Tachometer

[arturo.vega]

I personally use the tachometer to shift gears, I owned a 2005 fortwo and I own a smart roadster and the motor in the 451 is more silent (I also like to hear music while driving), so I believe I'm used to see the tachometer to shift. With this method so far I got 43.80 MPG by driving between 2000 and 3000 RPM and shifting gears @ 3000 RPM

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by SmartCard

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And secondly, if you are in manual mode I don't believe the computer will catch your mistake if you've pegged it out, and upshift for you. (Quite easily done if you're in first gear and forget that you're suppose to be shifting! )

Like this morning? Found the rev limiter finally. Not on purpose, either.

I made a left turn out of my neighborhood onto a two lane road. In mid turn, I see this Mustang coming in my lane, and before I finish the turn I realize, "holy ... that sucker's gotta be doin' 60 in a 35..." I didn't need a tach to tell me I forgot to shift. Engine let me know pretty quick It didn't upshift for me, but maybe I didn't make it mad enough. I got up to 45 pretty darn quick.

Strangely enough, I think I actually got props from the Mustang for getting up to speed so quick. Second gear can be impressive when you need it.

[bigcritter]

There's a side-note in the manual that says that in manual mode, the transmission will only "upshift" to prevent engine damage. So.....that made me think that the rev-limiter would initiate an upshift to keep the engine from over-revving!

[imcquade]

Pods should be mandatory - Smarts aren't Smarts without them

I think it was a $150 option when I ordered the car

Cheers

[rwjrn]

I love my pods. I think it's part of the smart look and I'm one of those who actually like the look. Especially the matching color rings. I'm always concerned about getting to work on time, so I use the clock constantly. It's much easier to see than the tiny one on the display. In fact, when I first got my car it took me awhile to realize there was a clock on the display. I also allow other people to drive my car frequently so having the tach is a great thing. I'll tell people to shift around 3000-3500 and that prevents me from having to remind them. My next smart will definately have them.

[pitstopautoinc]

Heres a good forum for adding guages other than the factory OEM stuff, also shows you how to wire an aftermarket tach other than the stock smart one

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f19/how-add-aftermarket-tach-smart-car-15358/

-Chris

[Jeanclaude]

I personally don't like the look of the pods on top of the climate control hump, but to each his own. Even I would have opted for the crab-eye pods if they'd offered something useful like oil pressure, water temp and/or voltage gauges.

As for Needing a tach do drive efficiently, I grew up driving cars that only had idiot lights instead of gauges; no tach, just oil, temp and charge lights, if you listen to your engine, it will tell when is the best time to shift.

A tach won't make you a better driver, it'll just support abusive driving habits that allow a driver to push his/her engine to the limit. Not very smart if you're trying to get the most life out of your itty-bitty engine....

[Brabus007]

~My Car has Red Guts with the Red Baron Rings~
Adding the Bling below Hurts until you see them mounted...<:-))
Note: American Brabus's don't even come with Brabus faced Pods...!!!...??? Just the stock Smart Pods...???

Yes, I have the Brabus LollyPops...<:-))
$230.00 to my door in Florida... That's the best price you can get with the Trim Rings included... 8 Days shipping... I used my credit card to save... He charges more if you use PayPal...
http://www.smart-parts-direct.com/acatalog/Interior_cabin.html

~SEE the Sexxxy Red LED Lighted Brabus LollyPops~A Smart Car ain't Real without the Pods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2qDZzBO7aQ&feature=fvw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2qDZzBO7aQ&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2qDZzBO7aQ&feature=fvw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2qDZzBO7aQ&feature=fvw

[Neonspinnazz]

Personally I think that the tach/pods are what make the smart's dash stand out from the rest.

Almost every other car has this huge command center with all the gauges cluttered in one space. It doesn't add to the design and look of the car. But the way the smart does it with a colossal speedo and digital readout with the very useful pods makes them both functional and a design aspect of the car.

I hate the way some dashboards are just one large "table" with no character, or nothing to distinguish one model to the other, nothing to go "ahh" at.

Like for example the Dodge Caliber and the PT Cruiser. Being Chrysler vehicles they share the same set of guages, heater dials, and radio unit. And if it weren't for the PT's unique dash it would be annoying how much of the same thing automakers put in their cars. At least smart had made their models different in almost every way.

Whenever I think about the interior of a smart I always imagine those two pods sticking out of the dash.

And I feel like there's something missing when I look at a podless smart.