Will We Get To A Point In Auto Tech Where Car Companies Bring Back ANALOG GAUGES As An OPTION? And Do YOU Think It Would Be POPULAR?

I remember seeing the Tesla screen for the first time and thinking to myself WOW, everyone is going to want one in their car someday.

Fast forward to seeing the latest generation Audi A8. My first impression was not holy crap, this thing looks like a 70's Lincoln or Buick. YES, I did think that and also what the hell were they thinking. It's lame.

But the thing that stuck out as the most objectionable to me was OMG, there are TEN screens too many in this car. Holy OVERBOARD. And not GOOD overboard like in the Tesla.

00R will tell you no one digs tech more than me but I'm a former Apple employee and I like my tech simple, yet compelling. Not like the faceplates/interfaces of 70's Japanese component stereo systems.



For me the A8 was just too much and impossible to figure out or know where to focus. I kind of felt that way as well after seeing the new Grand Wagoneer concept interior. More screens than humans should be allowed to have.

And I get WHY they're doing it. They're DESPERATE trying to out Tesla, Tesla.

As a former Apple guy let me give them some advice. You won't beat them with better/more HARDWARE, you can only do it through SOFTWARE.

But back to my theme...Do you think will this nuclear arms race style competition for more screens and tech in cars that somehow a genius in tandem move, would be to offer a great 'Analog Gauge Option'?

And if they started doing this, would people not only GO for it, would the pay EXTRA to have it?

MDarringer - 9/6/2020 4:51:54 PM

+4 Boost

Analog is simply better.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 9/6/2020 4:58:28 PM

+4 Boost

I don't ever want my car ruined or be faced with a big bill if a large LCD screen dies and renders by car undriveable or even worse, unrepairable. I also would not be 6 figures for any car with a tacked on LCD screen behind the steering wheel. If that is not phoning it in as a design effort, I don't know what is.

ricks0me - 9/6/2020 5:06:28 PM

+2 Boost

I am with MD and CC on this.

TomM - 9/6/2020 7:56:40 PM

+2 Boost

My Mother lives in my house - and her telephone line - whose number was originally 0482 (You had to call a town operator first) is still a DIAL PHONE line with an old AT&T Dial phone (No ring tones at all) that has never broken.

However - there does come a time when living in the past is a detriment. The cost of making analog gauges today would be prohibitive - because you still need that information digitally for the rest of the Computer system of the car.
So yes - these Gauges would be EXTRA - and not replace the Screen and sensors so they WOULD COST money to add. ANd those of us old enough to remember - might remember that Speedometer cables could break - as well.(Todays Transmissions do not have a mechanical hook-up for a cable anyway - would they really add one to them) Cars are made by humans and can be made unrepairable today - and the same back then too. THere was a reason why the second seat in English "sports cars" was called the Mechanic's seat.

Fact is- the days of TRUE analog gauges is gone. THEY COULD substitute something that LOOKED like an analog gauge but was really only a Graphic - but WHY?

mre30 - 9/7/2020 9:31:38 AM

0 Boost

If I parse what 00R said..he doesn't really have an issue with the LCD/Digital gauge clusters in vehicles for displays, he has an issue with the trend (Audi A8 takes this to an extreme) where the easy usability of a sensible amount of buttons and switches to operate the car, is replaced by haptic touch screeens which are really hard to operate while driving a car.

I agree with Tom that gauges won't come back becuase its actually cheaper and simpler to manufacture cars with software and screens and they are more reliable (until they aren't - around the 7 to 10 year mark!).

The BMW and Mercedes, VW Group, and Range Rover digital speedos/tachs are fine substitutes for analog gauges and have the bonus of being configurable for functions such as sat nav etc.

Where things fall apart in on the usability inside the vehicle. BMW has the best balance in my opinion of easy to use in-cabin physical switches and the iDrive user interface. MB is a close second and Land Rover and VW Group are at the bottom.

Honorable mention to Cadillac for its simply terrible haptic touch system.

MDarringer - 9/7/2020 9:34:51 AM

+1 Boost

Dumbshit Tom doesn't realize that cars with analog gauges are already talking digitally in a plethora of modern cars.

TomM - 9/8/2020 4:14:57 PM

+1 Boost

Asshole Matt is making an assumption for which he has NO knowledge about what I know. BUT - the question was not about Digitally driven gauges that look analog - it was about actual ANALOG qauges- it was specifically specified in the title of the thread

MDarringer - 9/8/2020 8:53:14 PM

+1 Boost

Don't have a stroke, old cow.

skytop - 9/7/2020 12:54:50 AM

+1 Boost

No reason to ever go back to analogue gauges since digital technology has advanced so dramatically.
I have a digital dash in my car and I love it. It is precise, accurate and looks fantastic. Also, if I want to change the look or the layout, by pressing a button it can be done.

I remember my 1967 Corvette with the mechanical gauges. The tachometer was a joke. It was so unstable and inaccurate, it was USELESS. The speedometer cable broke twice so my speedo was dead. The ammeter gauge died eventually as well. Very unreliable.
Digital is near perfection and totally reliable.

PUGPROUD - 9/7/2020 8:12:45 AM

0 Boost

Love analog, want it, but it ain't going to happen. Manufacturers follow the herd and the herd is stampeding to an all screen dash on all models for efficiency and to deliver more infotainment formats. I will never sell my GT350R the last of a breed...analog, naturally aspirated, 6 speed manual.