I have a gripe about our long-term 2008 Mitsubishi Evo. Both of them. Our black Evo MR and our blue Evo GSR both have lame gauges. No, make that incomplete instrumentation.
You guys have been basting us for having two Evos and it's hard to argue that point when you realize there isn't a oil pressure gauge or a decent water temperature gauge between them. The digital temp gauge in these Mitsus is a joke.
BMW started this stupid minimal gauge trend a few years ago, and now our turbocharged Evos have landed on the same design bandwagon. No thanks.
Incredibly Cadillac has gone in the other direction. And I applaud the company for it. Our long-term Cadillac CTS has more complete instrumentation than almost any car around, including our long-term Evos. Hell, the Caddy even has a real oil pressure gauge with a needle that actually moves.
Imagine how many calls Caddy dealers have gotten from CTS owners thinking they need a new engine because their oil gauge reads nearly zero every time they stop the car. Caddy knew that would happen and they included the dial anyway. Mitsubishi should too.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
johnmarco says:
08:10 AM, 11/ 8/08
I thought you were going to rip on the sickening shape of the instrument housing, which deserves a sound thrashing as well.
What does the TARMAC indicate?
huyracing says:
11:03 AM, 11/ 8/08
TARMAC is the center differential setting, which can also be set to GRAVEL and SNOW.
I know they were copying Audi with the gauges, but Audi has traditional dials for those. I guess they were trying to be different... for the sake of being stupid. Even Mercedes Benz copied Audi, so there's no shame in doing that.
Cheap looking gauge cluster, by the way... Nasty!
compliance says:
11:22 AM, 11/ 8/08
I agree that the lack of full instrumentation stinks, but at least they don't pretend it's there with dummy gauges.
I completely disagree with the people commenting on how they look though. I think they're classy.
ctpax says:
12:20 PM, 11/ 8/08
come off it Scott, you know you have absolutely no argument against these gauges. If they work (which they do) - you'll get used to them whether you like it or not.
adavis2493 says:
01:35 PM, 11/ 8/08
I just got an Audi A5 and it has like a small display in the speedometer area. It can go to my presets, and even to the navigation display.
It is great.
Ps. These gauges are very boring. I am not sure, but they don't look too clear for night driving. Maybe Mitsu should take a look at the speedometer in the Murano.
ace47 says:
08:06 PM, 11/ 8/08
Well, I have driven the EVO X at night and I had no problems with the guage readings or anything like that.
wobbly_ears says:
10:38 PM, 11/ 8/08
I agree with Scott. I like the traditional gauges rather than these digital ones.
Man, that's one HIDEOUS looking gauge cluster. Looking at recent Mitsu creations, it doesn't surprise me.
I think in few years, Mitsu would take the Isuzu way & get out of US.
kevlang says:
11:42 AM, 11/ 9/08
on top of all that, the useful range of the speedo is only about 90 degrees! what a waste of space.
1487 says:
05:51 AM, 11/10/08
Those gauges look like they belong on an $18k car. Very simple and low tech looking. They need to take a hint from Acura gauges.
dougtheeng says:
06:04 AM, 11/10/08
I also prefer traditional compared to digital. Its important to find a middle ground somewhere between the GT-R and a this Evo, I think.
daddiod says:
11:52 AM, 11/10/08
EVO post.....yawn
chavis10 says:
03:39 PM, 11/10/08
I actually like the gauges on these cars- much better than any BMW or MB. Caddy wasted space with an oil pressure gauge. Do people even know what their purpose is anymore?
the_big_al says:
04:17 PM, 11/10/08
For me, I actually like knowing what the oil pressure is, what the alternator is doing and an actual visible temp gauge. Even better if these gauges are "real" gauges and not idiot light gauge.
Where the oil pressure gauge actually fluctuates with the actual pressure and not just a gauge that snaps to the middle (Ford is guilty of this)...
I know that with the sophistication of computers and sensors these days that it would be rare that you wouldn't catch a problem before damage occurred, but the vehicles I used to drive had no such electronics and it was only be the temp gauge, oil gauge and what not that I knew what was going on under the hood without actually having to pop it every time I drove the vehicle.
lvmanbag says:
08:01 PM, 11/11/08
I don't see the problem with the Gauges. One thing I could see that may be annoying is that the gauges seem to flare out when the should be pointing in. Maybe its the Camera.