One of the anachronisms in the UK is that all cars display fuel economy in
mpg despite all fuel sales in liters. Another good reason to change to km/h
in the UK. What they need in the interim is Mi/L. Some cars you can toggle,
but the display then shows km/L.
Mike Payne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, 06 October 2007 04:04
Subject: [USMA:39522] Re: Metric & the new Mini Cooper
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
