Speedometer Lighting

[slow3v]

Yeah the '13 cluster looks like a god awful rental car atrocity.

[BetaDnB]

The font is exactly the same and there is no wider spacing. The only differences are the removal of every other 10 mph and the H and E are now red on the center gauges. The MPH is a little bigger on the speed and to the right and where it says RPM on the odo, that's a little bigger and laid out slightly differently.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

The font is exactly the same and there is no wider spacing. The only differences are the removal of every other 10 mph and the H and E are now red on the center gauges. The MPH is a little bigger on the speed and to the right and where it says RPM on the odo, that's a little bigger and laid out slightly differently.

The removal of the indicators at a 10 mph interval makes the cluster seem empty and harder to read at a glance, even if the font was the same. It just looks to go with the whole general theme of all or nothing changes they made to the options matrix for the 2013s.

[BetaDnB]

Originally Posted by suss6052

The removal of the indicators at a 10 mph interval makes the cluster seem empty and harder to read at a glance, even if the font was the same. It just looks to go with the whole general theme of all or nothing changes they made to the options matrix for the 2013s.

While I was reading this, before I even got to the part about the Matrix, I was starting to think about the Corolla. It's actually more reminiscent of my 2000 Protege, except that had a hash mark at every 2 mph after the empty space between 0 and 10.

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by suss6052

No, not from what I've been told or what I've seen, they changed the number spacing for some unexplained reason. Its got wider spacing between numbers but it doesn't appear to be better to me.

Instead of marking off every 10 mph it only marks numerically at 20 mph intervals.

2012 Ford Focus gauges.



2013 Focus gauges, not showing every 10 mph increment anymore

i recently test drove a '13 focus and i can def say the speedo is easier to read at a quick glance.. The numbers are spaced a bit farther apart and this makes it seem ' cleaner' and the numerals more prominent compared to my '12 focus

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by cobie56

i recently test drove a '13 focus and i can def say the speedo is easier to read at a quick glance.. The numbers are spaced a bit farther apart and this makes it seem ' cleaner' and the numerals more prominent compared to my '12 focus

The tick marks and the numbers are in the exact same place, but because they removed the indications at the 10 mph marks it appears less visually cluttered perhaps, but I don't believe that it appears to be better or easier to read briefly, but then again I didn't have the feeling of information overload before that some people may experience.

It makes it seem worse to me, but then again a lot of the things they did for 2013 made the car a worse proposition as it was all or nothing in terms of features and options. They added alloy wheels to the base SE but removed the fog lamps or rear disk brakes, the only way to get rear disk brakes on a hatch requires the premium package and black leather seats (the luxurious and premium looking stone leather is completely gone, same with the SEL pattern cloth seats which were far nicer to look at and feel than the SE cloth seats in my opinion.)

[TboneZX3]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

The only differences are the removal of every other 10 mph and the H and E are now red on the center gauges. The MPH is a little bigger on the speed and to the right and where it says RPM on the odo, that's a little bigger and laid out slightly differently.

The font size was increased for F, E, H and C on the fuel and temp gauges also.

I don't see any improvements here either. I suppose that the tach and speedo "match" each other a bit better, but overall I think the new look has been "cheapened". I guess I'll rack it up as another of the many reasons I'm glad I bought a job 2 2012.

Back on topic--I've never had issues reading the gauges regardless of lighting conditions but, like Elizabeth, I do find the glare off the metallic trim on the steering wheel annoying at times.

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by suss6052

The tick marks and the numbers are in the exact same place, but because they removed the indications at the 10 mph marks it appears less visually cluttered perhaps, but I don't believe that it appears to be better or easier to read briefly, but then again I didn't have the feeling of information overload before that some people may experience.

It makes it seem worse to me, but then again a lot of the things they did for 2013 made the car a worse proposition as it was all or nothing in terms of features and options. They added alloy wheels to the base SE but removed the fog lamps or rear disk brakes, the only way to get rear disk brakes on a hatch requires the premium package and black leather seats (the luxurious and premium looking stone leather is completely gone, same with the SEL pattern cloth seats which were far nicer to look at and feel than the SE cloth seats in my opinion.)

Perhaps you're correct and that the numerals are no larger but eliminating the 'incremental' numbers , to me, makes it easier to read at a quick glance. I do wish tho, that the kilometers were in a different colour. Those of us w/ mph speedos who drive out of country often would find it easier when to read the kph if they were'nt blue (and no red , that would be even worse than blue).

[BetaDnB]

I can honestly say I don't have a problem with kph either. I make frequent trips to see my Canadian friends.

edit: LOL see what's on my face? As has been mentioned in this thread, some people should look into it. I thought my vision was just fine until I had it checked.

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

I can honestly say I don't have a problem with kph either. I make frequent trips to see my Canadian friends.

edit: LOL see what's on my face? As has been mentioned in this thread, some people should look into it. I thought my vision was just fine until I had it checked.

aside from the colour of the lettering under certain lighting, the kph numerals are too squished together.