Hi all,
I have a Mini on order with the chrono pak but have been rethinking since reading some of the posts on the visibility of the tach/speedo. I am 6' 1" and like to sit tall in a car with the steering wheel axis aligned just below my shoulders. If the tach/speedo are blocked even partially in that position I think I would prefer to just have the tach by itself unobstructed. Yes, I know the best answer is to sit in a car and try for myself, but I am 250 miles from the nearest dealer (see my first gear post) and would like to hear from folks who have lived with the chrono pak for awhile.

Thanks,
Guy

 

I'm 6' and like to sit rather straight/upright in the drivers seat. I also have the crono-pack. In order to get a comfortable arm length and grip on the wheel I have the wheel set rather low: this blocks between ~10:00 & ~11:00 on tach and ~1:00 & ~2:00 on the speedo. It's a little anoying, but how often are REALLY looking at the gauges?

I can see the important part of the tach I know where 65 is on the speedo so it really isn't a problem. Bottom line, traditional or not, I really couldn't stand the speedo being in the middle of the dash.... but, THAT, is just my personal taste.

 

Is it too late to cancel the chrono pack?

I personally despise it. Not only does it look bad, it causes the tach/speedo to be obscured like you mentioned.

If you're concerned about the center speedometer, dont be. After driving with it for a while it becomes normal. You'll eventually find yourself liking it.

 

I am 6'2" and MIB doesn't have the chrono pack. The top of my tach is partially obscurred. I can still see the 4K mark on the tach but it is a touch shorter than the others.

 

Would you guys say this is just an issue if you're over 6'? I'm 5'10 and my fiancee is 5'5 (she'll be driving it much more often). Will she have any problem viewing the speedo?

I'll have to ask her if she paid attention to that during the test-drive. Too late, anyway; our MCS is in production.

 

i'm 6 ft and i really like the chrono pack, never have had a problem looking at my speedo or my tack..

 

5'11" here and I have the Chrono pack because I found it distracting to look to the center console when I took my initial test drive. The speedo is a little obscured around the 80 mph mark but not unbearably so. I don't regret getting the pack at all. I feel safer only having to glace down quickly instead of glancing over to the side.

That said, rumor has it you can have a digital readout of your speed on the tach if you don't have the gauge pack.

 

I'm 6'4" and have no problems with the speedo and tach on my MCS with the Chrono pack. At first I couldn't see part of them, but I just tilted the steering wheel up a bit and no problems since.

 

I'm 6'1" and I have the chrono pack. I'm glad I ordered it, and I've never had any problems seeing the tach or the speedometer. There are three basic things that come into play when talking about being able to see the tach/speedo through the steering wheel: torso length, seat height, and steering wheel height. If you are absolutely inflexible as to seat and steering wheel height, than my might want to consider not getting it. I always have my steering wheel all the way up since that is the way it is when autocrossing (easier to left foot brake), and with the seat up or down, I can see it fine. On the very rare occasions I move the stering wheel down a little bit, the top of the tach may be obstructed slightly, but not so much that I really notice or care about.

-Keith

 

I'm 6'2 and have no problems seeing my gauges and I believe my wheel is either all the way or almost all the way up.

 

Your fiancee will probably have an obstucted view of the speedo... it's not just an issue for those over 6'. I'm 5'2", and can't see the whole thing, either. Does it bother me? No way - my MINI is perfect! On my previous MINI, the speedo was in the center. That was cool, too, but I wanted the additional gauges. I like to know what's going on in the car.

 

and the tops of the dials are clipped a bit. I think that's just the way it is!

But whatever, it's not that big a deal. You'll find that once you're well accostomed to the car, you know the speed and RPM by the sound and feel, and only look at the stuff when I light comes on.

Matt

 

I'm 6'7 (yes I'm that tall). I found the tach alone obstructed by the wheel, so it was the Chrono pack for me. Now I can see both Tach and Speedo. All my collegues and friends think I'm nuts, but so far as I'm concerned, its a 2 seater for My wife and I. Michael

 

I am 6' 3" (have the chrono pack and think it looks great, opinion not fact) and have no issues seeing it at any setting for the wheel. I have set the seat more upright for auto-x and can see the speedo fine, I have it set for regular driving and see it just fine....

KRGMini05- sorry you think it looks bad but that is your opinion as you stated and no it does not block the tack and speedo.... heck I have a boost gauge to the left of the tach and can see 75% of it. How on earth is it obscured? (if you hate it so much I take it you don't have one so I am curious about your knowledge)... sorry I get fired up when people make statements that they feel are fact when in fact they are opinions.... ok I am off my soapbox...

Go with your first instinct (the way you orderd it and don't second guess yourself!)

 

Well, right now I think I am leaning towards deleting the chrono pak, primarily because I don't want to have to adjust my driving position around my view of gauges. I like having engine gauges but I think I can live without them on this car. If I was getting an "S" I would be much more concerned with monitoring the engine temps. I think I can live with the digital speedo readout in the tach and ignore the center mounted speedo. The next question is whether to order the onboard computer I lose when I don't have the chrono pak. I REALLY like having an outside temp display but don't care about any of the other features. Thanks for all your responses.
Guy

 

I'm 6'0" with Chrono and am pleased with my choice both for looks and information. The top fifth or sixth of the speed and tach needles are covered by the wheel (the wheel is aimed at my sternum) and I don't read numbers anyway... the position of the needles tell the tale.

If you have time to read numbers... you're not driving fast enough.

I've got the CR dash also... WOW, looks great when it's all lit up at dusk.

CB

 

Actually without the OBC or Chrono pack, I believe the display on the tachometer toggles between current speed and outside temp, no need to get the OBC if you want outside temp (someone correct me if I'm wrong, my '05 owner's manual and the dealer brochuse both show this to be the case)

 

mineon,
Very cool! Thanks

Guy

 

Personally I think the large speedometer without the crono give the car such a great retro look. I get comments from people all the time about how much they like it.

 

I'm confused - the tach will be behind the wheel no matter where the speedo is so I don't really see much of a difference if you get the chrono pack or not?

Good luck with whichever you get though

PS: I have the nav and prefer having the tach and speedo together just functionality-wise (its esp handy if you have a "back seat driver" and don't need them seeing your speeds