I recently had the pre-launch privilege of taking a spin in the new Alfa Giulietta 1750. I was scrolling through the trip computer to see if there was a boost gauge a can be found on the Fiat Bravo T-Jet Sport. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be one and it got me thinking how much I like gauges! The more the merrier is my motto. I think this all started back when I was a teenager and fitted a vacuum gauge to my dad’s Valiant and an ammeter to my mom’s Vauxhall Viva. So now I am wondering what my ideal instrument panel would look like?
Leaving out some of the exotic cars with rows of gauges all over the dash like Ferraris and Porsches, I maintain that the best designed instrument panel was that of the Fiat Uno Turbo. Centre stage was the boost gauge, oil temp and pressure gauges shared one dial and the speedo, rev counter, coolant temp and fuel level dials were as per a normal layout. All of these were neatly slotted into a compact space as necessitated by the size of this small car. Aftermarket accessories specialists offered a replacement white background as well. Having mentioned the Vauxhall Viva reminds me that the Viva GT also had a decent instrument setup.
What’s your favourite?
