Shift Light Pros & Cons
May 26, 2007, 05:38 AM
#32
I had one in my 05 RS, and i dont yet have one in my 06 RS, but i am planning on getting one......raptorperformance.com they're awesome....They help so much you dont know until you have it. Theres enough to watch when your racing, having a shift light lets to concentrate on something else. Something thats gonna make you go faster, like shifting.
May 26, 2007, 04:41 PM
#34
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#27 Boostless awhile back I got an email from them and that shift indicator is no longer available. I tried to find out why, but no luck. Also Mach V no longer have it.
#29 SmikeEvo you really found a great shift light (2005?). I PM Bexa20 to see if it is still available. Is it Dimmable? THX!
#30 SASD209 you have a lot of good experience. These shift lights and some have audible tone could be a real nuisance. I checked out the 07’ STi today and they have Larger gages. The STi has a LED light in the middle gage and to the left is a knob for the adjustments; also, it has an audible chirp.
Thanks you ALL for your comments!
#29 SmikeEvo you really found a great shift light (2005?). I PM Bexa20 to see if it is still available. Is it Dimmable? THX!
#30 SASD209 you have a lot of good experience. These shift lights and some have audible tone could be a real nuisance. I checked out the 07’ STi today and they have Larger gages. The STi has a LED light in the middle gage and to the left is a knob for the adjustments; also, it has an audible chirp.
Thanks you ALL for your comments!
May 26, 2007, 05:04 PM
#35
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one day i will post pics of mine.....
i hid two leds on the sides of the steering wheel column on the actual plastic piece that goes around the gauges. it actually illuminates the whole steering column....i like it alot, doesnt work well in the day b/c i used blue though
i used an msd rpm activated switch to turn them on.
my car doesnt seem to get any louder(its already screaming) past 6800....
it keeps me from shifting too early not too late.
i hid two leds on the sides of the steering wheel column on the actual plastic piece that goes around the gauges. it actually illuminates the whole steering column....i like it alot, doesnt work well in the day b/c i used blue though
i used an msd rpm activated switch to turn them on.
my car doesnt seem to get any louder(its already screaming) past 6800....
it keeps me from shifting too early not too late.
May 26, 2007, 05:52 PM
#36
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LANCER POWA!@@#
May 26, 2007, 08:47 PM
#37
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I used to have a shift light (aftermarket) installed in my old bugeye WRX. For street driving, it's pretty pointless. As everyone says, you should be able to shift based on sound/feel for ordinary driving.
For performance driving, especially drag-racing and circuit racing with long straights, it makes a significant difference. Think about it - you're trying to wring every last bit of performance out of each gear. It doesn't matter if your philosophy is to shift at redline or a little before since the shift lamp can be calibrated easily - the point is that you can hit the perfect shift a LOT more often with this aid than without. Going by sound and feel, I can tell a difference of maybe 500 rpm high up in the revs, I simply cannot distinguish a 200 rpm difference by sound. The shift lamp can.
Without the shift lamp, in a race, there is the chance you will either be distracted by the need to watch the tach (and not the road), and you may either overdo it (and hit the limiter) or underdo it (and short-shift). Unless you are a robot, you will execute imprecise shifts occasionally. The shift lamp is just an aid that reduces (but does not eliminate) that imprecision.
Just my two cents'.
For performance driving, especially drag-racing and circuit racing with long straights, it makes a significant difference. Think about it - you're trying to wring every last bit of performance out of each gear. It doesn't matter if your philosophy is to shift at redline or a little before since the shift lamp can be calibrated easily - the point is that you can hit the perfect shift a LOT more often with this aid than without. Going by sound and feel, I can tell a difference of maybe 500 rpm high up in the revs, I simply cannot distinguish a 200 rpm difference by sound. The shift lamp can.
Without the shift lamp, in a race, there is the chance you will either be distracted by the need to watch the tach (and not the road), and you may either overdo it (and hit the limiter) or underdo it (and short-shift). Unless you are a robot, you will execute imprecise shifts occasionally. The shift lamp is just an aid that reduces (but does not eliminate) that imprecision.
Just my two cents'.
Last edited by Turb0flat4; May 26, 2007 at 08:49 PM.
May 27, 2007, 06:45 AM
#38
well, you're already driving a manual car so you obviously go by the feel and/or sound of the engine and car. I would lthink you're interest in a shift light would be more comestic then truly functional. Yeah, it's in the line of sight, but damn, whether you use your eyes or your ears, you'r still gonna shift at the same point.
My verdict? waste of money and looks rice-eeeeeeeeee
My verdict? waste of money and looks rice-eeeeeeeeee
May 27, 2007, 07:17 PM
#40
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here is that picture....
there are two leds..... one to the top left of the steering column, and one on the top right.... i am using a flashlight so its pretty easy to see where it is. its usually not that noticeable
there are two leds..... one to the top left of the steering column, and one on the top right.... i am using a flashlight so its pretty easy to see where it is. its usually not that noticeable
May 28, 2007, 08:50 AM
#41
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SaOrlando, that's real neat! 
Well hidden. You probably know it; MSD has a Shift light that you could adjust rpm for each gear. Just a Hot, Gnd and a connection to the Tach. I don;t know the price. However it is not Hidden like yours.
Well hidden. You probably know it; MSD has a Shift light that you could adjust rpm for each gear. Just a Hot, Gnd and a connection to the Tach. I don;t know the price. However it is not Hidden like yours.
May 28, 2007, 09:01 AM
#42
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I talk with Subaru Drag race driver Brian (Dude w/long hHaiR) yesterday at kearny mesa about shift light. He says you don't need one, however if you drag it's good to have it. Also they have it on their 1000 & 1300 HP vehicles.
I used to have a shift light (aftermarket) installed in my old bugeye WRX. For street driving, it's pretty pointless. As everyone says, you should be able to shift based on sound/feel for ordinary driving.
For performance driving, especially drag-racing and circuit racing with long straights, it makes a significant difference. Think about it - you're trying to wring every last bit of performance out of each gear. It doesn't matter if your philosophy is to shift at redline or a little before since the shift lamp can be calibrated easily - the point is that you can hit the perfect shift a LOT more often with this aid than without. Going by sound and feel, I can tell a difference of maybe 500 rpm high up in the revs, I simply cannot distinguish a 200 rpm difference by sound. The shift lamp can.
Without the shift lamp, in a race, there is the chance you will either be distracted by the need to watch the tach (and not the road), and you may either overdo it (and hit the limiter) or underdo it (and short-shift). Unless you are a robot, you will execute imprecise shifts occasionally. The shift lamp is just an aid that reduces (but does not eliminate) that imprecision.
Just my two cents'.
For performance driving, especially drag-racing and circuit racing with long straights, it makes a significant difference. Think about it - you're trying to wring every last bit of performance out of each gear. It doesn't matter if your philosophy is to shift at redline or a little before since the shift lamp can be calibrated easily - the point is that you can hit the perfect shift a LOT more often with this aid than without. Going by sound and feel, I can tell a difference of maybe 500 rpm high up in the revs, I simply cannot distinguish a 200 rpm difference by sound. The shift lamp can.
Without the shift lamp, in a race, there is the chance you will either be distracted by the need to watch the tach (and not the road), and you may either overdo it (and hit the limiter) or underdo it (and short-shift). Unless you are a robot, you will execute imprecise shifts occasionally. The shift lamp is just an aid that reduces (but does not eliminate) that imprecision.
Just my two cents'.
May 28, 2007, 11:50 AM
#43
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i am using an rpm activated switch. which has many uses...... turn on safeguards, switch maps etc...
the particular piece i found used is a window switch...i actually could run two lights with it....one to warn me if i am getting close, the other to actually shift
i got the used one cheap.... hard to find though. summit does have one much cheaper than the msd one. i think its 45 bucks.
the particular piece i found used is a window switch...i actually could run two lights with it....one to warn me if i am getting close, the other to actually shift
i got the used one cheap.... hard to find though. summit does have one much cheaper than the msd one. i think its 45 bucks.
May 28, 2007, 07:14 PM
#45
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ya a shift light is cool, after you get your power band and determine what rpm gets ya the best you can modify a circuit to light up the light at those rpms when in the different gears.