Does anyone know why GM chose to dim the top half of the speedometer numbers on the Spark EV? It shows up in images across the web and on my car, so it looks intentional, but I'm not sure what the justification was. Is is just aesthetic, to make it look more like an flip clock, or is there some improvement in recognition for doing it that way?
Dimmer top half of speedometer numbers
- Thread starter fengshui
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Let's just say the whole display cluster, including that top center one that seems so far only to tell you some absolutely useless info about the the satus of the air bags (I think) is a huge gobbledygook.
I do get to appreciate my Leaf displays even more. I am leasing, so what the heck. Car will be gone in 36 months. Plus "ze weirdness" of all the other GM/Chevy quirkies. I just can't get over the whole slew of them yet as they keep cropping up.
My newest discovery: High beam flash makes a mandatory "honk" along with it. The honk is supposed to quiet down when you reach speed past 19 mph, according to the GM person I'm in communocation with. So far no luck. It honks happily on past 19. Next I'll try with the headlights on and/or at freeway speed. Bizzarro...
I do get to appreciate my Leaf displays even more. I am leasing, so what the heck. Car will be gone in 36 months. Plus "ze weirdness" of all the other GM/Chevy quirkies. I just can't get over the whole slew of them yet as they keep cropping up.
My newest discovery: High beam flash makes a mandatory "honk" along with it. The honk is supposed to quiet down when you reach speed past 19 mph, according to the GM person I'm in communocation with. So far no luck. It honks happily on past 19. Next I'll try with the headlights on and/or at freeway speed. Bizzarro...
iletric said:
I find most of the displays to be pretty good, personally. The top center one tells you if the passenger airbag is enabled. Seems like a good thing to know to me. The range indicator on the Spark EV is particularly good. The honk on temporary high-beams isn't so bad.
We don't detect any "dimmer top half of speedometer numbers". Maybe I don't know what's meant by that, but I don't see anything that would apply in our car.
We also find it strange the uppermost display is devoted entirely to the passenger airbag status. How we wish that there was a larger display of the clock there! However, on a 2014 Mazda we own, there's also a prominent airbag status display. It kept flashing when our 100 pound son was in the seat, and drove me nuts until he realized he had to sit up straight in the seat to make the flashing stop. Now I love it because it's a silent posture-corrector
. Maybe there's some regulation calling for these warnings, primarily meant to be sure you don't have a child seat placed where the airbag would disastrously smack it.
I do find the Spark's displays to be a confusing mix... so far. But my experience is that I'll adapt to what the engineers were trying to do. Every manufacturer seems to draw a number of bitter reviews about displays/info systems, but I view it as growing pains in a nascent field and try to give it the benefit of the doubt. The Spark's displays are crisp and informative.
Re. the lightly chirping horn when flashing the headlights: that baffled me too, until I read in the owner's manual that the intent is to be able to use it as a warning for pedestrians who are unaware of the silent car approaching them. OK, don't know if I'll use it for that purpose, but I accept the thought behind it.
We also find it strange the uppermost display is devoted entirely to the passenger airbag status. How we wish that there was a larger display of the clock there! However, on a 2014 Mazda we own, there's also a prominent airbag status display. It kept flashing when our 100 pound son was in the seat, and drove me nuts until he realized he had to sit up straight in the seat to make the flashing stop. Now I love it because it's a silent posture-corrector
. Maybe there's some regulation calling for these warnings, primarily meant to be sure you don't have a child seat placed where the airbag would disastrously smack it.I do find the Spark's displays to be a confusing mix... so far. But my experience is that I'll adapt to what the engineers were trying to do. Every manufacturer seems to draw a number of bitter reviews about displays/info systems, but I view it as growing pains in a nascent field and try to give it the benefit of the doubt. The Spark's displays are crisp and informative.
Re. the lightly chirping horn when flashing the headlights: that baffled me too, until I read in the owner's manual that the intent is to be able to use it as a warning for pedestrians who are unaware of the silent car approaching them. OK, don't know if I'll use it for that purpose, but I accept the thought behind it.
markcmann
Well-known member
I've never really noticed it until you posted this topic but yes, mine is the same:fengshui said:
The midriff dim is the cuteness factor, courtesy Chevy. You see, they had 11-year olds designing this display. I'm not even going to address that airbag display real estate. What a waste of a good space! Clock! Temp! Anything of importance!
Oh, how I miss the Leaf display. The only good thing is that the range indicator, aka GOM, is definitely better than the Leaf's -- hence the name: guess-o-meter. Nissan has fixed it twice already and it's still iffy.
Nevertheless, the main display is a hodgepodge. Take a long look at the picture above. Items just thrown in to wherever-they-land effect. It's video-gamey. The 10-bar green "spring" range indicator on the left leaves much to be desired. The only thing I like there is seeing that CC stays engaged. Leaf's has to be engaged every time the car is powered up.
What I'm starting to really hate though is that STUPID carryover AT lever. First of all, the car rolls in D. With the Leaf all you have to do to park the car is TURN THE POWER OFF. Nothing else. Furthermore, in my Leaf I always push the conveniently located P button at long red lights so I can rest my tired foot. Then I just hit the knob shifter (about an inch movement) and I'm back in business. I tried to do the same in Spark. It proves to be way too much hassle and, to add insult to injury, the frickin' auto lock comes on. Can't turn that sucker off. So it's a double whammy: I not only have to move the stupid lever from one end to the other (about a foot!), I also have to unlock myself to boot. So now I just suffer and keep that foot on the brake waiting the the green light. No comfort, Chevy. You were asleep at the switch when you decided to stick with a shifter out of the 50's.
Now don't worry. Stupidity is contagious. Honda Fit EV has a fob key you have to stick in the "ignition" and turn it to "start" the vehicle. Now how dumb is that?!
Last night I tried the actual key to open the door just to make sure. Guess, what! The alarm came on. I suggest all of you try it and report. You may have the same problem. I was told by the advisor with whom I'm emailing daily now (Kristen) that it is not a proper response by the vehicle since the key is supposed to communicate with the car via RFID. Now I have to take the car to the dealer.
Great! Another headache.
Oh, how I miss the Leaf display. The only good thing is that the range indicator, aka GOM, is definitely better than the Leaf's -- hence the name: guess-o-meter. Nissan has fixed it twice already and it's still iffy.
Nevertheless, the main display is a hodgepodge. Take a long look at the picture above. Items just thrown in to wherever-they-land effect. It's video-gamey. The 10-bar green "spring" range indicator on the left leaves much to be desired. The only thing I like there is seeing that CC stays engaged. Leaf's has to be engaged every time the car is powered up.
What I'm starting to really hate though is that STUPID carryover AT lever. First of all, the car rolls in D. With the Leaf all you have to do to park the car is TURN THE POWER OFF. Nothing else. Furthermore, in my Leaf I always push the conveniently located P button at long red lights so I can rest my tired foot. Then I just hit the knob shifter (about an inch movement) and I'm back in business. I tried to do the same in Spark. It proves to be way too much hassle and, to add insult to injury, the frickin' auto lock comes on. Can't turn that sucker off. So it's a double whammy: I not only have to move the stupid lever from one end to the other (about a foot!), I also have to unlock myself to boot. So now I just suffer and keep that foot on the brake waiting the the green light. No comfort, Chevy. You were asleep at the switch when you decided to stick with a shifter out of the 50's.
Now don't worry. Stupidity is contagious. Honda Fit EV has a fob key you have to stick in the "ignition" and turn it to "start" the vehicle. Now how dumb is that?!
Last night I tried the actual key to open the door just to make sure. Guess, what! The alarm came on. I suggest all of you try it and report. You may have the same problem. I was told by the advisor with whom I'm emailing daily now (Kristen) that it is not a proper response by the vehicle since the key is supposed to communicate with the car via RFID. Now I have to take the car to the dealer.
Great! Another headache.
iletric said:
?? This is the way it always works on any vehicles I've owned with keyless entry - if you bypass the electronic/keyless entry by entering via mechanical means the alarm goes off. Given that the key for the Spark is integrated with the remote anyway, it's fine.
Pegasus
Well-known member
It looks like just aesthetics to me, and I think they were going for a metallic look, something like this only more subtle:fengshui said:
...though in comparison to that, it seems like they accidentally flipped the horizon gradients!
lalacurf121
Active member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2015
- Messages
- 39
All it says is to insert the key to open the door manually.
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