Your thoughts on the digital speedometer

[Sidestreet]

One of the many things that's attracting me to the Sonic is its unusual gage cluster, and its digital speedometer.
My first impression was not wanting the numbers so thin, but maybe I'd get used to it. I had a 1985 Thunderbird with a digital speedometer; I liked it, and it (the speedo) never failed either. (The car's tranny, however... )

I just hope the Sonic's speedo isn't artificially limited to 85 mph. That would be so LAME! I could tolerate a 99 mph limit, but it shouldn't be limited at all.

Oh, BTW: I'm also figuring one good reason the Sonic has a digital speedometer is for an easy, convenient switch between mph and km/h readouts.
Cool!

 

[laborsmith]

I like it also. When I read about, I liked the idea. When I saw the cluster in person at the auto show, I liked it even more. Laborsmith

 

[Screamer4]

I also like it a lot. It's compact, easy to read, and the layout makes sense- which is probably why a lot of motorcycles use a similar layout.

 

[TravsSonic]

i'm agreeing, right along with everyone else on this one. Nice looking speedo

 

[xSoniCx]

Add me to the like group

 

[Memphis]

I hope the speedo tells you how much air is in the cabin. That way when you fart you can see just how powerful it is.-MacGregor

On a serious note, I like it. Its simple and very well laid out. I hope it will show things like boost and engine temp. Those will be helpful!

 

[LorbeerTLC]

Digital speedo - luke warm - miss full set of gauges

Honestly, I'm luke-warm with the motorcycle configuration. I'll have to wait and see it in person before rendering an "official" opinion, but from the pictures it looks like a one-piece assembled unit that sits on top of the steering wheel column. It doesn't even look like it's integrated into the dash at all. Why does that matter? Well, to me it looks cheap. Like a cost saving measure. But that's my first impression, sight unseen.

I like a full set of instruments that are set-deep into the dash. Again, I really need to see it in person.

What I don't like are "idiot" lights. Gone are the Temperature, Oil Pressure, and Voltmeter gauges. They have all been replaced in this car with warning lights and they have had a bad reputation of letting you know when it's too late.

If there are those of you who also like gauges instead of warning lights, all's not lost.
There's a company that's called: "ScanGauge"
ScanGauge - Trip Computer + Digitial Gauges + ScanTools

You just plug it into your OBDII port (usually located under the driver's side dash), and you get your gauges… with the exception of oil pressure

I've got one on my current car & will switch it over to my Sonic as soon as I take delivery.

 

[Screamer4]

I hope the speedo tells you how much air is in the cabin. That way when you fart you can see just how powerful it is.-MacGregor

 

[Fit4Sonic]

I would have preferred the tach where it is, digital info in the center and a cool-looking speedo similar to the tach to the right. I prefer larger, more spread out clusters and analog speedos.

Still, the design is nice... I can more than live with a digi speedo! I've had them before and they're not so bad... even cool in their own way.

As I've stated in another thread, I wish they would have settled on the AVEO RS center dash design. The audio readout was located at the top-center of the dash and actually appeared to be a combination navigation/audio system. The entire center dash surrounding the audio system down to the console was a high-gloss black. I think that would have looked nicer with the techie-looking cluster they're going with. Or maybe even black carbon fiber!!!

But hey, that's what spray paint, clear coat, and carbon fiber interior kits are for!

 

[Sidestreet]

I just hope the Sonic's speedo isn't artificially limited to 85 mph. That would be so LAME! I could tolerate a 99 mph limit, but it shouldn't be limited at all.

* bump *

All right! I'd just like to ask our new owners if they've had their Sonics up over 85 mph, and if so, if the speedometer does or does not "stick" at 85. (Or 99, if you dare.)

 

[SRGilbert]

* bump *

All right! I'd just like to ask our new owners if they've had their Sonics up over 85 mph, and if so, if the speedometer does or does not "stick" at 85. (Or 99, if you dare.)

I'm pretty sure one of our new owners verified that there was indeed a "1" before those digits.

 

[AxelRipper]

Also pretty sure the only reason that a digi speedo would stop at 85 would be because it was made in the 80's when someone in the gov't had the bright idea to mandate that all speedos stopped at 85.

 

[atvman29]

I'm pretty sure one of our new owners verified that there was indeed a "1" before those digits.

I'll have to double check, but I believe there's a two in the hundred position. Also, I havent found the top but I feel like I've had it close to 90 mph. Maybe I'll have to try again...just to make sure

Additionally, when the vehicle is off, you can switch units.

I personally love the cluster. It's integrated quite nicely into the dash as well.

 

[Sonic]

I think it looks fine, and in that video that Atvman shot of him accelerating, you can see it seems functional as well.

 

[SethV]

Speedo Readout

Hi All- I worked on the engineering team for Sonic. I can verify that it will readout into the 100's.

Always drive safely!

 

[piro216]

Hi All- I worked on the engineering team for Sonic. I can verify that it will readout into the 100's.

Always drive safely!

Challenge us then admonish us like that... Shame!

 

[chevyguy]

Speedeeee

I Love the speedometer has that bic look......

 

[Sonic Drivin']

It DOES have a 1 in front...

I safely took mine up to 105


Doug

 

[Sonic]

How was the ride at that speed? How was the engine noise?

 

[MDBob]

There is a review summary on cars.com and one of their cons is that the "steering wheel can obstruct view of unique instrument cluster". Has anyone come across this issue?