Recent Comments:
Engadget HD giveaway: win a 3x1 HDMI switch and HDMI cables! {Engadget HD}
Apr 30th 2009 11:14AM Entered
2008 Autoblog Holiday Sweepstakes - Day 7: DashDAQ Series II {Autoblog}
Dec 23rd 2008 4:18PM I'll take one!
2008 Autoblog Holiday Sweepstakes - Day 6: TomTom XL330S {Autoblog}
Dec 22nd 2008 4:36PM Count me in.
Ford releases full dash pic of 2010 Mustang {Autoblog}
Oct 8th 2008 9:03PM Regarding adding extra gauges: been there (am there!), done that. But it begs the question: why should I add gauges that are essentially duplicates of what is already in the dash, simply because some marketing moron ASSumes that Mustang drivers won't know what it all means?
I'm tired of cars being designed for the LCD.
Ford releases full dash pic of 2010 Mustang {Autoblog}
Oct 8th 2008 5:38PM Eh, ok. Not all that impressive. But I will amend this comment if Ford will use real oil press and water temp gauges. With numerical markings (L and H just doesn't cut it). No more idiot gauges, please.
Noted that the new Camaro appears to have real gauges, though the center stack is not the most ideal place for them.
Philips LCDs better than Kuro plasmas...at least according to Philips {Engadget HD}
Sep 2nd 2008 10:19AM Every vendor fudges the contrast numbers, either with questionable measurements or funky 'active' contrast management. What is needed is an objective test that all vendors use.
But it's all moot as nothing completes with plasma viewing angles (except, perhaps a CRT). If more than a few people are crowding around to watch a show, plasma wins.
Saleen makes new value-oriented Racecraft brand official {Autoblog}
Jul 4th 2008 10:56PM Hmmm. This has the potential to be what SVT used to be - that is until Ford essentially abandoned the marque (and it's cutomer/dealer base) with an overpriced/overweight Shelby Cobra.
Useless Pontiac G8 auxiliary gauges going away for 2009 {Autoblog}
Jun 12th 2008 9:32PM 4agze:
Sorry to say your Mustang gauges are fake. Oil press gauge is just a switch that puts the gauge at 3/4 scale with pressure above 5 psi. Water temp is so heavily damped as to be useless. Ford's been doing that for years - as is on my '01 Cobra. Yet, the GT(40) oil press gauge is actually real, so I know they could do it right if we insist on it.
What I don't get is that this isn't even about cost. It costs the same for a fake gauge vs a real one. I would rather there be no gauge than to lie to the driver.
Useless Pontiac G8 auxiliary gauges going away for 2009 {Autoblog}
Jun 12th 2008 6:56PM To say that oil press is useless is wrong. I would love SOMEBODY to put in readable, real analog gauges in the cluster where it belongs. Oil press and water temps at the minimum, and they must have numerical markings (not just L and H - useless).
Another option, though less usable: A nav display that can be set up to display real time oil press and other engine data, a la Nissan's GT-R.
Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 {Autoblog}
Jun 9th 2008 11:32AM Ford gave us the live axle for two reasons: 1) it's cheap and 2) there was no competition. All the fluff BS that came from Ford about how the handling gains were not worth the cost, blah, blah is just about Ford de-contenting themselves out of business.
While item 1 still applies, competition is fast approaching. Even the Koreans are getting into the act. I say, bring it all on. It will only drive Ford to make the Mustang better, because they clearly won't do it on their own.
The IRS in the '99-04 Cobras was a first step, a band-aid to an old chassis. A proper IRS fitted to a stiff, modern chassis would be light years ahead. The drag racers didn't like the IRS primarily due to extreme axle hop. But they have a fairly simple solution, whereby those that prefer good handling are stuck with excessive unsprung weight.
The current Mustang has a number of inherent compromises that this fan hopes Ford rectifies with the new model. The live axle is but one of them. The interior basically sucks with a hard to see gauge cluster. It's like looking into a dark tunnel, except of course when the glare washes them out. The temp and oil press gauges are fake anyway, so there's not much point in watching them.
The new Camaro has (what appears to be) real gauges in the center console. That interior looks a bit more friendly as well. I would not buy one ('cause I'm a Mustang guy), but whether or not I replace my 2001 Cobra with a 2010+ Mustang is up to Ford.
C'mon Ford - you KNOW what you need to do. Don't just do a 're-fresh' of the 2010 Mustang - make it better.
