Read a study a few years back that showed it takes 2 - 3 times as long to recognize a digital number as it does to recognize a needle position.  Short time, but it's still eyes and brain off the road. 

Karl Wolz
Sent from my electronic umbilicus

On Nov 22, 2011, at 10:38 AM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Personally, I hate digital speedometers.  I find the constant changing of
> the MPH reading to be distracting.  Does look nice though...
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jeff
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alistair Bell
> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 2:29 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Dash Cluster Substitute + Reproduce It ?
> 
> I think I want something like this for my van, mounted on cluster cover to
> give me some info (that currently I can't fully see due to poor sightlines).
> 
> http://gokartsusa.com/dunebuggyspeedometer.aspx
> 
> Not saying this one will work, but you get the idea.
> 
> alistair
> 
> 
> On 2011-11-21, at 9:11 AM, neil n wrote:
> 
>> Hi all.
>> 
>> On thesamba.com there's a thread on adapting a Fox cluster to the Vanagon.
>> I can't find the thread right now, but it should be there. The thread
>> content was aimed, in part, toward the Suby crew, but IIRC, the swap is
>> applicable to any Vanagon.
>> 
>> What would it take to reproduce a new cluster housing? Is it even $
>> feasible to do this? Thoughts towards this?
>> 
>> Does it have to be made of plastic? I bet a 3D printer could make a
>> prototype for (casting?) purposes.
>> 
>> I guess it all comes down to someone taking the ball and investing $ to
>> make it happen. I'm just thinking that at the very least, a plastic
> housing
>> could be reproduced then one could install parts specific to their model
>> year. That said......
>> 
>> Is the housing the same for all model years? I imagine there's differences
>> in the amount and positioning of warning lights.
>> 
>> OTOH, maybe there's enough Vanagons in the bone yard to provide suitable
>> parts.  (?)
>> 
>> Neil.
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 8:33 AM, george jannini <georgejoann@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Fonman, I've just gone through somewhat the same dash crap as you-
>>> original problem was a broken speedo cable, but the job devolved into
>>> my being forced into finding, then assembling the best parts that I
>>> could come up with from 4 spare dash pods, all of which suffered from
>>> varying degrees of dinged/cracked/broken plastic and/or
>>> folded/broken/missing contacts where the console attaches to the
>>> wiring harness.
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Neil n
>> 
>> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>> 
>> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> 
>> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>> 
>> 
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engine
> s