I just saw today that the nice analog speedometer of the RX-7 has been replaced by a small digital readout window on the RX-8. I find digital speedometers extremely annoying. I cant stand the continuous flickering of the speed up and down. I need the instant visual feedback of an arrow. For example, when the arrow is halfway between 0 and 140, I have an excellent idea of my speed without having to know that it is exactly 72.0879. What is the general feeling about analog vs. digital speedometers. I think the trip meter is also digital, so you can't see the odometer and trip values at the same time. Is there a way of getting the nice analog speedometer back?

 

The trip meter will show mileage to the nearest tenth. At the same time either A or B is showing, you'll see the regular odometer showing to the nearest mile. The digital speedo is OK, even though I would probably lean toward an analog type, also.

 

I agree with you but this subject has already been discussed before in at least 2 different threads "...search and you shall find..."

 

i have never owned a car or anything else with a digital speedo but after driving the 8 for a few minutes i like it.i could change my tune later down the road but its a nice change.

 

the digital speedo is the best. i can tell my EXACT speed instantly. and its a nice change from the boring analog.

 

I have owned a 626 and an Chrysler with full digital dashes (they were the rage in the mid-1980s). My 1979 RX-7 and recently sold Miata both had classic analog dashes. Bottom line is that I have spent a substantial number of miles using both.

I have to say that I like the RX-8 combo analog tach and digital speedometer. It takes up less room and helps one focus on using RPMs, not MPHs, for shifting. However, it is true that back in the 1980s I did learn to pretty much ignore the units position of the digital speedometer. I can see that the constant changing would be distracting to a new user. I also don't autocross/race so I can't say how it effects those environments.

My main complaint is the general wasteland of the other two instrument pods. A lot of space for odometer, tripometer, fuel guage, temp gauge and analog oil pressure "idiot light". Plus a large number of randomly positioned icons/word lights most of which I have to look up to remember what three things they could possibly mean.

Don't get me wrong, the entire instrument cluster with tri-mode lighting is truly "way cool". However, I believe the engineers could have been substantially more inovative in working out how to efficiently communicate important "vehicle status" and exception condition information to the driver using the space available in the current three-pod layout.

 

It didn't take long to get the hang of the digital speedo. After a while you can generally tell your speed by what gear you're in and RPM's. I can tell how fast I'm going ( +/- 5mph) by the engine sound and the gear I'm in.

 

Besides there's a nice hysterisis loop built into the 8's speedometer (as with all digital speedos these days) so it doesn't flicker speeds (say you're going 25.5, it doesn't flicker 25 - 26 - 25 - 26...)

It's like owning a digital watch; once you've driven a car with a digital speedo for more than a day it's really hard to go back to analog...

 

Believe it or not, there was a couple of threads earlier of people complaining how the Speedo wasn't refreshing FAST ENOUGH !!!

 

This horse's carcass has been picked clean. I hate it as well for many reasons, but you'll find all of that in a search. Suffice it to say many hate it, many like it, many don't care much either way. No one switched camps the last few times this was discussed.

Rinse and repeat.

 

Mine DOES flicker speeds (67 - 68 - 67 - 68...). I only notice this when the cruise control is on. No one else has this problem?

 

I discovered something neat about the digital dash tonight...

There are two buttons near the top of the gauges, the right one plays with the trip-o-meter, tap to switch between trip A and trip B, hold to reset. I hadn't noticed the A/B thing until just then.

The left one does something cooler... if you hold it for a couple seconds the read outs switch between kilometers and miles (both the speedometer and odometer).

It's probably in the manual, but I it was still fun to find. My previous car didn't have a digital speedometer, so it's been a bit of an adjustment, but I do like it overall.

--SL01

 

Ayep. I can see it now:

"No officer, I didn't know I was speeding. You see, my son borrowed the car yesterday, and he's somehow switched the speedo from mph to km/h. So you're telling me that 100km/h isn't 40 mph?"

 

Well there's one positive benefit of the digital speedo: mph or kmh is very useful for us Brits as we occasionally cross the channel.

 

LOL! Deja Vu! I know a joke similar to that one a while back( i.e. . HERE)

 

Not me. Mine is solid as a rock, esp when I'm on cruise. I'm not an experienced M/T driver, but I have come to rely on the tach (and engine sound, when I can hear it) to shift. I, for one, like the layout.