Dimmed Dash, more

["Jonathan Brauer" <jonathb@uswest.net>]

Kwattro@aol.com wrote:
> Why the hell didn't anyone tell me that if I touch the dimmer, half the
console shuts off?  Man, it scared the piss out of me.  I nearly drove off
the road trying to figure out what I had just done.  What the hell is the
purpose of that feature????

Phil added:
> On the orange dash, there are two modes.  A quick touch turns off
everything except the speedo and the clock.  Hold it in for longer, and the
clock goes too, leaving just the speedo.

> I find it a _WONDERFUL_ feature for long night trips - speedo only and
even that fully dimmed.  Improves my night vision immensely.  Of course,
certain other modifications to the car also help.


I test drove a Saab 9-3 SE last weekend (drove it to the Audi dealer to show
my salesperson "what a nice car this is -- at such a lower lease rate than
you quoted me hint-hint") and noticed a big 'ol button on the dash labeled
Night Panel. After pressing the button, all the gauges (or is that gages
since it's a GM?) except the speedo went limp. I assumed they were dim, too,
but since it dark out I couldn't tell.

Reviewing the brochure:

"Improved Night Vision. When darkness falls, you can focus fully on the road
by blacking out instrument panel so only the speedometer is displayed. We
call this the Night Panel, another Saab innovation that stems from Saab's
early days as an aircraft manufacturer.

"With the Night Panel activated, backlighting for switches and controls is
dimmed and most gauges darken so only relevant displays remain lit. Yet when
the driver's attention is needed, each required instrument lights up
automatically.

...and adds: "A good driver's environment is the sum total of many small
details. The optional seat heaters, for instance, are another example of
Saab innovation.

FWIW, I thought it was a nice car, really torque-y (2.0 L High Output Turbo,
200hp, 209lb-ft. torque). Got it up to 90 before I knew what had happened.
>From a financial standpoint, I should be getting this car vs. the A4. But, I
wouldn't want to own one. I can appreciate the car, but past history with
dad's 78 5000, my 78 & 85 Scirocco, 91 90q 20v, and current 96 Jetta (for
sale, cheap, Minneapolis, email if interested) makes me realize how German
my tastes are.

Along those lines, I also stopped by the BMW dealer to collect a brochure
for a 323is. The look and feel of the brochure is really different from Audi
or Saab. None of this touchy-feely, soft typeset, artsy-fartsy photos,
"atmosphere interior" crap. Helvetica type and clean design that says (duh):
Driving Machine. My comment on the TV ad thread: BMW's got their sh*t
together. I wish Audi would adopt a similar marketing strategy. I haven't
heard any comments on Audi print (newspaper) ads, but I don't think they're
driving customers to the door.

Also, the BMW sales staff has a thick book that compares/contrasts every
model BMW with every competitor's comparable model (of course, it's skewed
in BMW's favor). I flipped through it while waiting, and this book is
COMPLETE! Some really good support to the sales staff. I haven't seen
anything like this at my Audi dealer, BWDIK... (Osman? Comments?)

Any listers planning on Brainerd in a few weeks?