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reduced information/ heightened feedback #1663676
16/02/2023 08:37
16/02/2023 08:37
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,920
Going North on the A9
dante giacosa Offline OP
My life on the forum
dante giacosa  Offline OP
My life on the forum

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,920
Going North on the A9
Well, another one of those days, where the rolling-dials of the fruit-machine-of-life lined up to show three FIAT Coupes.

Mild weather, no grit on the ground for a couple of weeks, the 146 awaiting MOT, and an early morning need for a car to get to a famous DIY shop for 07:00.

Despite the recent sub-4-degrees, my oversize battery has kept things juiced for a couple of weeks, and the VIS started in it's usually boomy way, before the revs died back after a few minutes. It always takes about 15 to 20 minutes before the engine reaches it's anemic electronic pulsing phase, where the high pitched phasing noise overtakes the mechanical signature as perceived from the front. It's a lovely sound.

Negotiating my out-of-town roundabouts and twisty rural shortcuts, I adjust my steering input to account for the longer lock-to-lock gearing of the rack, where you really have to 'navigate' the car through corners. Eventually I notice I've settled into a 'twenty to four' hold on the wheel, rather than the classic 'ten to two'. Which is very comfy.

As I'm buzzing along, I contemplate my forthcoming maintenance task of replacing the rev-counter which has recently died after 80-odd K.
I've been driving the car for a few weeks now with the duff tacho, and it leads to a different kind of driving style. -Usually on a spirited ascendancy of the gears (as the VIS ratios invite) I glance down just before the change-up, but now of course without the gauge, I have to do it by ear.
This makes for an interesting driving phenomenon in the VIS as until warm, the car is quite stiffly geared. Indeed, it takes a couple of hours before the gearing really stretches out and even at higher motorway revs you no longer have the feeling that the car is stuck in 4th.

It starts to remind me of my first car, my Uno 45 from '88, and how without even a clock to tell the time of day (or a passenger side mirror) the driver aids were somewhat reduced; and there certainly wasn't a rev counter. I never missed it at the time and remember the baffling novelty of my following car with tacho built in; my Croma i.e.
Anyway, handling the Coupe without revs feedback is no hardship, and it gives my less reason to look down; it actually subtracts a distraction from the driving experience, and I realise I'm driving by ear and am immersed in the steering more and more. It becomes quite involving, and after forty minutes with a good heat in the gears things are becoming quite fluid.

Unfortunately, I eventually arrive at work, and have to get out, quietly rewarded by my morning spin; an experience drawn more from analogue-instinct rather than technology.
Come to think of it- that voltage-gauge has never worked- I wonder how many instruments I could live without!

Attached Files
VIS twilight.jpg (89 downloads)
Last edited by Edinburgh; 16/02/2023 15:05. Reason: added photos per request
Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663690
16/02/2023 12:41
16/02/2023 12:41
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
dante giacosa,

Nice write up-who says the morning commute needs to be boring? :-)

It is interesting to read of you driving by sub concious feel and feedback. Just imagine what would happen to one of the new modern (we don't want you to actually drive anymore) cars if the tacho had gone down. It would probably put up a message saying "vital life saving instrumentation down-car placed in to safety mode- why not walk to work instead and save the planet".

All older reviewers talk about letting "the car warm up and settle down". And more so while overnight temps are still so low.

Here's hoping that it does not take much to get the gauge working again on your car.

Regards

MM

Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663693
16/02/2023 12:59
16/02/2023 12:59
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
R
respace Offline
Enjoying the ride
respace  Offline
Enjoying the ride
R

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
Interestingly my daughter passed her test about a year ago and inherited the family old Micra. She didn't know how to drive it as it doesn't have a rev counter, apparently they are taught to change gear at certain revs, son's girlfriend is learning in a car with automatic handbrakes.
Did I miss the reference to '3 Fiat Coupes' or is the different level of feedback/information 3 in 1?

Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663699
16/02/2023 14:35
16/02/2023 14:35
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 635
Cleveland
P
PaulL Offline
Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
PaulL  Offline
Club Member 1872, Regional Rep N.E.
Enjoying the ride
P

Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 635
Cleveland
I was stopped at lights this morning, still travelling at 45mph. Until I tapped the dial

Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663700
16/02/2023 14:36
16/02/2023 14:36
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,522
Berlin
barnacle Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,522
Berlin
Rev Counter: for use in ecclesiastical areas.

When daughter was being taught, without a rev counter, she learned to change up when the engine was singing a happy song.


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: barnacle] #1663704
16/02/2023 15:02
16/02/2023 15:02
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by barnacle
Rev Counter: for use in ecclesiastical areas.

When daughter was being taught, without a rev counter, she learned to change up when the engine was singing a happy song.


I've no doubt that's the gospel truth coat


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663708
16/02/2023 15:30
16/02/2023 15:30
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
R
respace Offline
Enjoying the ride
respace  Offline
Enjoying the ride
R

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 947
Dorchester
bizarrely she's a soprano so could only change on the high notes!

Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663738
17/02/2023 11:08
17/02/2023 11:08
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
My coupe makes me more heavenly.

As I am often on my knee's praying for things to keep working coat

Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: Master_Mariner] #1663739
17/02/2023 11:34
17/02/2023 11:34
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by Master_Mariner
My coupe makes me more heavenly.

As I am often on my knee's praying for things to keep working coat



laugh


When trying to sort out some stuff e.g. in footwell it's more like upside-down crucifixion wink



BumbleBee carer smile
Re: reduced information/ heightened feedback [Re: dante giacosa] #1663774
18/02/2023 12:59
18/02/2023 12:59
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,114
FCSS 01684 593187
Countrycruising Offline
Club Rep Europe, member 914
Countrycruising  Offline
Club Rep Europe, member 914
Forum veteran

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 17,114
FCSS 01684 593187
Great opening post thumb


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