Incoming...
Okay, let's get the jokes out of the way... Bob's too old to be driving a stick if he can't remember what gear he's in, yadda, yadda...
Fact of the matter is I bet many drivers forget what gear they're in from time to time--and, yes, I'm one of them! I often find myself in 4th gear, thinking I'm in 5th gear; or that I'm in 3rd gear, thinking I'm in 4th gear. Yeah, I know, a quick hand movement to the gear shift will quickly confirm the gear, or a quick glance at the tach should also confirm that. ...And I do all that--but I still find myself in the wrong gear more often than I like. I can also point to the fact that the road and tire noise of my WRX drowns out most of the engine noise--which is a big part of the problem here. Frankly I can't hear the engine revs on many road surfaces because of all of that extra noise.
This was never a problem years ago when I drove 4- and 3-speed manuals. However, with the advent of 5-, and especially with 6-speed "close-ratio" gearboxes, it is now an issue if not a problem. So no, my age or driving ability has nothing to do with it.
This AC Schnitzer shift knob that gives a digital gear readout is an admission that I'm not alone here in wanting some visual reminder as to what gear I'm in. The problem here is that the gear indicator is located on the shift knob and not located in the tach, where it should be. With this device you still have to take your eye off the road to see the gear--and that won't happen that until it dawns on you that you may be not be in the gear you think you should be in. If this gear indicator were to be located in the tach, you would be reminded immediately, well before you think there may be an inappropriate gear issue.
If nothing else, it will remind you to drive more efficiently, in that you won't end up driving for several miles before realizing that you should be in a higher gear. ...And no, an upshift reminder light is not as good as an actual gear indicator. What really needs to happen here is that carmakers need to realize this issue. What they need to do is equip manual tranny cars with the same digital gear readout that is found in automatic-sportshift-equipped cars.
And for those who still think this is a silly idea, there should be a "preferences" feature, like that found on all computers, in which you could switch this off.
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I wonder how the shift knob knows what gear it's in.
I've always liked the idea of having a gear indicator up among the instruments on rowboat cars.
It makes sense, especially with a 6 speed that looks like this:
R 1 3 5
2 4 6
It's hard to tell between R and 1, 1 and 3, 3 and 5, etc.
The gates are very close when you have 4 gates side-by-side.
Some cars also have overdrive gears in 4, 5, and 6, so it might be especially hard to distinguish between 4th and 6th.
I agree with what the author says. This specific example is a good idea, poorly implemented, down there by the shift lever that number is going to do no good, taking your eyes off the road that way is only going to cause a bigger problem than going in the wrong gear.
Driving a shifter kart with a basic steering wheel (and not one of the fancy one's with the digital readout) poses the exact same problem, for us newbies anyways.
I think this is cooler for the passengers than the driver... might even encourage them to try driving strick!
A lot of vehicles have in-dash gear displays. I know the GTO had one. I believe the G35 did too.
True, but I don't know of many (if any?) that have gear indicators with manual trannys.
The two previously mentioned...
gut reaction: stupid.
thinking about it: superfluous. The idea of a "on/off" on the tach is the best idea.
Bob I have the opposite problem as you with a car geared too short and poly motor mount inserts. I often find myself looking to upshift from 5th (subconsciously thinking I'm in 3rd), but there's nothing there!