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Why isn't instrument panel in front of driver?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cmumford, Apr 24, 2009.

  1. cmumford

    cmumford Junior Member

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    Looking at the brochure it looks as if the instrument panel (speedometer/etc.) is in between the driver & passenger maybe 40/60. It looks like instead of just glancing down I'll now have to glance down (albeit not as far) and to the right (quite far) to see the speed at which I'm traveling.


    Is this just an optical illusion from the photograph? Can anyone that's driven the 2010 comment on this?
     
    #1 cmumford, Apr 24, 2009
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It won't be as far as the Yaris or the G1 Prius or the MINI for that matter.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Apr 24, 2009
  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Agreed. IIRC, it's a little further to the right than the G2 Prius though but it's wasn't bothersome from my 2 drives of G3 Prius.
     
    #3 cwerdna, Apr 24, 2009
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    The speedo is almost right in front of the driver. I would say the left edge of the speedo is right under a line from the centre of the seat parallel to the centre line of the car.

    Yes I have sat in the drivers seat of the new 2010 and saw this for myself back in January 2009.
    The MID is closer to your line of sight than the MFD in the current Gen II Prius.
     
    #4 patsparks, Apr 24, 2009
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  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    The speedo is in about the same position as in the Gen II Prius. More information has been added to the right of the speedo (the MID).

    The trend in modern automobiles is to move instrumentation out from behind the steering wheel and up closer to the line of sight. High and near the center is now considered the best location. "Glancing down" is a bad thing. Many people like doing it because they are accustomed to that location, but it is really better to keep your eyes up.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Apr 24, 2009
  6. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    And on a long focus
     
    #6 patsparks, Apr 24, 2009
  7. randyb359

    randyb359 Member

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    Especially as you get older it gets harder to adjust focus
     
    #7 randyb359, Apr 24, 2009
  8. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Don't I know that!
     
    #8 patsparks, Apr 24, 2009
  9. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Wait a minute. I need to sit back farther from my monitor.

    Tom
     
    #9 qbee42, Apr 24, 2009
  10. Jared

    Jared Member

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    I now find that I am so used to the large digital speedometer that I can barely read a conventional one with a dial behind the steering wheel. My eyes are getting worse...
     
    #10 Jared, Apr 24, 2009
  11. yardman 49

    yardman 49 Active Member

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    2015 Prius: "Full Autodrive" option when you get the "Navigation" package. Then we won't need to watch the road or the dash!
     
    #11 yardman 49, Apr 24, 2009
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