Red Markings on speedo

[archangel_7]

Tonight I noticed the red markings on the speedo. One marked on 40km and the other one is marked the 60km. Just wondering if anyone knows why they are there? I cant think of any special reason.

[Mischa]

Tonight I noticed the red markings on the speedo. One marked on 40km and the other one is marked the 60km. Just wondering if anyone why they are there? I cant think of any special reason.

hmm thats strange on the mk5 theres one at 30 and one at 50. only reason i can think of are either to point out common speed limits or something

[DaveMack]

"Search" is your friend. Most aspects of these cars have been covered in previous posts.

Good hunting.

Dave

[Bubu]

I was also wondering what the line was for. Then I realised that the line is like a gear indicator. If your in 4th you will notice that you will downshift to 3rd when your speed is around 50km/h. Likewise when your in 3nd you will most likely downshift when your doing 30km/h. So its kinda like a guide. Just pay attention when your driving you probably already do it without realising.

[VW GTI]

Mine is 30 and 50.

I know that 30k is where the seatbelt warning beeper comes on if you don't have your seatbelt on. Don't know if that is why it's red.

I doubt it tells you where to downshift That would be pointless because of many conditions.

[Mischa]

I was also wondering what the line was for. Then I realised that the line is like a gear indicator. If your in 4th you will notice that you will downshift to 3rd when your speed is around 50km/h. Likewise when your in 3nd you will most likely downshift when your doing 30km/h. So its kinda like a guide. Just pay attention when your driving you probably already do it without realising.

i think what you're meaning to say is 30 is the stall point for 3rd and 50 the stall point for 5th maybe :S

[pologti18t]

I think you will find that 30km/h is the residential speed limit in alot of european cities.

[j_a_h_2077]

I believe that it is a shift indicator. In my polo TDI, the first indicator (at 30km) is when the car is at 3000RPM (in 1st). The second indicator (at 50km) is also when the car is at 3000RPM (in 2nd).

[The_Hawk]

I think you will find that 30km/h is the residential speed limit in alot of european cities.

I am reasonably sure thats your answer there (at least at 50), it's about speed, not shift points.

In fact, here is my Mk1 speedo:


Notice 50 is in red.

Also notice the dots... they are the *max revs* or shift point indicators. As per the manual:


Any questions?

[Mischa]

maybe one of us should have bothered to look in the manual

[Glide_GTI]

its for the speed limits in europe, handy when I was there last year

[Bubu]

I cant say much about speed limits in Europe. I was there last year and covered around 1,000 kms through Spain in a Seat Ibiza but I didnt pay much attention to speed limits. However I did Google it and speed limits of 50kmh is common in towns and couldnt really find refrences to 30kmh speed limits.
If they are speed limit indicators then I would say its the first and so far the only car I have personally seen that has a speed limit marked on the speedo.

As for the manual, I looked it up and I couldnt find anything about the red indicators.

tosspot: You are right that conditions can vary but the marking is only a guide and not a rule.

Just pay attention when you drive at what speed you shift gears. This is assuming you are not fanging the car and just driving economically (normal), then you can make your own conclusion.

[RhysQ]

i'm pretty sure its for automatic gearboxes and it is the shift points during driving. my mums current Lexus rx350 and old Ssangyong Musso had the same markings and they were for shift points (they were both auto's). they also both had the single line, two lines, and three lines throughout the speedometer, indicating the gear at which you are about the change out of (being 1st, 2nd, and 3rd). i wouldn't think it was for speed limits......that is what speed signs are for!