't need one for the street.
On the track, I always find myself looking down at the rev meter when im at the limit and I tell you, a shift light is a very good idea. Imagine you comming into a corner, downshifting, heel-toe, and cars around you. The last thing that you want to do is take your eyes off the road and at your tacho.

ACtually, to think about it, the last thing that you want to do EVER on the track is to look away from the road.

[nipnip]

speaking of the vtec light, i dont really see the purpose, assuming that it lights up when vtec engages, that seems way too early for you to be at the optimum shift point

[Jingers]

it is a personal thing, as i also said to blake vtec light could be in anal speak unricey.

If your definition of rice is something that does not serve any function then think about this situation.

On newer cars with k series engines the vtec points are much more seamless and progressive with a linear torque curve. Anyone with a mugen ecu on a dc5r k series will know this. You couldnt hear vtec easily nor could you feel vtec.

A user could go around a track and notice that on corner 3-5-7 his vtec light goes off. He can use this experience and say that he is out of his power band. Due to this fact he can compensate in his driving to adjust to this condition either by shifting down one more gear or trying to carry more corner speed through that corner.

In the end the purpose has been served. The vtec light has aided the driver. Although this is most likely a more rare situation someone out there will use the feature. Which comes to the point. Just becuase you dont use the feature it does not deam it ricey on a whole, it just deams you are not using it properly.

IE gt wing on a car. Is it ricey? Yes only to street driven cars. Is it ricey to track cars with results in laptime decreases? Nup.

[lovesil]

Don't think i have a shift light built in....at least i never redlined my rcolt to find out.

Definitely useful. Street or Track. Just imagine you are dragging someone on the street, more than often you will lose track of the rev. As for the advantage at track, its even more obvious.

[tinkerbell]

i am teh rice king!!!!

[tinkerbell]

(PS - this is not a shift light - it is just a MIL)

[Jingers]

repost *the pic*

[tinkerbell]

i keep posting it for teh respect y0!

obviously i am just a laughing matter?

[Jingers]

doesthat light come on when u hit vtec2000?

[tinkerbell]

doesthat light come on when u hit vtec2000?

nah, only when knock level goes over 80 or injectors MAX out...