Speedometer Lighting

[pkdog]

I am about to order a Titanium but my pet peeve is having a speedometer that doesn't stand out in daytime. Does the speedometer on the Titanium have sufficient lighting that it is clearly visible in daytime?

Thanks --

[Sponsor]

[blackraven456]

It's white with a blue dial....stood out fine to me. My only peeve is that you can't change the instrument lights to match the ambient lighting at night.

[feta_mgp]

never had any issues with vision during the day, even with the sun in my eyes. the instrument panel is sufficiently covered to shade the gauges.

[Dgc333]

The back ground is black and the numbers, scale and pointer are back lite. I find it quite bright and visible day or night.

[pkdog]

Sounds perfect, especially with back-lighting.

Thanks again --

[cobie56]

Imo ford did a poor job with the guages. They are not as well designed as they should be. Ford should consult vw to see how it should b done. Te binnacle should be rounder and higher as tall drivers have difficulty seeing it well. Also the guages should b angled up toward the driver more

[nateyo]

Visible, yes. Easy to read, not really. I like the gauge design but it's hard to glance down and realize exactly what speed you're doing when you first get the car. It's got some increments in BIG numbers and other in smaller ones and the km/h like almost inbetween so it's just kind of a pain sometimes. I've had the car for a week and a got a ticket yesterday doing 50 in a 35 (I'm coming from a 1996 stang with like no power and an automatic transmission, so that was part of the problem). It's surprisingly easy to go fast in this car and not realize it. Maybe that's just me, but yea it could be better.

[Elizabeth]

One of the first things i noted with the 2012 Focus is the speedo is small.
The space it is in could accomodate a larger dial for the readout. The MPH numbers are small and then tiny. the k even MORE shrivelled up.. Poor Canucks!.. and it is a hard thing to read.
Then MY big gripe is the aluminum trim on the steering wheel reflects sunlight, so right where i want to see the speedo, just below is this bright flash blinding me some.. making it even harder to read the speedo numbers.
I got used to the twenty MPH gap in speedo numbers from driving my SVT Contour for 12 years. So I am rapidly adapting to the Focus speedo.
Just i agree they could have done a little adjusting of the setup (which is nice enough) to make it better.
I plan on killing the reflective steering wheel trim with some acrylic paint (so it will come off OK if i change my mind, or decide on some other way to lessen the reflectiveness of the steering wheel trim.)
My SVT speedo was white, the one issue is twilight. At which point the speedo was basically invisible. The white face and the green lit-up numbers were the same intensity. So one could read NOTHING. that was only at dusk or dawn.. Otherwise the white speedo with dark numbers in day, lit night, was great.
The Focus Tach is perfect. Too bad the Speedo MPH numbers are NOT as good.
The steering wheel in itself is great. all around good job, 'cept those pesky reflections off the trim.

[hotleadsingerguy]

Originally Posted by cobie56

Imo ford did a poor job with the guages. They are not as well designed as they should be. Ford should consult vw to see how it should b done. Te binnacle should be rounder and higher as tall drivers have difficulty seeing it well. Also the guages should b angled up toward the driver more

With the way you write sentences I'm surprised you can read the numbers on the gauges at all.


They're fine. I'm 6'3" and have *no* trouble at all seeing the gauges and reading them all easily. For the people having problems...you realize the steering wheel can be moved, right? There's no reason you should be having trouble reading the gauges at all.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by hotleadsingerguy

With the way you write sentences I'm surprised you can read the numbers on the gauges at all.


They're fine. I'm 6'3" and have *no* trouble at all seeing the gauges and reading them all easily. For the people having problems...you realize the steering wheel can be moved, right? There's no reason you should be having trouble reading the gauges at all.

I LOVE the steering wheel. Small cool as can be. Tons of adjustment. Nice controls on wheel.
Have to say this Focus steering wheel is about as good as it gets.
The only thiing i think might be not so great is the switches on the lower sides seem a bit cheap. IF they hold up to use, then it is great!!!
(The trim glare is just finding the right stuff to dull it. Even if the aluminum were dull, that would be enough. As i mentioned ,I plan on painting the trim with acrylic paint, some clear 'duller' (from artist acrylic will do the job.)