glennaa11, yes it's really true. You can read the descriptions of the display functions in the Owner's Manual. There was a recent thread about trying to replace the on-board computer's avg speed display with real-time speed, but it seemed difficult and there was no conclusion.

 

ITs actually the same tach they add a wire and a turn stalk with a button then charge you $200 one of those things MINI peps the car with.

 

Peter-

Gave you a PM on this, check it. I HATE the Chrono Package. Useless piece of crap, and chicks love the speedo in the center. All about making the girls happy

 

Love my chrono pack. The center speedo may be the traditional setup, but I wouldn't want my MINI any other way (than with chrono). I wanted the extra gauges (oil temp and oil pressure) that came with the chrono pack, and really preferred the "normal" setup of the speedo and tach in front of me. Never had a problem not being able to see the two gauges through the wheel. I didn't order many options on my MC< but the chrono pack was one of the few options I had to have.

 

Time to get more gas?

Time to let the engine cool down?

Time to put more oil in the engine?

You need to think outside the box.

 

I think the chrono pack is a lil bit odd-looking. I mean if that were standard, and the center speedo was a $600 option, I still would have gone for the center speedo.

 

I almost got the Chrono Pack, but when I found out that it took away the digital read out of your speed I just couldn't have it anymore. I really like the MINI speedo, but I have had so much trouble with finding the 5 spots. I suppose over time I might be able to adjust and will then be able to locate where 35, 45, 55, 65..etc are on it, but I really like the digital one. I was kind of dissapointed that the smaller speedo they give you when it isn't in the center isn't more detailed to assist the driver with his lack of digital read out.
Also, the center speedo is so very cool for the look and the passengers. "Now when you start to speed I can just tap on it [the center speedo]" -My mom.
I did like the extra dials and the more detailed fuel gauge on the chrono though.

 

I dunno; it just seems to me the Chrono pack devotes a large area of prime dash real estate to secondary functions. Having the speedo there gives importance to the car's purpose -- velocity.

 

Maybe I don't like everyone in the car knowing what speed I am going.....

 

That's the best part, when they're not policing you they see just how fast you're cornering, the car grips so well that the # is half the sacre G-forces being the rest

 

My wife's MINI has the standard gauge package (big speedo) and after living with it for 6 months, I made sure to order mine with the chrono package - to each his own. Obviously, there are no bright sunny days in Jolly Ol' England as the designers would have observed that the wonderful reddish LCD totally washes out in bright sunny conditions (especially when one wears sun glasses). I prefer the tach AND the speedo right in front of me rather than out of my line of sight to the right. I guess that is why MINI offers a chrono package, so everyone can customize their MINI to the hearts content.

 

I chose the 2006 Checkmate JCW with chrono and lots o'chrome just to **** people off on this board. Hey, if you go with something other than a Cooper with chili/white with no sunroof and 15" holies you are bound to upset people somewhere.

I also like lots of shiny gauges.

 

Decided against the chrono pack. Thought the three little guages in that really big centre "chrono" looked cheap, and dumb. (no offence, chrono people - this was my own personal taste). Have never regretted my choice, and don't miss having the speedo above the wheel, since the digital readout does just fine.

 

Not if you want, much less need, to know what your engine is doing. I have the center speedo now & it is basically a clock as far as I am concerned, the only time I look at it is to see the time.

For speed I use the digital readout on the center tach.

I will either add a Chrono or more custom guages in the near future.

Just had a little intake gasket problem on my tahoe and if it were not for the guages it has I would not have known of the temperature spike it had for about 4 seconds. I would have just seen a dummy light flash & go back off & kept driving, and had a good chance of burning the engine up from not having enough information.

I just like knowing what the car is doing at all times even if it seems to be running great. I don't like just waiting & depending on a dummy light to flash & go back out leaving me clueless as to why it came on in the first place.

Chrono or no Chrono, Guages are a good thing to have, you just have to be smart enough to read them!

 

I'm gonna have to give a "yes" vote for the Chrono Pack.
- I get my speedo & tach within easy view - the steering wheel rim has never been in the way.
- I get a full set of gauges, minus a boost gauge.
- Plus, I think it makes the instrument panel look complete.

To each his/her own.

 

dont mean to be a beeyatch... but you cannot upgrade to the OEM chrono pack with the dealership..... sorry

(I asked when I got my chrono, I wanted to get rid of it...)

 

--I really like my chrono pack. At the same time I don't hate the OEM setup. I think people who have it like the uniqueness of it. It's all good. I know some people who just got the tach to put in front of the steering wheel and that works too.

I do like the looks of the two gauges in front of my steering wheel tho. I think it makes the car feel more sporty. It's not a perfect setup (a little obstructed by steering wheel) but it works pretty good. I put chrome everywhere so people notice the shiny faces of my gauges as soon as they enter the car and there's a lot of "oohs and ahhs". But I've never gotten a negative comment on the layout. Check my gallery for pics of my interior. The alloy patina and the chrome brings it all together with the given interior.

I say cheers to both flavors. More power to everyone for their freedom to choose and customize.

~pyratio

 

I can definitely appreciate the aesthetics of the center speedo, but I really wish I wound up with the Chrono or NAV. As other chron-ies have stated, I have to turn my head slightly to get a general idea of my current speed (+/- 3-5 mph) with the center speedo so I pretty much use it as a really huge ornamental clock and trip odometer and rely on the digital mph readout on the tach. There are definitely sometimes when no one else in the car needs to know how fast we're travelling either. The larger guages would be welcome as well.

It sucks that they kill the constant digital mph display w/ chrono though.