Any one here with a car's with the speedo, etc in the middle of dash...???
By comedyaddict
@comedyaddict (772)
Canada
February 23, 2007 7:23pm CST
I've been looking at some cars recently and one of them has the speedo,etc in the center. I like the car, but I am not sure about the centered speedo.
Who else here has a car like that? What do you think of it? DO you prefer it over the normal layout? or is it simply a cost saving exercise?
Any advice, or insight would be great! Thanks...
7 responses
@emendblu (94)
• United States
25 Feb 07
i have a Nissan with the with a digital speedo in the center and it did take a few days of driving before i got used to it but now that i am used to it when i drive my truck i find myself looking in the center instead of the normal placment
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
OK, thats what I keep hearing, that once you are used to it, its OK. What sort of Nissan do you have?
BTW, Welcome to myLot..:)
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
Wow.. I didn't know that they had them! I've always liked the 350Z, but for some reason never been in the new one yet...
Does it have a normal speedo too, or just the digital one in the middle?
@weemam (13372)
•
24 Feb 07
I have a Citroen Picasso desire It is my second one ( bought this one new) and I just love it , it takes a wee while to get used to but it is great , the gear stick is also on the bottom of the dash not on the floor , as I said it is my second and I would go for it again , it has so much going for it , xx
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
Cool.. I used to own a Peugeot when I lived in New Zealand, and know they do make nice cars! I wish we got them over in Canada - I would consider another one...
I just downloaded a PDF brochure on your car (I think anyways ;) is the speedo what looks like the digital display above the radio? I like the gear stick where it in yours. I think the Honda Civic has it there too and it was quite nice to drive...
@juliocstryfe (2019)
• Brazil
26 Feb 07
I dont know, it seems like a distraction, a second longer, having to look at the side to see your speed, and in bad traffic conditions, every second counts
1 person likes this
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
26 Feb 07
:) Thanks for all these replies! That was my first thought too, but apparently it is safer. In saying that, I think the best system is what emendblu was saying the 350z has, a normal speedo where it should be, as well as a digital one in the center so others can keep on eye on your speed.
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
24 Feb 07
Is it a Yaris, Nissan Quest - or a Cobra. The Cobra would be pricey...
I have never driven a car with a center speedo, but I imagine that it would take a bit of getting used to.
Personally I find that once I have driven a car for a couple of hundred km the combination of engine vibrations and road impact gives me an intuitive feel for the speed. I hardly look at the speedo. But when I am distracted, stressed or angry with something, I make sure that I monitor the speedo because my alertness drops.
So on the whole, what side of the road I am driving on, where the wheel is, whether manual or automatic, instrument panel configurations it takes a few hours of driving to get used to.
The current design wisdom appears to be that the Speedo information should be available to all passengers - and well, I can see the merit to that. My seven year old is scruplous, and perhaps be more effective than cruise control! lol.
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
I've looked at a new Yaris, or a secondhand Nissan X-trail. Not sure why I didn't think of the Cobra though lol..
I agree that after a while, I get used to the speed just by the feel of it, especially on North American roads which are fairly straight compared to NZ ones. Done there my car handled so well, I could get into trouble if I relied purely on feel on some of the roads I drove on ;)
The new Mini also has one there too, so it does seem to be a popular trend. It still just seems wrong to me though... but I can see how it would be effective if you had passengers in the car.
Thanks for the words of wisdom :)
1 person likes this
@coffeechat (1961)
• New Zealand
24 Feb 07
Yes! I forgot the Mini. The one where the speedo doubles as the radio! That did certainly get some comment! But rather clever I thought. Fuel efficiency is great though.
1 person likes this
@MrCoolantSpray (1005)
• United States
24 Feb 07
My wife's saturn Ion has the dashboard doohickeys in the middle. It takes getting used to. Personally, I don't like it, but she loves the setup.
1 person likes this
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
I forgot about the Saturn Ions. Whats your impression of the Saturns? I've only ever been in one, but I didn't really like it. It was an old one though, so thats probably most of the problem ;)
1 person likes this
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
Good point. If I was to buy a Saturn it would probably only be the new Aura. They are essentially a Vectra in the rest of the world, so I know it would probably be a good car... What year is your wifes Saturn? Is it fairly new?
@MrCoolantSpray (1005)
• United States
24 Feb 07
It's a nice car. Personally, I prefer my Mistubishi, but to each his own. Saturn's been winning tons of awards lately, so a lot of people must think it's a great car.
1 person likes this
@sadgirl_1958 (1088)
• United States
24 Feb 07
My scion has it in the middle - and it didn't like it at first, but now I am used to it and it seems normal enough to me. It certainly is easier to view - the speedometer in most cars is usually obstructed by the steering wheel.
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
24 Feb 07
I suppose the Scoins do have it in the middle :) That must be because they are essentially a Yaris as I understand it. I believe they are designed by the same division of Toyota, so I guess it makes sense.. lol...
@comedyaddict (772)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
Because I'd rather have a review by people who actually own a car like this, not someone who drives it for a couple hours.. ;)
