What I would like to see....

[CJ]

Our Accord has continuously lit gauges.  I sort of like it.

[Cookie Monster]

Our Accord has continuously lit gauges.  I sort of like it.

Why? It's pointless in the daytime because it's not going to make a difference in visibility of the gauges so what's the point?

[MX793]

Why? It's pointless in the daytime because it's not going to make a difference in visibility of the gauges so what's the point?

It's a gimmick.  They look pretty neat, especially if they're the type that "black-out" and turn to just a blank, black dial when the car is off.  Also, it allows for the introduction of color to the gauges during daylight hours.  Most non-electroluminescent gauges are either white numbers on black or black numbers on white during the day, and at night they light up with some color (white, green, red, blue, whatever).  Electroluminescent gauges can be displayed with color all the time.

[Vinsanity]

Our Accord has continuously lit gauges.  I sort of like it.

the TL was the same way; it really didn't make much of a difference, but I like how it looks

[CALL_911]

Why? It's pointless in the daytime because it's not going to make a difference in visibility of the gauges so what's the point?

I like them, because they look cool.

[Tave]

You lost me once you ditched the straight-6.

[Soup DeVille]

I like them, because they look cool.

That effect tends to diminish over time (people used to go nuts over digital displays too). After the novelty wears off, the functional problem remains.

[Cookie Monster]

It's a gimmick.  They look pretty neat, especially if they're the type that "black-out" and turn to just a blank, black dial when the car is off.  Also, it allows for the introduction of color to the gauges during daylight hours.  Most non-electroluminescent gauges are either white numbers on black or black numbers on white during the day, and at night they light up with some color (white, green, red, blue, whatever).  Electroluminescent gauges can be displayed with color all the time.

I'd like my gauges to be simple and easy to read. That's all I need them for, not to have some fancy pants color dials.

[CJ]

My car has gauges that are easy to read, but so does the Accord.

[mojammer]

In europe they pretty much have the type of car I would like to see.  On BMW of UK I built a 120i 3 door with the sport suspension and thats it, for 20,400 pounds, which translates to somewhere less than US$25,000. 

I guess I didn't really think it through when I made the first post.  Why don't the european premium brands sell these cars in the US?

[AltinD]

In europe they pretty much have the type of car I would like to see.  On BMW of UK I built a 120i 3 door with the sport suspension and thats it, for 20,400 pounds, which translates to somewhere less than US$25,000. 

I guess I didn't really think it through when I made the first post.  Why don't the european premium brands sell these cars in the US?

Sorry to disappoint you but 20,400 GBR is equal to more then $40,000

BTW, speaking of backlit, in my new Passat only the needles are backlit in red even when the headlights are off, the instruments are not.

[the Teuton]

Sorry to disappoint you but 20,400 GBR is equal to more then $40,000

BTW, speaking of backlit, in my new Passat only the needles are backlit in red even when the headlights are off, the instruments are not.

The whole exchange rate argument is nonsense.  Car manufacturers don't really use perfect exchange rates to sell cars overseas.

I'd venture to say that $25k is about right for something like that.

[Raza]

Sorry to disappoint you but 20,400 GBR is equal to more then $40,000

BTW, speaking of backlit, in my new Passat only the needles are backlit in red even when the headlights are off, the instruments are not.

He's talking about market dollars.  50K GBP is about 70-75K USD in market dollars.  20K GBP is about 25K USD in market dollars.  He's about right.

[AltinD]

^^ What market dollars RAZA? Exchange rates are exchange rate ... or he should have clearly said that if BMW had to sell that model in USA it should probably price the car at around $25k

[the Teuton]

^^ What market dollars RAZA? Exchange rates are exchange rate ... or he should have clearly said that if BMW had to sell that model in USA it should probably price the car at around $25k

The latter.

Exchange rate is useless when it comes to seeing what a car would sell for here.

[omicron]

The latter.

Exchange rate is useless when it comes to seeing what a car would sell for here.

Exchange rate conversions just make Omi sad when he sees his $55k Commodore SS-V being sold for $30k in the US.

[Raza]

^^ What market dollars RAZA? Exchange rates are exchange rate ... or he should have clearly said that if BMW had to sell that model in USA it should probably price the car at around $25k

Market dollars is my term for what a car would sell for in different markets, and is far more relevant than exchange rates.  If that were true, an S550 would sell for 40K GBP in England.