One of the first things many people notice when looking at a car’s interior is the gauges. Whether it be analog dials or digital displays, the two are very different. Traditional analog gauges are 3D and use needles. In contrast, digital systems are 2D and flat. When looking at speedometers specifically, there is a clear difference. Digital speedometers display the car speed based on the sensor data. This allows you to see the speed in actual digits. Looking at analog speedometers, they are more similar to reading a clock. They also require no power supply due to being mechanical devices, whereas digital gauges do.

 So, which is better, the modern digital systems or the traditional analog dials? To answer this, feedback was gathered through interviews with two high school seniors, Jack Branson and Ainsleigh Bau. Jack hopes to one day mod or build custom equipment for his own cars. He has been interested in cars for a long time and has gotten the opportunity to work on a variety of them in the last few years. Ainsleigh has been interested in cars since she was young. She has been in a robotics club before and has asked a local mechanic shop to take her in as an apprentice. In the future, she also plans to work on her own car.

What do you find easier to read, an analog dial with a needle or a digital display with numbers (specifically speedometers)?

I find both digital displays and analog dials easy to read, but I can read a digital display much faster than an analog display. –Jack Branson

Personally, I find a digital display easier to read because I have a more accurate number when I glance quickly at it to check my speed. Whenever I use my analog dial I usually estimate how fast I’m going because I glance at it for a super short period of time. –Ainsleigh Bau

Look-wise, do you prefer traditional/classic or futuristic/modern looking gauges in cars? 

I appreciate the realness to the traditional gauges, but I understand that digital dials are convenient for many different reasons. I am not sure which one I prefer, but I believe the car does make a difference to what kind of gauge I would prefer. –Jack Branson

I like more modern gauges because they are more aesthetically appealing to me, however a traditional one may also be better depending on the car you have. –Ainsleigh Bau

Which do you think is more reliable/accurate, digital displays or analog dials? Why?

Digital displays because the sensors used to record the data are much more accurate and run at a faster rate. –Jack Branson

I think digital displays are more reliable, because analog dials depend on a scale and needle, and some people may read it wrong even if it is one the correct number. –Ainsleigh Bau

What are your thoughts on modern technology in cars now and in the future?

Overall, I think the more technology that is put into cars, the faster these cars become outdated. I see the benefit and convenience for having technology that works with everyone’s devices, but for  the price of cars nowadays, it doesn’t seem to be completely worth it because of the rate that technology changes. –Jack Branson

Certain cars are evolving in amazing ways such as the Mazda SP concept, however I do not like cyber trucks or any teslas for that matter. I think part of liking cars or being into them is the experience you have with them. Being able to take the time yourself to modify your car to how you like it is a really amazing thing. As the world evolves so does technology, so eventually I believe everything will be electric. But personally, I prefer conventional vehicles overall. –Ainsleigh Bau

Overall, do you prefer digital instrument clusters, traditional analog setups, or a combination of them both? Explain.

Incorporating a good blend of physical, analog, and digital systems is my favorite setup in a car. Physical buttons look way better and are much safer to use while driving. Moving everything to a large screen will only increase the ability for people to be staring at another screen and not the road. Digital systems do have their benefits in their flexibility with updates and different ways to give the driver information (GPS, Calls, Texts, Music, etc.) -Jack Branson

I like a combination of both, you should be able to set up your car to your style, which for me is a combination of traditional and modern. -Ainsleigh Bau

What is one of your favorite cars? Is it more modern or classic?

I tend to really enjoy cars from the 90s to early 2010s. I also love plenty of older, classic cars, but also more modern, recent cars as well. One of my favorite cars is the newer Audi R8’s for many reasons, but I enjoy many more cars than that. -Jack Branson

I have always loved JDMs, one of my favorite cars, actually my dream car is a 1996 Honda Acura NSX. It is obviously more classic, but everything about that car I love. I plan to get one in the near feature, and modify it to how I like. Some honorable mentions for cars I like are, Mr2 Turbo, F40, Kei trucks, and Citi Cars (1976). -Ainsleigh Bau

The debate between modern and classic car systems comes down to preference.  Everyone has their own style, whether it be modern, classic, or a combination of both. Some people have a preference for a more practical or cosmetic appeal. Whatever reason it may be, you can determine which gauge you gravitate more towards based on your own personal interests.