GM gauges can be a little cookie cutter. This isn't necessarily bad, as they are clear and easy to read, but they tend not to be the most visually interesting dials in the world. The Aura's on the other hand, are very cool, much more so than this picture suggests. I especially like how the turn signals appear out of nowhere in the speedo's center checkered area...
In the above high-quality video directed by Martin Scorsese, take special note of the Aura's speedo near the end. Although I was in park and definitely not moving, the speedo blips up to 10 mph twice. Very weird, I'll keep looking for it in the future.
James Riswick, Associate Editor
estreka says:
03:24 PM, 08/ 6/07
Oh, how I love these Scorsese shorts. I commend Saturn for going red and orange in a world of blue guages. How's the visibility? I can't see the whole fuel guage and the tach.
7driver says:
03:48 PM, 08/ 6/07
Can you please tell the next person to take out the 308GTSi to rev it to redline while doing the same Scorsese trick? Thanks.
bimmerjay says:
05:16 PM, 08/ 6/07
Kind of cool how the backlighting fades on too.
jriz says:
09:10 PM, 08/ 6/07
I'll tell Marty to keep up the good work.
tackepj says:
06:14 AM, 08/ 7/07
Decent looking gauges--not a huge fan of "binnacled" gauges, but at least they're not overly recessed (a la Toyota).
Didn't know the Aura had the "gauge sweep" upon startup. Seems kind of gimmicky--more at home in a Pontiac than a Saturn. Anyone know if there's truly any purpose to it?
1487 says:
07:01 AM, 08/ 7/07
their dials are dull compared to what? BMW dials?Toyota? I think you are talking about GM products of 10 years ago. Have you seen the gauges on the Vette, Enclave, Escalade, DTS, 2008 CTS, Equinox, G6 etc.?
drunkenpanda says:
07:07 AM, 08/ 7/07
I had a rental Aura, and it never did the 10mph thing.
actualsize says:
07:26 AM, 08/ 7/07
Certain warning lights are required by law to illuminate for 2 seconds as a "bulb check." Apparently, you're supposed to notice if one of them fails to light each morning. "Aha!" you are supposed to say, "Methinks the airbag warning lamp didn't come on this morning as it usually does. Something must be amiss - a faulty bulb, perchance. I must endeavor to schedule an appointment with my local dealer post haste." Right. Unless your coffee is a lot stronger than mine, that ain't gonna happen.
The sweep accomplishes the same thing, I guess, but such a pre-flight check of the needles isn't required and that isn't what it's for - you'd notice immobile needles within seconds of starting off.
No, the sweep has no other purpose than to look cool. The first car I remember it in is the original 1989 LS400 with vacu-fluorescent gauges. Anybody remember an earlier one? And yes, there is a fine line between cool and gimmicky.
autoboy16 says:
07:56 AM, 08/ 7/07
I'm glad you caught the 10mph blip on camera. You may be able to report it directly to GM!
They way those blacklights fade it reminds me of the 1st time I sat in an Acura TL. I oped the door and they faded on... IT WAS SOO COOL!!! I give GM props for it!
Orange. Better than the national blue, old white, audi/mazda red, and ford green. Any other colors? I think the scion tC had yellow... I like fords approach on the mustang. Letting the driver pick their own color!
Hey I'd like more videos toO! That was kind of neat!
-Cj
alpha01 says:
08:00 AM, 08/ 7/07
Personally, I like the electroluminescent look of the Altima, Azera, Camry, and Fit way more (though I'm not sure the Fit is actually an electroluminescent display). In fact, I think the Saturn's look the cheapest of those I just mentioned.
But... I love the full sweep upon ignition! Subaru does this too with the Legacy (and OB, I think), not sure about its other models.
06scooby says:
09:15 AM, 08/ 7/07
yeah my 06 legacy does the "sweep" it waits till after the guages light up though... there is absolutely no purpose for it other than it looks cool and it's the only time i'll ever see the speedo and tach maxed out!
jriz says:
10:11 AM, 08/ 7/07
1487: Yes I have.
ktpellas says:
12:21 PM, 08/ 7/07
Camry and Accord also have electroluminescent gauges like the Aura does (Camry with Optitron gauges and the Accord with progressive self-illuminating gauges, but 06-07 models are only known as backlit gauges, but still work the same way as the 03-05 Accords)
desmolicious says:
05:12 PM, 08/ 7/07
My Ducatis do the sweep. Most Japanese bikes do this now too. Just a fun little gimmick.
bimmerjay says:
05:36 PM, 08/ 7/07
The funny thing with gauges that sweep on startup - if you throw the car into gear and step on it before they complete their sweep, the needles will cancel the sweep and immediately fly into position.
SubyTrojan says:
07:26 PM, 08/ 7/07
bimmerjay, I would love to know more details about your "observation!" :o)
speeder31 says:
08:13 PM, 08/ 7/07
Subaru B9 Tribeca/Tribeca does it to...
sabastian says:
06:18 AM, 08/ 8/07
I think that Audi has the best guages going right now. In most cars they're white (save for the engine redline) with red needles. The detail is very high as is visibility, and as if that weren't enough, they're pretty darn classy.
1487 says:
12:57 PM, 08/ 8/07
"1487: Yes I have."
and you think those are dull gauges? Give me a break. No one has worse gauges than BMW and yet I've never heard any criticism of them. I think all of the new GM SUVs/pickups and crossovers have nice gauges. The 2008 CTS gauges look like they came from an Acura.
I think your mean to say GM doesnt use electroluminescent gauges and you would be right. Gauges can be conventional and not be dull. Buicksand Cadillac cars have classy gauges for the most part while the vette, Esclade, enclave and a few others have a more high tech look. they are not cookie cutter however, in fact most of their cars on similar platforms dont even have similar gauge clusters.
louiswei says:
03:43 PM, 08/ 9/07
The gauges sweep is a copy from the Lexus IS250/350
1487 says:
05:26 PM, 08/14/07
"The gauges sweep is a copy from the Lexus IS250/350"
no it isnt, Pontiacs have been doing this for years. The last Grand Am did the same thing.