Hi,

Does anyone know why more and more manufacturers are fitting Digital Speedo's into cars and bikes as opposed to Analog?

Whats the advantages?

Is it some physcological saftey feature?

I still prefer to watch the needle

Comments appreciated.

Frank

 

Dunno but some "interesting" facts recently observed @ ScoobyShootout2

Indicated 154 was 140.4 true. At the same time, my SECS recorded a top speed of 149.

I think with a needle, there is more margin for error due to either potential variation in the spring quality or the motor used to send it round. Hence why a larger margin of error is allowed in the manufacture (leading to higher reading). Digi stuff should be the more accurate but it all depends on tyre size etc, but even those manufacturers will err on the side of caution - ie over-read.

 

Am I correct in saying that Audi did this way back on the Quattros? Maybe I'm wrong but I have a feeling that, at least at that time, everyone hated it and found it nearly impossible to read.

It is probably a cost thing as digital speedos probably cost next to nothing to make now.

 

What? Less than a plastic needle?

 

The old Austin maestro/montego's had digi dash's along with the most annoying talking computer

never worked properly though

Vauxhall astra GTE and opel monza 3.0 had them too whether they were better i don't know

 

The old Toyota Supras had them too.

Sort of knight rider-ish. Perhaps that's what inspired them?

 

I had one in my astra gte 16v and loved it, was scary though seeing it add up that quick

 

I found the digital readout on the Porsche 996 to be really great. It also has an analogue readout, but it's very hard to read as the sweep from 0-300km/h is less than 120 degrees (i.e. the calibrations are too close together).

 

i think when autocar figured the 911 gt2 using gps timimg gear the speedo was bang on with the gps on the 195mph limiter. Rare for a car to be accurate but then it is a porka so........

 

S2000s are almost all digital dash too no ?

 

Digi speedos are far more accurate and easier to read, been a few claims that the new ducati digi speedo's are 100% accurate

I wish the busa had a digi speedo, 220mph is a lot of numbers on a dial to try and pick out exactly what your doing(officer).......

 

Yes, they're more accurate and also for the person using it i.e. you can really say you were doing 34 and not 36 which isn't as easy or as quick to get with an analogue. Also, switching between MPH/KPH is simpler - useful for when I had the car over here in Luxembourg. Another less useful feature is that they read in reverse as well - for those that really want to know how fast you're going backwards.

They never took off in Europe as no-one liked them apparently, but I suppose these days with full graphical displays available in cars they could easily simulate an analogue display using a screen to keep everyone happy.

IMHO I prefer a digital display, the one in my Monza is superb and much larger than the tiny effort they put in the old Astra GSE - when you get close to the rev limit the whole rev counter display starts flashing to warn you!

 

& the guys in America still complain abt it not being good enough.