Surprisingly not. My 2004 VW R32 has the capability of displaying
metric units, but they have no end-user exposed interface for switching
the units in your car. You have to use a dealership diagnostic tool
(VAS5150) or a home diag tool (VAGCOM, etc.) to change it.
They tied all preferences into the car's country code, so if you set
your car as being in the US, you get a 12-hour clock, miles, Fahrenheit,
and gallons. Only the temperature can be switched with an obscure
button key press. Set it to Canada or EU, 24-hour clock, kilometres,
Celsius, litres. UK, 24-hour, Celsius, miles, imperial gallons.
It's a very weird system and not at all user-friendly. And like I said,
my 2002 Mini had a similar system, you could only switch the temperature.
-Mike
Martin Vlietstra wrote:
I would have thought that every North American car that had a digital
display would have this sort of facility, plus the ability to display text
in English, French or Spanish. Many cars in the European market have the
facility to display text is a dozen or so different languages.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Michael Palumbo
Sent: 04 October 2007 15:07
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:39518] Metric & the new Mini Cooper
All,
I traded in my 2002 Mini Cooper this past weekend for a new 2007 Mini
Cooper. The 02 model had a centrally mounted speedometer that was
listed in both miles & kilometres, but was otherwise entirely customary
units. Fuel efficiency was always listed in miles per gallon, range was
listed in miles, and temperature was in Fahrenheit (at least the latter
could be changed to Celsius by holding in a combination of buttons every
time you started the car).
When I went to the dealership to look at the 07 model, the first thing I
noticed (and commented on to the salesman) was that the speedometer was
only listed in miles, they removed the secondary ring for km/h. I was
apparently the first person to ever mention that. However, I was
quickly appeased when he showed me the new in-car computer.
Press just one button, and you're taken to the configuration menu. From
there, you can set every single variable in the car to metric standards.
Range in kilos, speed in km/h, temperature in Celsius, fuel efficiency
in L/100 km, and if you prefer, time on a 24-hour clock. You can even
get a secondary digital speed display that works in km/h.
I've attached a picture of the tachometer that's mounted above the
steering column; this is where the relevant information is shown to the
driver. Note the larger digital speed display at the top, with
temperature, current km, and trip km below that.
It's so nice to see a car manufacturer make this easy to switch, without
going through hidden menus, obscure button combinations, or requiring a
dealership diagnostic tool.
I'm very pleased with this, if I could just find out how to get rid of
that accursed MPH ring in the middle, I'd be all set! By the way, it
handles splendidly and so far uses 5.6 L/100 km (or 17.8 km/L if you
prefer distance per volume). Excellent!
Cheers,
Mike
