Center gauges just seems like a gimmic the automakers are tryin to play. I remember older (pre 50's) cars having them as standard, but that changed when the makers saw the benefits of having the gauges in front of the driver...

Let's hope it goes away soon.

Junkster, who wonders if any center-gauged cars are on the way.

 

Ok you can have two..




I agree with Junkster...hope it goes away soon.

 

That was a Mini dash I posted the picture of but it doesn't 'zactly count 'cause the TACHOMETER is still front and center in the dash. I'd guess they put the speedometer in the center just because the ORIGINAL 1960s Mini had the speedo in the center to simplify construction for RHD and LHD markets. So to be faithful to the "Retro" look they needed to do something like that. Have you driven one? I've not, but most people fall completely in love with the car!

 

My girlfriend has a Mini and I love that car. I don't find the center mounted speedo a problem because its so large and the more important guage is still in front of me. As long as the tach is still in front of me, I don't care.

Mini's are great cars bye the way!

 

I have driven one and ya it was alot of fun, hadled great. I was'nt in it long enough to determine if the gauges would pose a problem.

The one problem that I had with it, clutch engagement. I'm a size 11 shoe and everytime I depressed the clutch my foot would get stuck and I would have to rip it out. Thats probly why I was'nt paying attention to the gauges.

 

my father has a mini... he said if you get the navi as an option, it gets placed where the center-mounted gauge is, and the center gauge gets moved in front of the driver...

 

I thought it was just me.

 

For people like me, center mounted gauges are probably horrible.

I'm fairly short-sighted (-9, -8.75) and because of that, my glasses are relatively thick and small.

Thus, having to utilize my lateral visual range is actually hard since it's pretty close to the edge of the lens, which means I have to spend a few extra moments focussing on the gauge.

Mind you, I'm a good driver, and tracking objects on the road is no problem. But having to keep shifting my eyes and refocussing will probably drive me to distraction and make me go and cause an accident.

 

come on that dash is badass though



Here is what the mini looks like w/navi

 

Was that happening to you as well?

I've spoken to a few other people and it was'nt an issue. Maybe its our driving style?

 

I've heard the centre-mount gauges are easier to focus on, because they are further away and therefore it's less of a focus change from outside (infinity). Still, I think the lateral shift outweighs any focusing advantage.

Don't forget the Prius. The gauges aren't totally centred, but still to the right of the wheel:

 

I can deal with where that speedo is... it's still in front of my view..but if it were where the navi is...then we'll have some problems..

 

Nice. Domn, you locked down my poll on what features should be added to the TSX, but you start a thread on center mounted guages - a topic that has NOTHING to do with the TSX. Maybe I should have included center mounted guages as a choice in my poll and you would not have locked it down. What topic do you have in store for next week? How about whether minvans should have traditional round cup holders or square ones for juice boxes for the kids. I can't wait....

 

SWOBERT you have mail.

Know how to check??