Why the hate for center mounted instrument clusters?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've been a long time Toyota Echo driver and I love the center mounted instrument gauge cluster and can't stand cars with traditional driver-side clusters. If we took out the aesthetic argument, I find that center mounted is superior in a number of ways:

1. No way for hands and arms to block the view of the instruments.
2. Easier and faster to read - eyes don't have to move from the road as far.

I also prefer gauges like tachometer to be mounted along the A pillar because they're also easier to read and don't require my eyes to be taken off the road for as long.

 

[Arkaign]

I don't necessarily hate center consoles instruments, but prefer the traditional one. How is it easier to turn your head to the right rather than glance between your hands?

I think it's an issue of personal preference.

 

[LTC8K6]

Strange, I hate them because I have to take my eyes too far off the road...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I don't necessarily hate center consoles instruments, but prefer the traditional one. How is it easier to turn your head to the right rather than glance between your hands?

I think it's an issue of personal preference.

I guess it depends on the type of center cluster. I find that most center clusters are mounted higher than traditional driver side ones, so your eyes hardly have to shift downwards at all. I think height is a big factor. The Honda Insight has the digital speed readout on the driver side, but it is mounted higher than the steering wheel, which makes looking at it very quick and easy, unlike traditional locations where the eyes have to look below the top part of the steering wheel.

 

[Arkaign]

I guess it depends on the type of center cluster. I find that most center clusters are mounted higher than traditional driver side ones, so your eyes hardly have to shift downwards at all.

Hmm, I'm rather tall, so my eyes have to shift downwards either way. It's just a difference between glancing down, or glancing down and sideways.

I don't think it's a huge deal anyway, I'm constantly glancing at the rearview mirror, both side mirrors, and doing a check over the shoulder blind-spot check when changing lanes.

In practicality though, having instruments on the center console just gets in the way of other things that could be there (NAV, Radio, HVAC, Vents, AV/USB/Power Jacks, etc).

 

[PlasmaBomb]

The mini has a centre mounted odo, with a digital display. I don't like it either.

How is this -

better than this -

?

 

[mztykal]

Center mounted looks a little weird.

 

[exar333]

Center mounted FTL.

I believe the driver should see the guage cluster, not the whole car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The center mounted one in the mini is the only reason I got the GTI over a CooperS

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I think they should just mount one on both sides, but make the one on the passenger side read 25% low.

 

[zoiks]

Center mounted looks a little weird.

That does look retarded with nothing in front of the driver behind the steering wheel.

I think that some doofus designed the placement of the cluster just to share it with the passenger sitting next to the driver so that he/she could constantly interject his/her opinion on how fast or slow the car should be driven.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

That does look retarded with nothing in front of the driver behind the steering wheel.

I think that some doofus designed the placement of the cluster just to share it with the passenger sitting next to the driver so that he/she could constantly interject his/her opinion on how fast or slow the car should be driven.

I think the actual reasoning was "Now we only need one dash to sell between Japan/UK and the rest of the world!"

 

[Demo24]

If your hands or arms are blocking the gauges then you're doing it wrong. Only time that would be possible when I'm driving is if I'm making a pretty serious turn, and then I can't imagine why I would ever look at the gauges. I think traditional is a far better setup. I have everything I need to know right in front of me, and if a light goes on that shouldn't be I would notice it very quickly.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The center mounted one in the mini is the only reason I got the GTI over a CooperS

To be fair, I'm a fan of center mount gauges, but do NOT like how Cooper implemented theirs...

 

[ulukay]

i would prefer a HUD

 

[amdhunter]

NO. Center cluster = the ghey.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Two main reasons:

1) Putting the gauges farther away from the driver is always a bad idea. In the majority of cases, the gauges are not made larger despite being farther away either.

2) When I'm looking at the road, I'm looking down the center line, not down the berm. A center mounted instrument cluster requires that I take my eyes down and to the side rather than just down. This further reduces my ability to catch something important in my peripheral vision while I am checking the gauges. Also, because of reason 1, it takes more time to read the gauges because they are farther away and still small.

The only reason for center mounted instrument clusters is cost savings for cars that are produced in both LHD and RHD configurations.

Of course, I tend to be a bit more focused in my gauge preferences. IMO the tachometer should be as prominent as the speedometer, if not more prominent, as in the following examples:

914/6
951

ZV

 

[PricklyPete]

I think the opposite. It is much less distracting for me to look down then to the right. I also don't like the use of space by putting it in the center console. You could argue the aesthetics...but no thanks.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Center mount is out of the way. In a bad way. Let's see. Glance down then up. 2 motions. Or, glance down and right, then back up and left. Effectively 4 motions.

No way. Don't like it.

 

[Capt Caveman]

NO. Center cluster = the ghey.

Agreed. I remember when I visited Vancouver many years ago and was given a Toyota Echo as a rental. I felt ghey driving it.

I can only think they do this to reduce costs for exporting to the US and internationally.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The mini has a centre mounted odo, with a digital display. I don't like it either.

How is this -

better than this -

?

That interior is horrendously ugly. The cheap cars in India have better looking/designed interiors than this

 

[HannibalX]

Mini puts the speedo in the center unless you go for the premium model. "So, you want the speedo in the correct place? Well, that's going to cost you."

 

[Synomenon]

To be fair, I'm a fan of center mount gauges, but do NOT like how Cooper implemented theirs...

Glad I'm not the only one.

Here's mine:

Everyone can bash center mounted clusters all they want, but I like mine and it gives me the perfect place to put my Garmin Nuvi.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Glad I'm not the only one.

Here's mine:

Everyone can bash center mounted clusters all they want, but I like mine and it gives me the perfect place to put my Garmin Nuvi.

You have to reach through the steering wheel? Thats a horrible place to put it

 

[Synomenon]

Nope. I replaced it w/ a Nuvi 885T. It's voice controlled.

A plus w/ the older Nuvi (non voice controlled) was that this mounting location kept people from trying to use it when driving.