All the UK cars I have driven have mpg and /or gallons left to go> From: [EMAIL
PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]> Subject: [USMA:39522] Re: Metric & the new
Mini Cooper> Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 21:04:30 -0700> > Are you sure the UK
setting includes Imperial gallons? They've sold gasoline> by the liter for
years.> > Bill Potts> Roseville, CA> http://metric1.org [SI
Navigator--approaching 100,000 hits] > > -----Original Message-----> From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf> Of Michael Palumbo>
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 08:16> To: U.S. Metric Association> Cc: 'U.S.
Metric Association'> Subject: [USMA:39520] Re: Metric & the new Mini Cooper> >
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>
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