Let's talk gauges
 

Browsing some threads I've seen just about every place you could conceivably mount gauges but not a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of the different gauge brands out there. Coming from the pushrod old domestic camp, a set of $50 auto meters was big ballin'. I had a little bit of sticker shock looking at the DEFI and AEM offerings. Whiz bang digital stuff is spendy.

My questions are, if you were starting from scratch what route would you take? Are the DEFI like units worth it with the central controller and stuff? Seems like the price of those gauges are equal if not more than the price of standalones to do the same thing plus you have to buy the controller. Brands to avoid? Essential gauges to have? Boost and AFR are a given.

thoughts?
thanks

I run a regular mechanical boost gauge and an aem wideband.
digital boost gauges are getting alot better but they don't read right at my elevation.
other ones that are nice to have on a turbo car are oil pressure and EGT but I don't run them.
Autometer is nice but isn't that bright like if you want it lit up, I just got a prosport blue/white mechanical gauge because I like how bright it is and you can change the colors with the headlights coming off and on.

Look into Depo gauges, they look like Defi but a lot cheaper. They also offer dial/digital gauge combos.

I was initially leaning towards some basic analog gauges to start and the use something off the ECU when I went standalone but I kind of like the idea of having a secondary monitoring system in the case the ECU goes haywire or the sender does.

You're definitely right on the autometers being dim, particularly if you use the little bulb rubbers to change the lighting color. I had a set on my old super duty for boost, trans temp and pyro. Probably run the same setup plus AFR on this car. I was always leery of running mech gauges in cab but I'll be squirreling these away in the glove box so if one pops, not going to shower my face with bits and fluids and such.

Thanks Luxor, i'll look into the Depos. I looked briefly having seen them in a thread but will do more serious research and consider those.