Is the center dash hard to get used to. I want to trade my 05 tC in for 08 xB, but I just can't seem to like the center gauge dash. I really think the gauge cluster should be right in front of the driver. Plus SCION PLEASE bring back the old speedodometer and get rid of the digital.


Thansk, jjp

 

I personally love the center dash and the digital gauges. it is obviously easy to read and it stands out. You will get used to it, it is not a big issue when it comes to the other great options with the xB2. But that is again my personal opinion I suggest you go test drive one and make you own opinions.

 

Thanks Scikowife,
I did test drive one last week and just love it. I just wasn't sure if the center cluster is easy to get used to.

 

I found it pretty easy to get used to on my test drive. Having the LCD readout is a lot easier than on the xB1, plus everything else is a lot bigger.

 

I especially like the temp gauge instead of that blue dummy light

 

The centered gauge cluster is easy to get used to. It actually keeps your eyes more up and on the road rather than looking down at the gauges, which takes your eyes completely off the road for a second or so. The digital speedo is VERY easy to read. It makes monitoring your speed very simple, quick, and to the point. The only thing I don't like is the F***ing puke orange that Toyota uses as their gauge color. While the radio can change colors, the rest of the gauges stay puke orange, which makes the radio stick out like a sore thumb. I have been instructed by my wife that I am not allowed to pull the entire dash apart in order to change the LEDs to a different color.
She says she likes the puke orange.

 

OK Speaking of the dash. Can someone tell me whe that green lightbulb light is for on the dash. i have seen it lit up in pics and i posted this question in other topics and no one has answered me. i am just curious. usually a light like that is for Daytime Runners or Fogs. i kinda need to know for some odd reason.

 

It is the headlight indicator light. Just lets you know your headlights are on

 

My opinion on the dash.

Because it is in the center I actually don't use it that much. I turned on the cruise and it took me about 2 minutes to find the light that says it's on because it feels like it is on the other side of the car, which it is. Also, the digital speedo is super easy to read, but sometimes the action of it in the corner of my eye makes me think a warning light or something is going off. I might get used to that.

With all that said, it is no big deal. it is a nice set and really not in the way. Like I said I actually find myself not using it to often and is not quite as easy to glance at as if it were in front of you, but really what else do you need besides the speedo on a regular basis. It is a novelty and works well. I think the one thing they could have done better is put the display button within easy reach of the driver

BTW- with the speedo everyone in your car will always know how fast you are going

 

that is a pro and a con.

I can tell how fast my husband is driving, when he is driving.
But on the other hand, he can see what I am doing when I am driving.

we are constantly reminding each other of the speed limit. lol

 

I would rather have a standard speedometer.

 

I want a digital one that looks like the real thing. A cool LCD monitor Speedo and Tach.

Don't get any ideas either I'm patenting that idea.

 

GM did this in the 80's. There were a couple of Buicks that had it for sure (I think the Caprice in the 90's too). They went back to standard analog guages after a few years (warranty repairs).

 

Good luck patenting the idea seeing as how it is incorporated in MANY tuner programs for full ECMs.
I have something similar for RPMs, Lambda data (O2), temp, etc. that I've played with off of an OBD pigtail that plugs directly into ALDL ports. Many sorts of dataloggers can be set to give you realtime outputs of this nature very easily.

 

This is the Buick one. The Caprice just had a digital speedo. Like the xB2. But Buick had the virtual analog LCDs. Totally awesome.

 

that would be cool in the box

 

I know this was a V6 Buick Coupe, but I just can't put a name to it. It wasn't the Riviera was it?

 

At the price point of the xB2, it's amazing that it even has that LCD speedo and info center thing to the left of it.

Hopefully manufacturers will just start slapping in a single full-color LCD screen as the main display unit instead of multiple, mechanical and/or digital units. Then it would be possible for the user to set the display for virtual analog type gauges, just digital (numerical) or any combination depending upon individual prefereneces. The display could double as a nav unit, night vision display, back-up camera display, etc, etc, the list goes on and on.

Honestly, I can't believe we don't have this already. We had better dash instruments in the 80s! The only one that I know of that comes close to this is the S-Class Benz.
Automotive manufacturers are adverse to changes and risk. It took Scion to be bold enough to do the xB2 dash as a partial digital setup.

 

I'm not sure but think it's the Reatta. The Riviera had a center-mounted B&W CRT. The Reatta and Allante (which I think had its own LCD stuff) were shortened versions of the E platform (Eldo,Toro, Riv).

 

compared to the gen 1 xB, this new gauge setup is light years better. especially the temp gauge, instead of the idiot lights on the old. the only thing i didn't like was that the cruise light (in green) wasn't bright enough to easily see in daylight. but that's small gripe. i'm used to reading my speed in digital off the bottom of my garmin unit anyway, so i prefer the digital.