operating temp / gauge question...

[Arryn Milne]

>I believe the gauges are not true divided scale.  When
>I turn on the ign., the pointer is well below the "0"
>line.  It seems Audi (and others) put the optimum
>range from about 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock on the gauge
>face.  Most people never bother to interpret raw
>numbers from their gauges.  That is the ones who even
>bother to look at them in the first place. (IDIOT
>light?)
>
>Jim Accordino

Just an FYI, I went and looked at the V8 scale, and the coldest mark reads 
50°C (roughly 120°F).  Straight up (middle mark) reads 100°C (212°F), and 
the three quarter mark reads 120°C (roughly 250°F).
Arryn