Elgin Poll Reality Check

[Coss]

I HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MIND A BIT .
I HATE THE ELGIN DASH AND WOULD GLADLY PAY 300 BUCKS TO GET RID OF IT .

Getting rid of it is the easy part; it's the putting something back in it's place that the work starts.

 

[W. WIllie]

We will either adapt, or make it like we want.

 

[Sethodine]

It seems to me the big issue that people have is being able to see the speedo and tach numbers, with only a small number of people who ONLY dislike the Elgin for it's aesthetics.

It seems to me that a digital Speedo would be a super simple device to create, that can pull speed info from the Elio and display it alone in a large, easy-to-read manner. Get two, and the other one can read the Tach data. Why replace the whole dash, when technology is so available today? It's nothing a Raspberry Pi and a couple simple digital gauges couldn't handle.

 

[Ty]

You can always just tape over it or put a piece of cardboard over it and use the speed from Waze or Google Maps or Torque (which has decent looking needle gauges)...

 

[Coss]

It seems to me the big issue that people have is being able to see the speedo and tach numbers, with only a small number of people who ONLY dislike the Elgin for it's aesthetics.

It seems to me that a digital Speedo would be a super simple device to create, that can pull speed info from the Elio and display it alone in a large, easy-to-read manner. Get two, and the other one can read the Tach data. Why replace the whole dash, when technology is so available today? It's nothing a Raspberry Pi and a couple simple digital gauges couldn't handle.

I was doing some reading on digital vs. analog and it breaks down to; people don't want to have to "read" the numbers; they want to look at a visual area to get information. It's easier for people to see where the needle is pointing, rather than seeing 37 for example, or 58; it doesn't trigger the right area of the brain. And geezz is that a weak explanation to what I'm trying to say. It's because it's what we're used to "seeing" that tells us how fast we're going. Cars that have had digital read outs had the most complaints from owners.
When you have digital, your brain has to translate it because we're not used to seeing numbers. Yes, I know we see the numbers on the side of the road, but it's what we're used to seeing after years of driving. That make more sense?

 

[Frim]

I was doing some reading on digital vs. analog and it breaks down to; people don't want to have to "read" the numbers; they want to look at a visual area to get information. It's easier for people to see where the needle is pointing, rather than seeing 37 for example, or 58; it doesn't trigger the right area of the brain. And geezz is that a weak explanation to what I'm trying to say. It's because it's what we're used to "seeing" that tells us how fast we're going. Cars that have had digital read outs had the most complaints from owners.
When you have digital, your brain has to translate it because we're not used to seeing numbers. Yes, I know we see the numbers on the side of the road, but it's what we're used to seeing after years of driving. That make more sense?

Also, people "see" what they expect to see. Which accounts for some of the eyewitness errors.

 

[Ty]

Also, people "see" what they expect to see. Which accounts for some of the eyewitness errors.

We have the technology already. They should just make it a law that cars should automatically be limited by the existing speed limits. My phone can already tell me what the actual speed limit is for the road I'm on and that is dynamically updated. Tie that technology into the car's computer and make it to where no car can break the speed limit. That would eliminate... Hell, I'm kidding... Please DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME!!!

 

[Sethodine]

I was doing some reading on digital vs. analog and it breaks down to; people don't want to have to "read" the numbers; they want to look at a visual area to get information. It's easier for people to see where the needle is pointing, rather than seeing 37 for example, or 58; it doesn't trigger the right area of the brain. And geezz is that a weak explanation to what I'm trying to say. It's because it's what we're used to "seeing" that tells us how fast we're going. Cars that have had digital read outs had the most complaints from owners.
When you have digital, your brain has to translate it because we're not used to seeing numbers. Yes, I know we see the numbers on the side of the road, but it's what we're used to seeing after years of driving. That make more sense?

Maybe my brain is just younger and more flexible, because I absolutely LOVE the digital number-only speed readout on the Leaf

However, in my post I was actually thinking about digital "needle" gauges, since I understand the "position vs number" gauge viewing philosophy. A virtual needle-on-arc. Perhaps the system could even be set up to show you the speed in great big numbers whenever you set the Cruise control, and then go back to the virtual floating needle.

Mostly I was just trying to come up with a simple solution that didn't involve $1000 of custom dashboard work. If you had a Raspberry Pi with an OBD-II socket (signal AND power!) and a RCA video-out, then you could connect that to any $20 commercial backup camera monitor and have an instant place-where-you-need-it speedo. And you don't necessarily need a Pi either, since I know even cheaper microcomputers have been produced since the Pi came out.

I'm actually kind of surprised something like this hasn't already been produced. Heck, with a simple input device, it could be made to offer a whole range of at-your-fingertip diagnostics (perhaps a USB digital knob). The hardest part would be the programming, and that's not saying much.

 

[Ty]

Maybe my brain is just younger and more flexible, because I absolutely LOVE the digital number-only speed readout on the Leaf

However, in my post I was actually thinking about digital "needle" gauges, since I understand the "position vs number" gauge viewing philosophy. A virtual needle-on-arc. Perhaps the system could even be set up to show you the speed in great big numbers whenever you set the Cruise control, and then go back to the virtual floating needle.

Mostly I was just trying to come up with a simple solution that didn't involve $1000 of custom dashboard work. If you had a Raspberry Pi with an OBD-II socket (signal AND power!) and a RCA video-out, then you could connect that to any $20 commercial backup camera monitor and have an instant place-where-you-need-it speedo. And you don't necessarily need a Pi either, since I know even cheaper microcomputers have been produced since the Pi came out.

I'm actually kind of surprised something like this hasn't already been produced. Heck, with a simple input device, it could be made to offer a whole range of at-your-fingertip diagnostics (perhaps a USB digital knob). The hardest part would be the programming, and that's not saying much.

For the less techy... and old cell phone that has Bluetooth, a $7.39 ELM327 Bluetooth OBDII adapter, the Torque App, a charging cable, and some double sided sticky tape (if your phone is able, I would just use a Qi charger/holder). You can put whatever gauges you want on the phone's display... digital or analog. You could even mount it right in front of the Lord Elgin if you like! Total cost, about $30 if you have a functional cell phone for the purpose (or just use your current one). Time to install? About 2 minutes.

 

[NorCalPhil]

I don't really care what the tach or speedo are, or how they display. I'd prefer something that makes use of the info in a more productive way. For a gas-sipping car like this, I want to know how efficiently I'm driving at any given moment and how to drive more efficiently if possible. Red/Yellow/Green gradient with a message on how to be more efficient - if its red, it tells me to slow down or shift, or whatever would optimize the fuel efficiency at that moment. Help me get familiar with the specific sweet spot/range of the drivetrain.

And then I'd want the ability to turn that damn thing off.

Frankly the only time I look at the tach/speedo currently is when I see police around. If my quick glance just gives me a number, that's fine.