The most worthless thing on the C7
 

So after driving my car for 3300 miles now. I don't think I've ever even looked at the mph gauge on the left side of the dash. To actually tell my speed.

With so many options for showing your mph the traditional gauge seems like they were just trying to fill that spot.

I bet a couple years down the road they get rid of all the gauges and go full digital.

3300 miles in less than 2 weeks car runs great. First gear full throttle with warm pavement is something to behold!

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/image-19.jpg

Wow 3300 miles... I have 1500 miles on my car now . I agree with your observation as with my HUD , I watch my speed in the windshield and don't look at that gauge either.:iagree:

lol...I don't use the HUD OR that speedo on the left.
I haven't even trained my eyes to look left at it.
S.

I thought this thread was going to be about the rear hatch vent that's supposed to make the hatch close easily, but I agree about the analog speedo. It's not very useful. It would be better if the needle wasn't so fat.

There's a speedometer on the left side?

I have never looked at the Speedo on the left, then again I have HUD.

I think they put the old style speedometer in there just so kids can look at it and go, "wow, your speedometer goes to over 200 mph!".

Going all digital is a big MISTAKE. Study after study in the aviation world has said that analog gages are far faster to read quickly than digital. I think the dash is fine as it is. You have the option of analog or digital, as it should be. Don

I heard in some other thread that the feds require that every car must have an analog speedometer. I donno if that is true, but it would explain it.

My 96 CE does not have one, it is full digital

There is a speedo on the left side? What!! :eek:

:D Agreed... it's a waste.

The cupholders are so shallow that if I even barely hit the throttle whatever drink I have in it goes flying.

:lol: torque will do that to ya every time

New Cadillac and the late 80's Jimmy's had a completely digital dashboard. So did the 84 Corvette

[QUOTE=Waytofastvette2006;1586530799]

I bet a couple years down the road they get rid of all the gauges and go full digital.


Egads! I hope NOT!!

I never evereverevereverever look at that . I think it qualifies as scotoma of the year.


lisa

:withstupid: unless I'm in eco or weather mode, which is rare, there's no need to look at the speedo to the left. My cluster's info is what's playing on the stereo, oil pressure, rpm, mph and coolant temp.

How about them plastic valve stem caps. You speed hundred of dollars for chrome or painted wheels and you get plastic valve stem caps. It's not like some non-plastic valve stem caps are not available. GM has non-plastic value stem caps that have real GM part numbers so that you can order them.

That's the display I always use. Never look at the left speedometer. In fact...I don't miss the HUD in my 1LT...

another sage observation--completely agree. also, there is something visceral about the view you get from looking at the needle, that "communicates" more about what your speed really means, rather than looking at a single number. the OP is probably a very intelligent and observant individual, but just happens to be wrong about his observation and conclusion on this issue.

I don't think this is an issue between analog vs digital or hard vs. display, I read this as the fact that the gauge is darn near invisible, tucked all the way over there on the left where no one can see it.


lisa

I understand where your coming from. However were already there ! The actual gauges that you use are all digital. Yeah the analog
Is there but most never look at it so what's the point ?

I love the little things like the ghost needle that stays at your highest shift point in sport.

This isn't the c4 digital tech. But then again I understand GM trying to appeal to all buyers.

:iagree: Same goes for a clock.

I agree, it's such an afterthought with HUD! My kids looks at it more than me!

Don't confuse digital with LCD. Aviation has gone to LCD based configurable displays, but they still show an image of an analog gauge (which is of critical importance). I agree that the mechanical speedo is pointless when there is already a giant number staring you in the face. Because speed limits are posted in big black and white numbers, I don't think an analog gauge is as necessary for the speed as it is for thing like temps, pressures, RPM, voltages, etc. I would actually like to see a nice mechanical tach in the center, with the speed in the middle of that gauge, and then a fully customizable LCD on either side. But, the current instrument panel is pretty dang good as is.

-T

:iagree:

Good point about the speed limit signs being digital and our readout being the same, so that works. But info like temps, and pressure needing the analog to put the number in quick relationship to the spectrum.

(One more post for you and you get 3 gold stars!)

I use the gauge in eco mod with the display giving you the immediate mpg/V4 mode engagement. That's my default display. If I drive it hard it goes straight to track mode.

Mine stays in track mode... I could care less what my MPG is at any given moment :D The worse my mileage is, the more fun I'm having... :cheers:

:withstupid::D

I don't know when that observation was supposedly made, or who/how old that segment of pilots were. Today's digital flight displays are far superior to the analog gages of yesteryear. The tapes have trend indicators and different color presentations that give instant awareness of what is happening now and a few moments from now. I grew into the new digital world and transversing back really sucks.

I think some people confuse digital with meaning "just numbers" vs. analog meaning "proper gauges".

When modern cars use all-digital dashboards, that nearly always means that the dash will consist of one large screen, upon which they project analog gauges. Just like the way the center screen on the C7 projects various analog tachometers and the pocket gauges on the left and right, like the OP's photo illustrates.

Another common misconception is that analog gauges are someone more reliable. The reality is that they are not more reliable. I don't know about you guys, but I remember driving a car in college that had a broken gas gauge. I had to write down my mileage so I wouldn't drive empty. My parent' s car developed a bad speedometer. And so on.

All types of dashboards can possibly malfunction, but it's telling that there are not any wide-scale problems reported with digital dashboards anywhere in the industry. And I haven't read a single problem with the C7's center dashboard screen. (The touchscreen system in the center console is a different and unrelated story.)

I hope that future generations of the Corvette have an all-digital dash, because they are really superior in every respect. My wife's Range Rover has an all-digital dash, and it's extremely good and sharp to read. It is much better than analog gauges.

I love looking at a needle and watching it move from 30s to 40s to 50s etc. as you hit the gas- the faster it moves- the better-don't get that from a digital number

backup maybe in case the digital goes out of its mind...??

In general, I do somewhat prefer analog over digital display...especially in my watches. I also like the selectable analog speedo in my DD car over the digital. It is large, spans nearly 360° and the speed can be instantly determined at a glance from the relative position of the needle. That is why analog displays with needles can be so useful. Our minds need only see the position of the needle (or hands on a clock) without seeing the numbers (hours and minutes) and we instantly know what the display is saying.

Most here know that is why gauges in older race cars were set in the dash at crazy angles. If the needles were vertical, all was good. You didn't have to "read and process the numbers". The tach was usually rotated in its mount so that redline was vertical. This was (and still is) very functional.

However, the analog speedo in the Stingray is nigh onto useless. It's hidden way off to the left under the binnacle and as a tall guy you have to look for it. The scale is so compacted with 0-200 mph being only a 190° swing that the difference between legal speed and loss of your license can be as little a 10° swing of the needle, not instantly discernible. Very poorly designed from a functional point of view, but attractive nonetheless, just to fill in the empty space.

How do I delete "Previous Destinations" I no longer need?

Stop going there.

:D

The analog needle is controlled by same module, most likely if the digital goes out so will the analog :)

IMO its a passenger seat speedo, my wife can see it.

My vote goes for the hot-wire vent thing being one of the most useless, I read the article on that and thought it was pretty cool - be a lot cooler if it worked lol.

Actually mine works quite well. If you close the hatch with the correct amount of force, it closes for me every time...even with the doors closed.

I have to slam mine, with the window cracked an inch it closes way easier. While I'm sure it does 'work' in some regard its doesnt work enough IMO.

I've changed my mind. It's the Bose "audiopilot" feature. Totally, utterly and completely useless.

I can never figure out why the car has THREE speedo's. Anyone know?

One on the left side, one on the center screen, and one on the HUD. Weird.

I think the aviation world has figured ways of making all digital "gauges" perfectly readable....so much so that the standby gauges are digital like a little PFD.

Amen brutha!!!!! A primary flight display shows me all I need to know!!!

while I agree on the speedo is the most useless. the one that works the least is the seat memory button it blows and need to be recalled.

Three is company. There is safety in numbers?? Actually, with HUD being an option, logic stands to reason that the dash display would have a speedometer as well. As for the analog gauge, I've often wondered if it were some sort of regulatory thing to maintain an analog speed gauge.


:iagree:
I have to force my eyes to look at the HUD and not through it. I always seem to glance at the dash display for my speed and find myself continaully reminding myself of the HUD. Gauge on the left.. What gauge.

You'll get used to the HUD soon enough, don't worry! Then you'll wonder how you ever did without it. Every so often, I have to drive mrowc6's truck or rent a car, and after 9 years of HUD usage, it's like going back to the stone age! :lol:


lisa

Most worthless item on the car has to be the rear hatch gadget that is supposed to let air out of the car so the hatch will close more easily. More easily than what? I either need to leave a door open or a window don to close the hatch. It's a good thing the car is so tight but c'mon the rear hatch air release is a non-functional POS.