i also think manufacturers should also bring back options for digital or analog gauges. Added cost and feature creep I know, but still a nice to have i.e. the Lexus SC300/400 had digital gauges available on the Toyota Soarers

 

Perhaps someone should post a poll, and we can vote on it. 1) Straight traditional (mechanical) analog, 2) Analog-style with electroluminecsent background, 3) Selectable between electronic-analog and digital, 4) Straight electronic digital. My strong guess is that most would choose either 2 or 3.

The last 2 Buicks I owned had what seemed like a reasonable compromise.....electronic analog, with the option of the (addition) of a digital speed-readout.

 

why don't you post the poll?

 

I think only a moderator or thread-starter can add one to an existing thread......and I don't see that much of a need for a new thread. It's not an issue that's going to make the world stop spinning.

 

For the GM Trans Am fans, a little bit of retro nostalgia. The GTA's dash.



And believe it or not, you can retrofit a digital dash onto your old truck or car, if you're doing a resto-mod.



I had a 300ZX with the digital dash and that was a fun car to sit inside. Lousy handler, but nice scoot. So the digital dash has been around, but is much improved with today's processing power and graphics.

 

Nice post, Matty. Yes, I remember the old T/A dashes. On this particular sample, though, I wouldn't consider it a true digital, except for the speed-readout. The rest of the instruments are basically electronic bar and needle-indicators on an analog background.

 

Yeah this was a sort of hybrid design, probably lifted straight from the aviation world and maybe even inspired by the Knight Rider tv series, who knows, lol.

But then again just to muddy the waters. The interesting analog readouts of some super cars.

The Ferrari F430


Ferrari 360 Spyder


Bugatti Veyron


BMW M5


And then there's the ultimate nightmare for a driver, all those symbols and this site really has a helpful graphic to help decode a dash and its various symbols. I really like this.

 

I would definitely rock that Knight Rider dash in a old Firebird Trans am. It was my favorite show as a kid.

 

That's actually a great idea on cars with full LCD displays like the Tesla and some new model Benzes and Audis. I still do miss a really well designed analogue gauge package, like this one out of a late 90's Nissan Maxima(at night the background turns black and the numbers white, its really cool) I think within 10 years you won't be able to buy a car that doesn't have a full LCD display for the gauges, along with a separate center display. Heck that separate center display might go away altogether or shrink significantly and just display stuff like climate control info and radio stations, etc.

 

lol i watched Knight Rider as a kid too and honestly i forgot how over the top KITT's dashboard was

agreed. the ability to customize your gauge cluster would be awesome! There's probably mandates for the cluster gauges but, IMO, i just need a large tachometer, fuel gauge, engine temp, CEL, & Brake lights and that's it. very minimal and maybe program in a shift light (make the screen light up yellow or something) like with the aftermarket tachs (if the car's stick). i know they have high end digital gauge clusters, but it sticks out when installed and not as seamless and part of the interior when designed in by the car manufacturer.

 

Yes but let's look at why it's a nightmare... because with a traditional gauge you have to find a unique spot for all those colored lights whereas an all digital display can use any area for any symbol.

 

I agree. I only recall seeing one post that expressed a preference to electroluminescent analog gauges. Besides the fact that those aren't "digital" at all.

 

They still have to be in the driver's field of vision. Doesn't matter if it's analog, digital or a 3D Jabba the Hutt floating in front of your eyes. Any kind of trouble light should not distract a driver's eyes off the road but still be visible. The other option is a HUD, but that still brings the driver's field of vision onto the top of the dash.

 

I think at the end of the day any sort of guages work if they look good and are tasteful. I do like the Buick LaCrosse gauges. No idea if they are true digital. The new upcoming LS leaves something to be desired. MB has it down with their digital set up.

 

Matty, think you're missing my point. With a traditional gauge cluster there must be colored filter covered cutouts with lights behind each for each of the symbols to be potentially shown. That 'fixed real estate' forces the main gauges to be smaller and generally wastes space since most of the indicators are off most of the time. A digital dash can stack icons in a status area dynamically, like the status bar of a cell phone which is a much more efficient use of space.