My daughter has bought a Saturn ION. Here is a picture of the dash. Notice where the speedo is located.

 

uhhh the nerve!!

 

Really it's not a rip-off. It's just good design practice. More ergonomic for the eyes of the driver to glace sideways instead of up-down, since we have more periferal vision to the sides than we have periferal vision vertically. So we can still watch the road when we glance at the speedo.

 

A friend of mine bought one of these recently ... the salesguy actually told her it was styled like the MINI!
Since she has ridden in mine, she was able to laugh and correct him ...

 

I agree the speedo inin the center...

But there's not much else about it that reminds me of my MINI!

 

If i'm not mistaken, the Toyota Echo has a center mounted gaugepanel as well?

Cabbage

 

NO Saturn didn't copy Mini. Mini wasn't out when this was being done.
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Yep, the Echo has it also... Although that was part of the design for the Mini, so it makes sense why the MINI is still built with the center speedo, I really think that most car companies do it to save cash.. With the speedo in the middle, there's less difference between left and right hand dashboards...

But the new Scions Ax and Bx have the center speedo, one of the newly redesigned Nissan (I think) MiniVans has a center speedo (and a weird glove box behind the steering wheel...)....

Rocketboy_X

 

 

Well I'd rather have the Ion than driving around in an intert gas (ie. Neon) :smile:

Center speedos are going japanese too-
Take a look at the new Nissan quest, I also had a Primera in Denmark
which had one-
http://www.dolch.net/Europe2002/Cope...meragauges.jpg

If you want to look at a CRAZY center speedo-dash layout, check out
the Fiat Multipla (www.fiat.co.uk), pretty interesting... Drives better than it looks, tho...

Mini is much cooler, tho :smile:

 

Dude, that Ion is an interior rip of the Scion Echo, not the MINI.

And that Multip-whatever it is, is WHACKO!

R

 

>>Hahahahahaha! Look at the funny little face in the center of the ION's steering wheel! Doesn't it look bored??? Tee hee!

LOL Kind of like one of these almost...

 

In addition to the Echo, Scion, and Quest, there's the Z8. I like the center speedo but I think the gigantic size is crucial. I wouldn't be so happy with the Saturn layout.

Not cool zfxr. That whatchama thing was so freakin' ugly it crashed my browser while I was in the bathroom.

 

>>Really it's not a rip-off. It's just good design practice. More ergonomic for the eyes of the driver to glace sideways instead of up-down, since we have more periferal vision to the sides than we have periferal vision vertically. So we can still watch the road when we glance at the speedo.

Also, and probably more important to the manufacturer, it makes good sense on the production line. You've got a single, drop in, module with all your gauges and controls. By placing it in the center, you make it easier to produce both left and right hand drive versions of the same car.

 

Lame copy with no style or reason behind putting gauges in center except to save money on parts and production.
The MINI's center speedo dates back to rally days when the co-driver needed to see it.
Some cars are just ugly, Saturns are extremely ugly.

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[img]albums/album25/ama.gif[/img]VinceAndJessica.com
Alta pulley, Stebro exhaust, Pipercross intake, Progress rear anti-sway bar.

 

Speedo's should just be removed from all cars anyway! They just cause trouble!
ie.

wife: "Slow down! Do you know how fast your going?"

me: "Nope...and neither do you. just relax."

---or---

cop: "do you have any idea how fast you were goin' back there?"

me: "uhhhh, no."

cop: "okay then, have a great day!"

 

Two Words:

UGH LEE

 

UUUUGGGGHHHHHLY!!!!!

 

Guys... they're just made to get you from point A to point B with relatively little trouble in the transit. I don't think Saturn was aiming for any design awards. Not all cars are super-cool like ours. I kind of like the Ion, but then, I'm partial to Saturns. :smile: And not afraid to admit it!!!

 

Ya, but the MINIs speedo is integrated SOOO much better and with style. The saturn one looks like a typical setup that usually appears in front of the driver/wheel. Differnce is they moved it to the center? The MINI speedo is the size of my outstreched palm and unique. It goes with the racing/rally heritage of the car and was there from the beginning (1950s?). I don't know what the saturn's excuse is. I'm not worried about resemblance b/c there isn't any IMO.

 

Ya, if you're going to have a center speedo, you can't just center the dashboard, you have to design it like that from the ground up... granted, it is higher up on the dash, which would make it a little easier to see, but it's really just a pushed over instrument cluster, not a center speedo, with a steering wheel mounted tach, which really changes things...

Rocketboy_X

 

I drove the ION, it's not the same.

I have to also say the speedo in the center of the car is not easier as a driver. When I'm doing 90+ I don't want to be looking right but straight. The only reason the Mini pulls it off is the retro look and I assume the co-driver can see it during a rally race (or autocross race).

Either way, the Mini it works, in teh Saturn it was annoying.

 

saturns are crap, and theyre really really ugly

 

>>saturns are crap, and theyre really really ugly

I've driven one for five years. I have changed oil every 3K, put on a new set of breaks, and bought a new set of tires. That's it.

I have never owned a more reliable car (and I've owned almost a dozen over 30 plus years). And now, with my MCS coming in next week, the Saturn goes to my nephew. It may be one of the dumbest financial moves I've made.

I am looking forward to the MCS. I expect to enjoy it immensely. But I will never call Saturns "crap".

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p.s. They are ugly