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Why the hate for center mounted instrument clusters?

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Kind of seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I never drove a car with one other than pulling one in/out of the shop, but it just seems odd to me to begin with.
 
mariok2006 said:
In terms of ergonomics, the Civic has central clusters beat IMO. Some will say it looks too futuristic/spaceship like, but when you're actually driving, it's great.

Dash.jpg
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When I had my Civic I hated the fact that everyone could see how fast I was going. The odometer is too damned big.
 
I really like the implementation in the Civic for two reasons. One, the speedometer is up high and digital makes it easy to read at a quick glance. Two, the tach is dead center so it's hard to cover up when the wheel is turned.

I'm looking forward to the HUD in the Corvette which is my favorite way of display the information.
 
KentState said:
I really like the implementation in the Civic for two reasons. One, the speedometer is up high and digital makes it easy to read at a quick glance. Two, the tach is dead center so it's hard to cover up when the wheel is turned.

I'm looking forward to the HUD in the Corvette which is my favorite way of display the information.
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+ there's a blinky shift light so you don't even need to look down at the tach 😀
 
i'm not a fan of the civic, but i will admit that the dash is quite good (functionally speaking, and ignoring the horrid controls in the center of both the civic and accord).

the digital speedo is well implemented and it being right above the rim of the steering wheel is perfect.
 
I've never had problems with the center-mounted instrument cluster on my Ion 1. It didn't take long for me to adapt to it, and it doesn't take me long to get speedometer or tachometer readings from it while driving.
 
I don't like the instrument cluster on the center stack. I've driven a couple cars like this and rode in a few, and just couldn't get used to it.

I share ZV's opinion: An instrument cluster should be front and center of the driver, and should have a larger tach than speedo. Additional gauges, as needed can be added to the a-pillar, center stack, or the periphery of the main cluster.
 
Raduque said:
I don't like the instrument cluster on the center stack. I've driven a couple cars like this and rode in a few, and just couldn't get used to it.

I share ZV's opinion: An instrument cluster should be front and center of the driver, and should have a larger tach than speedo. Additional gauges, as needed can be added to the a-pillar, center stack, or the periphery of the main cluster.
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+1.

/thread
 
I would prefer the speedo being the same size or larger than the tach, but not by too much. My car has them both about the same size.

Parent's car has a dinky little tach about the size of a gas gauge. Too small.
 
I don't mind the Yaris/Belta center-mounted gauges. It's actually easier for me to read because it remains in my FOV.
 
KentState said:
I really like the implementation in the Civic for two reasons. One, the speedometer is up high and digital makes it easy to read at a quick glance. Two, the tach is dead center so it's hard to cover up when the wheel is turned.

I'm looking forward to the HUD in the Corvette which is my favorite way of display the information.
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This.

As far as having Ion-like center mounts, I like it better than the traditional. Your eyes have to "move" less to see the cluster. Center of road is still in your periferal vision just as the traditional location but focus is off the front for the least amount of time. Though I do think the Ion's implimentation could have been better...
 
I am at a loss to see how one could argue that it's more ergonomic to have to look at a centrally-mounted gauge cluster. I see no reason to put any gauges in the center for any reason other than cost cutting or, as in the Mini Cooper, for retro-charm reasons. (It is my understanding that the Cooper's huge centrally-mounted speedo is meant to be evocative of the one of the original car, which was placed there to cover the hole left by a large beam that the car was mounted on, shish kabob-style, during the manufacturing process.)
 
Wow...I can't believe you even asked that question. Hand in whatever man card pieces you have left sir. Just looking at those pics made my stomach surge. Is it just me or do these cars look totally fuckin retarded? I wouldn't be caught dead driving that shit, and the most econobox I'd go would be a Corolla.

Absolutely ridiculous.

It's as if the desigers said "hey, this car is already the biggest econo piece of shit ever made, let's make it known to everyone by a signature feature, the instruments will be in the CENTER!"
 
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DVad3r said:
Wow...I can't believe you even asked that question. Hand in whatever man card pieces you have left sir. Just looking at those pics made my stomach surge. Is it just me or do these cars look totally fuckin retarded? I wouldn't be caught dead driving that shit, and the most econobox I'd go would be a Corolla.

Absolutely ridiculous.

It's as if the desigers said "hey, this car is already the biggest econo piece of shit ever made, let's make it known to everyone by a signature feature, the instruments will be in the CENTER!"
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I spit my coffee out after reading this
 
Seriously, like, I question anyones driving ability that has an econobox such as these shown here. Whenever I see some bastard on the road in one of these they always drive as if they were disabled. I've spoken to my dad about this and he agrees. The worst is when you see a fat dude in one with a neatly trimmed beard. These guys act all professional and shit and think they are "proper" drivers. These are the guys that talk to themselves outloud when honked at saying "Hey, wait your turn buddy!".

This 1973 Fiat 126, which we called the "tomb" in Poland because if you crashed you would instantly die, has a better interior than these hideous econobox cars posted here, and that car was ghetto yo, I should know, we had one!

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Fiat_126.jpg
 
IsLNdbOi said:
Wow. You and your Dad have issues.
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Not really. We are both professional drivers, with my dad working for the ministry. He trains people how to drive trucks too. Believe it or not, we actually know what we are talking about. I can categorize for you a hundred different types of people and what cars they drive, and it all fits into a pattern.
 
Who cares? People drive what they want to and if what they drive works for them, what's the problem? They're the ones driving it, not you.
 
IsLNdbOi said:
Who cares? People drive what they want to and if what they drive works for them, what's the problem? They're the ones driving it, not you.
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I honestly don't care what people drive. Well wait, I do, SUV's and minivans piss me off. I'm talking about certain types of cars and certain types of driving styles that go along with specific cars and form patterns. It's like, the Matrix and shit, but on the road, in RL yo!
 
IsLNdbOi said:
Who cares? People drive what they want to and if what they drive works for them, what's the problem? They're the ones driving it, not you.
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No-one here cares what other people have in their own cars. But the question in the OP was why people don't like center-mounted instrument clusters, not whether people think center-mounted clusters should be banned. People are simply answering the OP's question.

SSSnail said:
I don't hate center mounted console, I love it as a matter of fact, but only on ONE car.

wallpaper-mclaren-f1.jpg
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Despite the file name, that's a Pagani Zonda, not a McLaren F1.

ZV
 
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