I was just over on freshalloy.com looking around and I saw these two replies to a post. Are they jealous or just post ******?
I have never driven a car with shift lights, but I think they would more than pay for themselves.

"Shift lights are more for feul ecomomy than anything else. Optimal points of shift for gas mileage. That being said...if you need a shift light, you need an automatic!!! If you need to take you eyes off the road to shift...than you need an automatic!!!”

“Hate to say it, but if you need a shift light to tell you when to shift, you really shouldn't be driving a manual transmission.”

 

its called peripharel vision. tho its probably not spelt like that.

I can stare at the road and still notice a bright red blinking thing in the dash area. I have mine set at 4000, tho I ussually know what Im gonna shift anyway. or if I dont, that light isnt gonna change anything. but its a nice feature that probably cost nissan like 5$ to put on the car. just like outside temp, and stopwatch, sure some might think their useless, but they are just some nice stuff we happen to get.

 

EXACTLY!! I have driven a stick for 20 years and before I got my Z, I thought the shift light was training wheels for people moving up from a slush box. But now that I have it, I think its great -- at least during the break in period. I don't need the shift light for normal driving but when accelerating quickly it is nice. I have it set at 4200 during my break in period, and when I accelerate quickly, I can see it out of the corner of my eye without taking my eyes of the road. Now after I get it broken in, I won't use it much, but I probably will have it set at 6200, just to make sure I never let the rev limiter kick in. Would i pay a 100 bucks for the shift light -- probably not, but it is a nice little extra and I'm glad NISSAN threw it in.

 

How can I say this nicely? I can't. These are stupid comments!

NEED a shift light? No. It's not applicable for cruising around town and general driving. But it's cool to have if you're wringing it out on a twisty road -- you don't have to take your eyes off the road.

To the freshalloy folks quoted above: If you can't recognize the utility of a shift light (not to mention it's just a cool feature unique to the 350Z) and tell people they should be driving an AT, then you're the one who probably has never driven a MT hard.

 

That is one thing I would like having it for, to remind me to shift at 4000 rpm's during the break in period.

As far as normal driving it is second nature to know when to shift, but when doing some hard spirited driving it would be nice to have a shift light to help stay off the rev limiter.

Any other opinions? What about the hardcore drivers, do you use it much?

 

I've been driving a stick for 25 years and never had a shift light till the Z. I can't even see it except when its dark out. Its an amusement to me more than anything else. Fun for the first day or two, but ignored since then.

 

Do you do any hard driving or spirited take offs where the rpm’s come up fast? I have driven a lot of manual cars and have never used a shift light either.

I know I don't "NEED" a shift light, but would I ask Nissan to leave it off because I can drive a manual without one, no.

I just couldn't figure out why a few "drivers" would make these statements with such arrogance. Certainly it is not the guys with the 6 speed coupes because the one they are flaming has a 6 speed and admitted he wouldn’t mind having a shift light like the Z, at least for his break in period.

I am not trying to start a war but here’s another quote from the thread.

“Truer words have rarely been uttered. If you need a shift light, you also need some practice. Or you can do like me and get a DG/Graphite AT/Pre/NAV/Aero rocket. Yea Baby. I'll be to busy posing, I'll let the computer change the gears for me. (Traffic.)”

 

I can't say that I'm utilizing that light except to keep it under the pre-set point. However---

In my Cobra forum, many heavily modded (400+ HP) Cobra owners are spending BIG bucks for aftermarket shift lighting systems. Those guys must know something about racing.

 

also find it useful when the Blose Bass Ear-Blaster kicks in rendering me temporarily deaf to the degree that I can no longer hear the engine.

Post break-in, we're supposed to set it to 5K and make sure the red light stays on at all times, right

Kraigman

 

OK since I don't have a Z yet and have never raced on a track I can only relate this to the wonderful world of video games (Grantourismo 3) Have you ever been driving or racing and cocentrated on the road and other cars while wanting to maintain maximum speed and rpm efficiency? A shift light can do wonders for these applications. Its more of a performance item rather then a "training" item. Have you noticed that a lot of race cars have them? Do these guys need training wheels? I think not.

Even driving hard in my freakin 2k Sentra SE 5spd it would be nice when merging onto a crowded highway when I'd rather keep my eyes on the road and whizzing cars then my tach. Of course I could short shift it but what fun is that????

 

I believe it is a performance item rather then a "training" item also. As far as I can tell virtually all racecars use them, all the way up to F1.
Do we have any racers on this board and do you rely on the shift light that much?

 

I think the idea is that you can listen to the engine, meaning you dont look anywhere at all, only listen. and obviously this is better... and in a way the light is a training device for you untill you learn what 6600RPMs sounds like. but none the less, it is standard option, it is so cheap that you cant find an aftermarket tach that doesnt have a yellow indicator off the top of it. its just a feature, the VDC is a training feature too, how useless, a great driver doesnt need it. I donno bout you guys, but I like having it anyway.

and that stupid clock, us "professionals" will count out the time in our heads, I mean that clock is slowing the car down right? it must weigh like half an ounce of electronics!!! RIP THAT THING OUT.

 

Ummm, guys?

Anybody here ever watch professional racing, like CART or F1?

Many of those cars have shift lights built into the steering wheels.

All I can say is that if it's good enough for Michael Schumacher or Michael Andretti, it's good enough for me.

Thanks, Nissan.

--James
Lemans Sunset Track

 

haha forget about them, how bout the enzo, it has a series of red lights that luminate as you approach the final RPMs before shift point. what a waste of time....

 

It is really helpful for the 4000 RPM thing, especially since you're not familiar with the car right when you start driving it. Now that it's been a few days I don't really need the light. But it's fine. I like flashing lights.

 

I learn something new everyday here. When did shift lights make their appearance? Are they common in todays cars? I currently drive a 10 year old 5 speed manual Ford Ranger. Other cars in the family are all AT's.

I can see that shift lights could be useful, it sounds like you can set them to trigger at a certain RPM, is this right? Would you set it at redline (4K during break in)?

I tend to shift a little late (higher RPM) from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd (gotta get off the line), then I shift a little easier from 3rd to 4th (can't be pushing the little truck too hard).

Do shift lights have a variable program?
Curious on this one.

SHIFT_lights

 

no, it is just a limit on how high you want to go. you dont ahve to go over it, or under it. just a light to signal that you are at a specific RPM. tho it actually blinks 500RPMs before the set value, then stays lit at the limit.

how you shift is still up to you, like its been said, its a nice feature, take it or leave it. mostly made for racing where your going to the limit you set in every gear, for city driving your not gonna hit 4000RPMs in every gear either.

 

I remember my mom's 80 VW cabrio had a shift light. I think most VW's still have them. I have mine set at 4400 during my break-in, but will probably set it at 7200 after that. That's the one nice feature about this version of it-It's defeatable. Now, if I could only defeat that f-ing Audio Pilot crap on the Bose-Nothing's more annoying than the volume changing itself on me, not even a flashing light...