In a discussion about the MINI Motoring Spirit, the issue of the center-mounted speedo came up. Some really think the speedo in the center is a bad design. It never bothered me, and I thought about the center-mounted speedo this weekend and did some unscientific experimentation. I'd like to hear your thoughts and observations.

I found that with my eyes fixed on the road ahead, if I glanced down at the tach or if I glanced over at the speedo, my eyes were off the road for about the same time. Slight advantage to the tach location, but we're talking milliseconds. What I found surprising is that I had MORE peripheral vision of the road ahead when I glanced over at the speedo in the center than when I glanced down at the tach that is positioned closer to where most speedometers are located.

I think the reason for this is that most of our peripheral vision is side-to-side, so that when you glance down at the tach which is directly in front of you, you have little view of the road ahead and your peripheral vision is picking up the left and right sides of your MINI interior. But, when you glance over toward the center mounted speedo, your eye is angled so that your peripheral side vision is actually picking up a good deal of the road in front of you, especially from your left eye.

Try it yourself and see if you have similar results. I found that I had so much peripheral vision while looking at the speedo, that I could keep my eyes fixed on the center-mounted speedo and drive without looking directly at the road ahead.

See ya,
JS

 

Good scientific catch! Have to agree with you! :smile:

 

I've discovered a HUGE downside to the center mounted speedo. It's too easy for my wife to see. :smile:

 

I was busted by my wife as well..
I told here it only looked like I was 20 mph over the limit because of the angle she was sitting at (not sure if she bought that or not)

 

My wife keeps her eye's closed

 

I have a fix-
Change all of the speed readings to metric-get the european face dial!
I think there are japanese sites that have have replacement parts for this in various colors.

Nobody in the US can read km/hour correctly so your wife will be thoroughly misled just motor at 200km/hr.

_________________
ALOHA

 

We just got a handheld GPS and my wife got to see for herself that the speedo is optomistic. Speedo reads 75 - actual speed is closer to 69 or 70. Now she feels more comfortable when the speedo reads higher than the speed limit.

 

What, do you have small wheels or something?

 

jstines,
I've noticed the same thing, so I think you are right about the peripheral vision thing. Any eye docs out there to confirm our observations???? Also my husband was busted by Grandma the other day. If hubby is driving & Grandma is along, I sit in the back seat. Needless to say he hit about 95 in Louie & she caught him She hasn't stopped talking about it since.
Happy Motoring
Lois

 

Also to note, a lot of people drive with one hand on top of the wheel when cruising, like me, this means in order to see the speedo you have to move your arm, I like the center location

 

I almost ran out of gas the other day because the gauge was in the middle of the dash. I'm used to there being a big, red, bright light on my gauges. I bet I'll get used to it though, I've only had the Mini for a month or so.

 

The only time I look at the speedo is when the detector goes off. My wife complains some about the speed. Usually complaining that if I can't drive any faster that she would be glade to take over. (in our other car she has been clocked over 145mph on two occasions. She is always in a rush

Motor on

 

>>I almost ran out of gas the other day because the gauge was in the middle of the dash. I'm used to there being a big, red, bright light on my gauges. I bet I'll get used to it though, I've only had the Mini for a month or so.

I've also almost ran out of gas because the gas guage is out of site and out of mind in the center. But, I've been advised that you can have the dealer enable a low fuel audible warning tone. I'm planning on having that done.

 

Good observation and I agree!

 

and that is why i ordered the nav
with nav = she quiet
without nav = she says "pull over and ask for directions" or "slow down, we are speeding "

with nav = she quiet
without nav = she says "pull over and ask for directions" or "slow down, we are speeding "

yep true story and I am stickn with it.

_________________
MC Chili Red with everything Arrived Mar 9, 2003 - package #1, #2, #3, Sport plus, Chrome, Parking Alert, Auto Wipers, Xenon, NAV, CVT, Kleido Red Cloth, NAV, HK Cassette and CHA-s634.

 

They always said the speedo was a throwback to the rally days, but I suspect it is also just plain easier for conversion between rt-hand and lft-hand drive. Flip the glovebox for the steering module and you're in business. Personally, I love the center speedo! It does take a little adjustment but that happens quickly. Nice idea on the low- fuel tone I may look into that someday, just for fun. More cool gadgets!!! The MINI interior is simple a blast to drive in!!!

 

LouiefromStLou wrote:

Well as a matter of fact... :smile:

 

I hardly ever look at the speedo, I pay more attention to the tachometer, the stick and the sound of the engine. If I look over at the speedo, its to see how close I've guessed at how fast I am going, or I just noticed a cop with radar.

 

I like the big center oversized speedo.

Most of the time I just close my eyes and use the "Force"

 

>>I've discovered a HUGE downside to the center mounted speedo. It's too easy for my wife to see. :smile:

Agreed! And the critters in the back seat!

 

>>I hardly ever look at the speedo, I pay more attention to the tachometer, the stick and the sound of the engine.

sound of the engine...eh? I can't hear that over my cranked sound system!

 

>>I've discovered a HUGE downside to the center mounted speedo. It's too easy for my wife to see. :smile:


My experience has been the same

 

>>I've discovered a HUGE downside to the center mounted speedo. It's too easy for my wife to see<<

THE IRONIC SPEEDOMETER:


People (read: boyfriend) get into car.

Notice GIANT FREAKING SPEEDO right off.

Make comment about GIANT FREAKING SPEEDO being.. well... giant. And in the middle.

Begin motoring.

People (read: boyfriend) proceed to obsessively mention rate of speed as though driver cannot see the speedo....

 

I think that this may have to do with the concentration of rod cells, which are sensitive to b/w and are located around the periphery of the center of the retina, or the area of what's called the fovea. I would think movement to be tracked more readily by the rods, as opposed to the cone cells, conentrated at the fovea, and which give us the ability to discern colors.

You can try this at night with a clear sky. Only the faintest stars can we detect only by looking directly to the right or left, and they may not even be visible looking directly at them.