Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

We've been seeing more and more cars with their instrurment clusters mounted in the center of the dash rather than directly in front of the driver the way I feel it should be.

I was looking at the Toyota Yaris yesterday and I really don't like Toyota, although for a gas saver, I really like the Yaris. That was until I saw the interior pics. Everything I liked about the car was killed the minute I saw the instrument cluster mounted dead center on the dash.



Why are auto manfacuters doing this?

The only logical reason I can think of is to save money on a global market because they don't have to create left and right side based dashboards, although many other components still need to be constructed. Even still, how much money are they really going to save on that one part.

I think this is the stupidest design road any manufacturer could take, who's with me on that???

Also, name off some cars that have dashboards that are center aligned that you like.

Deity711

I've had to drive my friend's Saturn Ion a few times and it's disorienting. Especially at night, with lights that high on the dash.

I'm more comfortable moving my eyes quickly up and down to check speed as opposed to left and right.

Ashburner

I don't like them at all.

Maybe they have midgets installing them from the passenger side and they can't reach all the way across

YVRTSX

I really despise them. I have had a few rental cars with them and I've found it to be a nuisance. You need to adjust your instrument scanning habits from up and down to down and right. A couple of times I found myself driving faster since the speedo wasn't in my "normal" field of view.

It also kind of weird driving at night with a big dark space in front of the steering wheel where you're used to having dash lights.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

I hope people that manufacter these things fall off a short cliff into a raging river of death with alligators at the bottom and Boosted Jack waiting for them in a boat telling them about his huge e-penis.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Hate'em. I hope they all disappear.

Bearcat94

"No" (in your poll) is not nearly strong enough. "Hate 'em" - would be good; "Hate 'em with a Passion" - Better; "Hate 'em with a Passion, the designers should be fired and the Marketing Department lined up and shot" - I could vote for that.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I've hated this design for a long time. I never realized there were so many people that really really REALLY hated it.

I just hope that the auto manufacturers listen. Yea, like that'll happen.

F23A4

Nissan correctly revised the 07 Quest with a conventionally located gauge cluster.

SwervinCL

I cant stand them.. Xa and Xb are like that.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

stangg172004

hate it

kwelity

THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING TO BE DONE TO NEW VEHICLES EVER IMO..... Can't stand it now a HUD of your speed like in the older Caddy Devilles and the newer Civics is the shizzle we need more HUD's IMO

Python2121

I am with others, a mere "no" doesn't represent my passion for how much these suck. I would never buy a car with it, i can't believe others would.

AsianRage

I don't like them. I don't understand the desire/need/logic behind such design.

Crazy Bimmer

Only if you put my seat in the center, Mclaren style.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Alright Moog, Did you vote yes just to dick with us or what? Come on, come out and tell us you like the :ghey: center design.

mclarenf3387

I don't mind it on some cars. The Z8 is like that, and I think it kind of adds to the retro look of the car. Plus its not that bad while driving. I couldn't live with it every day though.

Zippee

When I was in school I had a Mini (the real one, not the BMW) that was laid out that way. No problem to get used to it.

Socol

I always hated the 92-96 Prelude dash; this design is even worse.

Maybe it's a new marketing angle, for the new generation of adolescents who want to be "different" (gay)

fsttyms1

hemhaw

Ah hell no! Instruments in the center (other than a race car) is the dumbest idea ever. This is what happens when you give artsy fartsy types too much control.

Form is supposed to follow function, not the other way around.

Osamu

i'm the only one that voted 'meh, i could get used to it'

I admit I hated it at first, and I still think it makes no sense, but I think i could get used to it after a while.

I've driven the xB, and found it a little odd, but it wouldn't be the deciding factor if whether or not i'd buy one. I supposed the fit looks more appealing because of the traditional gauge cluster. and i definitely would want traditional gauges with a manual transmission. But having center mounted gauges has it's advantages if you are an sound quality fanatic.


p.s. does the picture of the yaris from the OP really not have a tach? I really don't understand a manual without a tach.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

^^^ i snagged that pic from the toyota website. I dont' recall if they stated if that pic was from a manual version or not.

Osamu

looks like a manual to me

Mokos23

sucks because you have to eventually be hurt your neck always looking to the right in the center cluster.

i guess it's good if you have passengers in the back and think you're either going too fast or driving with the posted speed limit and they can see you're telling the truth.

driver centric

Sorry, this never happens. The gauges are on the center of the dash, not in the passenger seat.

I've had 2 cars (Scion xB, Toyota Yaris) with center-mounted gauges and it's never bothered me, very easy to adjust to. If you asked me before I owned them I probably would have said the same thing a lot of people here are saying, but when you drive with the gauges there day to day, it's a non-issue. With both I've actually found myself looking at the gauges less because they were higher up in my line of vision so I could tell how fast I was going just through my peripheral sight of the speedo.

But anyways, no complaints here. And for those who were asking, no the Yaris Liftback doesn't have a tach...it's an $11K car, I figure costs have to be cut somewhere. I shift at the speeds recommended in the manual...if you're worried about knowing when it's redlining, I'll just remind you it only has 106 hp. lol

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

odessa

I despise them

aackshun

before I drove the xB I thought it was a HORRIBLE idea until I drove it... I could keep my eyes on the road and the speedometer which I think its nifty, but I still prefer the good ol under ur eyes speed/tachometer.

Python2121

A car that has those immediately throws out the possibility that it is a drivers car, and those are the only cars I would buy.

SiGGy

I rented a saturn with it for a week. I hated it... I'd like to see the study/data that made the manufacturers choose to go this way...

03silvertypeS

i had to drive my girl's grandmother's saturn ion to Atlanta and back last summer and the gauges in the center has got to be the worst idea ever. I rarely looked at them and the location drove me absolutely crazy the entire time I was driving. The other thing that bothered me about the location of them is every passenger can see the speed. Her grandmother still bitches about how "fast" I was going and I was going around 10 over (if that).

mr.motoring

Center mounted gauges look ghey, and the verti-stacked HVAC dials look like a thong.

is300eater

but that empty space directly in front of you would be perfect for a portable DVD player You can watch a movie during your morning commute












j/k