Electronic Heads Up Display

[JollySipper]

This is the first one of these that I've seen. I think it's pretty neat... I'm sure it doubles as a mirror when not in use. What do you guys think? This particular one is in a Porsche with a Vette drivetrain that I found while browsing Craigslist.....

 

[JollySipper]

Here's a link to the car's ad if you want to check it out....

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/thousand-oaks-porsche-928-ls3-pro-tour/7044231298.html

 

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by JollySipper

[espo]

9 minutes ago, JollySipper said:

This is the first one of these that I've seen. I think it's pretty neat... I'm sure it doubles as a mirror when not in use. What do you guys think? This particular one is in a Porsche with a Vette drivetrain that I found while browsing Craigslist.....

 

The car is super cool and if only I could win the lottery it would be mine. As for the rear view mirror display , interesting but I question the day to day functionality. After having driven several Pontiac Grand Prix's with the factory Heads Up Display systems, in my mind this would take you line of sight to far away from the direction in which you're driving. The General Motors system was done much like a fighter jets heads up display. This projects the information on the windshield and the location of where it appears can be adjusted to the drivers preference.  While this is an interesting and a far less complex way to do it, you're still going to have to take your eyes off the road to read it, not a good idea at any speed let alone what this vehicle is capable off.  

[RichCostello]

It seems to me that it would be easier(and safer)to just look at the actual gauges, and not lose the use of your mirror.

[DonW]

My dad the fighter and test pilot always turned the dashboard instrument lighting off when driving fast at night. Trust your ears and the seat of your pants and use your eyes for the road ahead (and behind)! 

Unless you really want to know your exact speed and rpm, maybe the oil pressure too at the moment of impact with the motorbike / schoolkid / tree you failed to notice in time!?

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by DonW

[gotnitro?]

Wife test drove a new ford escape , and it had the heads up display.  We actually thought it was very impressive keeping everything in the line of sight, yet it was transparent enough to see thru. 

[espo]

20 hours ago, DonW said:

My dad the fighter and test pilot always turned the dashboard instrument lighting off when driving fast at night. Trust your ears and the seat of your pants and use your eyes for the road ahead (and behind)! 

Unless you really want to know your exact speed and rpm, maybe the oil pressure too at the moment of impact with the motorbike / schoolkid / tree you failed to notice in time!?

 

My feelings exactly. 

[JollySipper]

If you could train yourself to see it from the corner of your vision, it may could be useful on a track day car.... I don't think it's a good idea in an everyday car, tho....

[bbowser]

23 hours ago, RichCostello said:

It seems to me that it would be easier(and safer)to just look at the actual gauges, and not lose the use of your mirror.

OMG, what are you thinking!?  I agree BTW.

[Ace-Garageguy]

23 hours ago, DonW said:

My dad the fighter and test pilot always turned the dashboard instrument lighting off when driving fast at night. Trust your ears and the seat of your pants and use your eyes for the road ahead (and behind)!

Agreed.

Best of both worlds, if you just HAVE to be all whiz-bang techie, might be to have each instrument programmed to illuminate if a predetermined upper (like temp) or lower (like oil pressure) threshold is exceeded.

For normal driving, a line-of-sight HUD representation of speed might be nice...at least so you could argue more convincingly with the cop when you get pulled over.

[DonW]

Makes sense, but your old skool racer would have a big red light that came on when the oil pressure dropped below the safe limit.?

Yes I am a Luddite!

 

Edited December 29, 2019 by DonW
more info.

[BigTallDad]

Too distracting. 

With all the voice-activated stuff available today, I'd rather just ask for something and have Alexa (or whomever) provide a reply.

[Ace-Garageguy]

6 minutes ago, DonW said:

Makes sense, but your old skool racer would have a big red light that came on when the oil pressure dropped below the safe limit.?

Yes I am a Luddite!

Yup, that's how we set up a lot of cars. And I'm a Luddite too. 

Far as real heads-up displays go, in current fighter aircraft there's a huge information load, including targeting, so HUD makes perfect sense. In a car, it's just a Walter Mitty toy. About as actually useful as "rolling coal". Anyone who should be driving should also have the ability to wait for a clear road and glance down at the instruments occasionally.

Of course, anyone who "should be driving" eliminates about 50% of those who are driving.

[Rodent]

My 2016 Mazda3 has a little motorized screen that pops out of the top of the dash, kind of like a bargain basement heads up display. It shows your speed and your next turn if you are using the factory navigation. After 72k miles, I am quite used to it and think it's a handy feature. 

(pic from the web)

[SfanGoch]

4 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Of course, anyone who "should be driving" eliminates about 50% of those who are driving.

How did people manage to drive a car before twenty separate "brains" controlled one's vehicle?