[Sowmya]

All dash board has typical few meters and indicator lights. Nothing SPL in different variant of company. But ...
What kind / items should we expect from the Dash board ?

[amit]

I don't think you can specify any one car as having the worst dash based on the parameters listed. A car may have very good ergonomics but plastics quality maybe suspect.

Between the cars I own:

a. Plastics - Texture/Colour(s) : Palio plastics are hard and look cheap but are robust. SX4 plastics are cheap too but better then Palio. Also the slot above the glovebox isn't 'flush fitted' in the Palio.

b. Reflection of the sun on the windshield : Doesn't happen with either my SX4 or Palio.

c. Storage - Glove Box, nooks and crannies: Palio's coin holders are a boon. But, I'd really like to meet the guy who designed the cupholders. Even on the German autobahn's the cup's will spill over.

d. Ergonomic design of switches (HVAC, Boot/Hood Release etc.), AC Vents : Palio and SX4 are evenly matched although if I HAD to pick either, I would pick the Palio. The dash is tilted towards the driver, switches are easy to access. One thing I really like are the boot and fuel flap release which are of different lengths. In my SX4, they are next to each other and many times I have opened the boot at a petrol pump. Power window switches are easy too. In the SX4, I invariably wind down the rear windows when I am looking to wind the front windows down.

f. Integration with ICE : SX4.

g. Beauty! : Both Palio and SX4 look great. The trick with the Palio is to open the left front door and look at the dash with a driver sitting on his seat.

PS: I love the dash of the Jetta and Passat. But then being VW's, thats a given.

[bhojraj]

Friends

If you observe Maruti cars carefully , there is cost reduction every where.
Few years back the door pad was weighing ------ Kgs Now there is reduction
of 30%. Other wise how they could have such a huge profit of moret than 1000
crores. They reduce weight , FE will increase. We buy on the note that
very good car good FE. If you see the latest cars of Maruti -- All cars
rattles like mini tractor. This is my view only after observing various cars.
Huyandai - Little better
Mahindra -- average

All goes by cost.

[deky]

Ergonomically I cant fault My Aveo 1.4 Dashboard. But i have to accept the fact that the space utility is very poor.

There is just one small pocket to keep things. The space where the airbag is supposed to be in the higher version (i.e.1.6) is a totally wasted space in 1.4

[Speeding@160mph]

considering its the newest car on the block, the ANHC dash is a soresight! definately should win the Most disappointing Dash. i wont consider the cielo or any cars before 2001 for the simple reason that its unfair to compare across generations/decades!

[vittalnrv]

Originally Posted by Speeding@160mph

considering its the newest car on the block, the ANHC dash is a soresight! definately should win the Most disappointing Dash. i wont consider the cielo or any cars before 2001 for the simple reason that its unfair to compare across generations/decades!

I would not consider any positive comments on CIELO as far as generations or quality is involved!

Trust me,, a Tata 407 is better in terms of quality.

Fiat palio is better in terms of generations!

CIELO is the worst car we had in our family,, no second impressions on this as we also owned a Ford Escort!

[d_himan]

Originally Posted by Sowmya

All dash board has typical few meters and indicator lights. Nothing SPL in different variant of company. But ...
What kind / items should we expect from the Dash board ?

That's an interesting question...what can we expect from a dashboard?

Personally, I'd like the following in my dream dashboard:

1. A design so nice, I would want to rub my hands along its contours every once in a while. Soft, non-tacky, gracefully-coloured plastics. No squeaks. Eg. the Laura/Civic/Jetta...

2. A place to store coins for our friendly neighbourhood signal's eunuchs/beggars. The coins shouldn't jangle and the cubbyhole should be rubber coated. Any car good at this?

3. Easy to operate A/C vents - plastics shouldn't be feeble, adjustments in air flow direction should take seconds - no fiddling/fumbling. I like the Santro here. Also, the A/C shouldn't blow cold air into your fingers while you're holding the steering wheel in the 10-10 position. Most cars do that when you're directing the air flow to your face.

4. Clear Instrumentation. Night illumination shouldn't be jarringly bright. Digital Odometer, if present, should be readable by day. Love the Swift's orange glow.

5. Glovebox. With A/C. would be a marvelous touch to keep drinks cool. Haven't seen one at work yet. Did the Astra Club have one?

6. A couple of cup holders which can actually hold cups and dont spill drinks all over the car when you turn/brake slightly hard. That said, the cupholder hole diameter behind the gear lever in my Swift is frustrating. Nothing ever fits there well. The Accent/Ikon - the lesser said, the better. Innova is nice.

7. A slight recess/bowl like area on top of the dash - would be nice to keep sundry items like tissues/idol etc. A sloping dash like the Hyundai Accent renders that area useless.

8. A place for my cellphone would be nice. Hate those aftermarket dash attachments. Great if there's a charger plug point in that storage space too.

9. The dash should look good with the Head Unit. Most of the times, our Japanese HUs have too many colours and flying dolphins - overwhelm the dash's aesthetics. Space for a Double Din would be nice.

10. Minimal use of fake wood/faux aluminium inserts. The poor Getz CRDi has been badgered enough!

11. Reflection of the dash on the windscreen on a bright day. Saw this with the Accent/Indica.

12. Good useable space between the gearbox and the dashboard. CDs should be able to fit in.

13. Fuel Cap/Bonnet/Boot Openers should be on the driver's side. One shouldn't confuse one for the other by design. I hate the Swift's fuel cap/Boot opener positions.

14. Space for Additional Switches. Most cars have them. Fuse Box should be easy to locate...

phew. I think I've covered it all...

[theMAG]

M800, Omni, Sumo (cab)

[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by d_himan

That's an interesting question...what can we expect from a dashboard?


5. Glovebox. With A/C. would be a marvelous touch to keep drinks cool. Haven't seen one at work yet. Did the Astra Club have one?

yes, the astra club has one...

well, my list for the worst dashboard goes to:
1) tata indica, not the vista
2) chevy U-VA
3) sumo victa
4) elantra
5) sonata embera
6) wagon R

[Sowmya]

Originally Posted by bhojraj

Friends

If you observe Maruti cars carefully , there is cost reduction every where.
Few years back the door pad was weighing ------ Kgs Now there is reduction
of 30%. Other wise how they could have such a huge profit of moret than 1000
crores. They reduce weight , FE will increase. We buy on the note that
very good car good FE. If you see the latest cars of Maruti -- All cars
rattles like mini tractor. This is my view only after observing various cars.
Huyandai - Little better
Mahindra -- average

All goes by cost.

I agree. Once I pushed a Swift just to move with out starting. And in my surprise it got a dent in the back side. Company wants more profit. we feel proud of MSIL but it on the cost of our life

[sridhar24]

In my opinion most of the Maruti's and Tata's have the worst and most boring dashboards, to that matter most of the cars now sold in india have same old dashs. The only one i love is that of the Honda Civic's amazing dash!

[anachronix]

Worst:
Swift, Estilo, Ikon

Good:
Palio, Fiesta