dom

It seems that more and more cars these days are coming with these center mounted gauges. Now I'm no expert but having to look to your right instead of straight ahead where you should be looking while driving can't be a good thing.

I'm possibly in the market for a small SUV within the next year and was pretty interested in the new Nissan X-Trail that was just released in Canada only. Interested of course until I saw that it had the dreaded center mounted gauges. This is now the second Nissan that I'm aware of, the other being the Quest that comes with this ridiculous gauge location. I'm now out of the X-Trail market because of this.

So I wonder how everyone else feels about this and does anyone own a car that has center mounted gauges and if so how do you like it? Does it take getting used to, or are you wishing the gauges were moved to where they should be, IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER (What a concept)

Here are a few examples.

Toyota Echo (could'nt find a decent pic either, at least not one showing the entire interior. Hmmm, I wonder why?)



X-Trail



Quest (Worst of the bunch IMO) I could'nt even find a decent pic on their site as I'm sure their trying to hide that interior.



Saturn Ion




Does anyone know if the Honda Fit has its gauges located in the center? If it does thats another possible choice I can kiss goodbye.

fdl

Not a fan of the center guages. I think its just odd looking and I dont really understand the point of it.

But I dont think its dangerous (unless you stare at your speedo when you drive).

provench

I gotta say domn ... I just don't get it at all either

Maybe this is a way to make Internationalized cars cheaper?

I remember being at a car show and having the Saturn guy try to sell me on it. He had me sit down and say "See - can't you see those gauges better?" (in his seller tone) .... I kindly replied "No ... not really"

fdl

So is the point that the guages are not blocked by the steering wheel?

dom

I'm not constantly looking at my gauges but I look at thenm alot. I love seeing what RPM I'm at and obviously how fast I'm going. Having to look away from the road to get this info is the stupidiest thing I've ever seen. In fact I'm thinking it should be made illegal.

Every review I've ever read about a car that had these had the writer pretty much feeling the same way. The Quest Interior was torn to shreads by C&D from what I remmeber.

fdl

Hmm..I guess I would need to try it out for myself to be sure. But I'm just thinking a quick glance to the rigth is not any more dangerous than a quick glance down.

dom

I've had a few cars in my life that I've driven on a regular basis.

A 91 Mazda Pickup, a 98 Integra, a 89 Sundance, a 90 GM Safari, 00 Honda Civic, 94 Ford Escort and now 04 TSX.

None of these cars had center mounted gauges and I never, not once had trouble seeing the gauges through the steering wheel. So that argument just does'nt fly with me. If that was Toyota's excuse for the Echo, then they did a horrible job of dsesigning the interior, becuase an 89 Sundance (Which was barely a steo above a K Car) had a clear view of the gauges.

provench

I think it was designed for back seat drivers ... so they can see how fast you are going Ok ... now I really don't like this idea.

I must say that Honda has always be awesome at gauge placement including keeping the entire cluster visible through the steering wheel.

I think these guys can spin it however they want, but this is a cost cutting measure ... no question.

Jason

center gauges = nasty.

kurt_bradley

I say keep them in front of the driver. I'm the one that really NEEDS to know what's going on. Not my friends in the back seat. I don't think it's all that safe to look to the right while driving anyway (even if it is only about a foot). I can't really see the gain of having the cluster to the right of the driver (from the driver's perspective).

dom

Whats with the bumper car steering wheel on the Ion BTW

Provench is probly right, cost cutting it is. It looks like the Ion's gauges can just be turned to the right for right hand drive countries, although I'm not sure who the hell would buy an Ion outside of NA?

I'd still like to hear from those who have a car with center gauges and get their thoughts.

Dan Martin

I think those are for pussy whipped husbands whose wives want to watch how fast they're going.

accsuperstar

the honda fitt/jazz has gauges mounted in the front. i see at least 10 of those everyday here in hong kong! i have become quite the fan of them myself

dnb

One of the most interesting comments I've read was from C&D's review of the Ion, IIRC. It can be very disconcerting to activate the left turn signal and see the light blinking on your right.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

The center gauges really are quite annoying. I drove an Ion at a GM test drive event and the whole time, couldn't figure out my speed because the gauges were off to the right. I kept looking down to check my gauges only to see nothing but ugly blank dash.

slobeatz

I was informed that the guages are put in the center so all they have to do is rotate the guages for cars with steering wheels on the right.

TSX 'R' US

Center guages are soo :ghey:
I would not want to look right and down all the time just to check on my speed...

Though I do like GM's heads up display to show speed on the windshield

ABP-CL9-TSX

plus I heard its another way for a manufacturer to cut costs in order to convert between LHD and RHD. I personally find center guages to be okay, if not annoying. They say its suppose to reduce eye stress and distraction, but I think it does the opposite.

No thx!

Sturm

I hate the center mounted gauges too. None of the interiors that I've seen them in look good to begin with. I sat in an X-Trail last week while car shopping with my friend and I don't think I would ever be able to get used to it.

zaskar

Honestly I drove a 2001 Echo for 3 years and you get used to it. It is not that bad, as matter of fact, the center gauges are actually installed higher than the ones behind the steering wheel. Toyota said a that time, that according to the field of vision of human eyes you actually dont see the road when you are looking at your gauges in the steering wheel but looking at the higher mounted center gauges you actually keep an eye on the road. Wich is better for safety.

I don't really believe in the cost saving issue of Left or Right side driver as the whole dash as to be different to allow the positioning of the steering wheel. Looking at the dash of my old Echo I couldn't find a piece that would actually fit both sides.


_____________________________
2004 Acura TSX 6MT Milano Red

pby

Why not design all cars with a centrally located driver position, and have two front passenger seats located just dorso-laterally (behind to the side) to the driver?

I can't remember if it's the Vector or some other supercar that used this design. Or was it from Total Recall?

Regardless, this would definitely reduce overall costs.

TSX 'R' US

The only center mounted guages I'd like are in one of these bad boyz...if I can ever afford one

TSX 'R' US

You posted just before I did... It was the Maclaren F1 in my post above.

provench

Now there you go ... that works

dom

The McLaren's seating position was'nt designed to cut costs but to improve steering feel/handling. That steering column went straight to the front wheels. It was basically an F1 car with 3 seats back in the day.

I'm sorta surprised no other Supercar since has followed that design?

pby

Right...the F1.

haha. That was a quick reply.

Although I wonder how you see the rear view mirror if you're sitting right in front of it. I guess it's off to the side.

provench

Ya know ... the center seat makes the car safer for the driver as well. I say this design should make a comeback

pby

I agree with the functional advantages, but if every car in the world used this uniform design, it would at least theoretically improve profits. Can't say we commoners would benefit.

dnb

The rear view mirror is off to the right because there's an intake that bisects the rear glass just behind the driver's head. That intake would block the view out the back if the rear view mirror were positioned just above the driver's forehead.

bob shiftright

Of course this design puts the one important gauge (the tach) right in front of you and the less important speedo in the center!

dom

Ya forgot about the mini. What a mess that interior is.

I think the BMW Z8 had center mounted gauges as well if I remember correctly. In a sports car of that calibre, thats unforgivable IMO.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Yup, you're right, domn. That was something I never understood in that car. Another car that also has center mount gauges is the Chrysler/Plymouth Prowler.

Personally, the best gauge layout would be one with the back-lit visibility of the TSX, but with the Accord layout with the big tach in the middle instead of the speedo.

TSXChef

I think the whole idea of Center Gauges are backed by conspiracy!!

Possible Culprits:
1. Chiropractor Assoc. Of America: saw the dip in their trend in business and hired an agriculture engineer, disguised as an industrial/mechanical engineer, and applying jobs at major car makers to implement these so called 'central' ideas.
They recently increased capacity for neck treatments... sounds fishy to me.
They also want to see more left turns while driving these vehicles, odd...

2. Postal Services: mail delivery men/women are creating an up-roar to major car makers. Apparantly, they are sick of looking all the way across to current/leftside gauges while operating modified steering wheels on rightside. They wanted justification and equal treatment. Change of job may help, but I can't argue with their short operating hours.

3. Highway State Patrol: I unintentionally heard them say, "these unstylish phoos have no idea how fast they are going", "I met my quota in one day!". I also heard "o-ink, o-ink" but I think it was a duck nearby

4. Dating Service Agencies: studies indicate that guys who drive cars with center gauges pickup less "chicks", because "chicks" don't dig a guy who's not in complete control.

5. Slow "shot-gun" Callers (aka backseat, rearview mirror blocker club): cases indicate that people are flying through the front windshields during a collision, and they voted that head first into plastic parts is preferred over thick windshield glass. Wearing a seatbelt was voted, "less cool". I think they are slow for a reason.


Conspiracy?! you tell me!

I think the whole thing looks stupid, but hey, that's just me.

lol

TSX 'R' US

Yep...let your passengers be your side airbags

pby

I wouldn't mind two pairs of fluid/lipid filled airbags on either side of me as I drive.

In case of emergency...lift or unbutton.

BuddySol

The Honda Fit has the gauges in the standard area...

ilitig8

Supercars have 300k plus price tags, most who can afford and buy them are not 20 years old, getting in an Macca F1 is a significant chore (to the drivers throne), more than likely you have the answer there.

Vandy

tony4311

always have and always will hate them

TSX 'R' US

How bout one?

pby

Dood! That is freaking outstanding!