"OK, you don't need the tachometer, but it is part of the sporty character of the BMW," Kuenzner admits. "But for the speedometer, there's always an extra little calculation that you have to do when you see only a digital readout. 'I'm driving 72. Is that higher or lower than 60? How much higher?'"

I think that speaks volumes for why we need a progress bar of sorts for the speedometor on the RX-8... it's exactly what I was thinkin :)

I prefer an analog read out as well, but if one can not tell instantly if they are above or below a certain speed based on a digital readout, then that person really shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Question for those of you enthusiasts that track your car, or race anything for that matter, how many times do you look at the speedo? My guess is that you are more likely to look at the tach if your eyes are ever off the course.

Originally posted by aco
I prefer an analog read out as well, but if one can not tell instantly if they are above or below a certain speed based on a digital readout, then that person really shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Question for those of you enthusiasts that track your car, or race anything for that matter, how many times do you look at the speedo? My guess is that you are more likely to look at the tach if your eyes are ever off the course. *nod*, usually you can get speed based on other cars, but I've always liked a crisp analog readout over a digital one... my cousin's OLD OLD OLD Camaro Berlinetta had digital speedo.. didn't like that because it would just start blinking if you went over 75mph... wouldn't tell you your speed :p

I'd also like some kind of visual (digital) reference if there won't be an analog gage.

I don't plan on racing round on any tracks with the RX-8, just normal highway commuting ... and it then when I'd realy would like to rewiew my speed, especially after I spy a police car and want to see where I am in relationship to the posted law ... ;)

Originally posted by Hercules
... my cousin's OLD OLD OLD Camaro Berlinetta had digital speedo.. didn't like that because it would just start blinking if you went over 75mph... wouldn't tell you your speed :p

Agreed, reliability of the digital readout would be my main concern. I have only known one analog guage to have failed due to a broken cable, a friend's early 70's camaro. Conversely, analog guages may not always be the most accurate when it comes to reporting your speed, given OEM wheels and tires of course.

Reliability should be the same. Whether the actual display is a digital readout or a moving needle, the input is electric. Not many (if any) cars have had speedo cables since the early 80s. OBD probably eliminated any stragglers.

Once I get used to the engine/gearing then all you should need is rpms and the gear you are in.. I'd prefer analog too but I don't check the speedo that much..

Originally posted by Hercules


I think that speaks volumes for why we need a progress bar of sorts for the speedometor on the RX-8... it's exactly what I was thinkin :)

I had a relavent experience this weekend... I drove about 500 miles with my hand held GPS clipped onto my dash...

I found myself looking at a 1/4 inch digital readout of speed on the GPS, over the analog speedo... I remembered this discussion and tried using one then the other...

When driving fast on challenging roads, I never once looked at either... only on a "freeway"... I was repeatedly drawn to the digital one, and I always spent less time looking even though it was a tiny display....

Mabe I'm different to most people... I found my previous digital dashboard very good.

500 miles! What did you do Blue Adept, drive around the whole country twice? ;)

I've voiced my opinion on this before, and I would still vote for the analog speedometer. My preferance is because of both function and image. I think the analog is more functional because it display's rate of change in addition to current speed. The image part is because I equate the all digital dashes to poser cars, like all of the ones GM had in the 80's.

Originally posted by KayakDaddy
500 miles! What did you do Blue Adept, drive around the whole country twice? ;)

I've voiced my opinion on this before, and I would still vote for the analog speedometer. My preferance is because of both function and image. I think the analog is more functional because it display's rate of change in addition to current speed. The image part is because I equate the all digital dashes to poser cars, like all of the ones GM had in the 80's.

LOL, I collected somthing from my University... and dropped it off at a friends house.. then went home... This country isn't THAT small.

IMHO you can't get rate of change from a quick glance... I'm not sure you should be looking at the dash for longer than a quick glance when you are accelerating hard, and your senses should tell you how fast you are accelerating too.

As for the image, if somthing is better and you reject it because it's been done badly before then, that's your loss....

There is a Prelude club? Wow, I would have never guessed...

Yup.. :D
www.preludeonline.com Biggest US site
www.hondaprelude.to Canada's biggest site. :p We have almost 200 paid members and over 1,000 user names.. Not bad for a club that had a grand total of four two years ago.