Which is the best Analogue or Digital Dash?
Discussion
Hi, I am wondering which dash to go for for my new project. I am trying to build an Ultima on a budget(!) and wondered if anyone had an opinion on which dash is the best for road use. I kind of like the traditional clocks but having seen the price of the digidash 2 it seems enticing and offers more functionality. Does anyone have any views on this or similar dashes?
Cheers, Richard
Cheers, Richard
Edited by qwicksylva on Monday 9th April 12:33
I would digital dashes over analogue instruments any day. I used a ETB Digidash lite on my R1ot. Mainly due to a space constraint but also as I have a lot of information in one small package. Speed, revs, fuel level, coolant temp, oil temp, oil pressure & battery voltage. Plus all the indicator lights for the head lamps, indicators, oil pressure, low battery voltage, fog lamps, shift lights and brake fail. It also has tell tales on it for last maximum rpm and speed, which is useful to see if the MoT station has been taking it for a spin.
I had to offset mine as there wasn't enough room above the steering column but if it was there you would have all the information you would need without having to search the dashboard for the right instrument. I can also plug in my laptop to it so I can set all the right units for pressure and temp, set the shift lights, set at what fuel tank level you want an alarm at and so on. If I had bought the more expensive full Digi Dash I would have got all the accelerometers for full data logging and video overlay but I deemed on a road car that wasn't much use.
My ECU Emerald K3 has CAN bus support and will interface to the AIM dashboards so even more data can be gleemed from the ECU as well thus needing less sensors on the engine (ECU and digidash can't share sensors).
Another reason for buying a digidash is cost once you have bough all the individual instruments and their respective sensors the final cost would actually be higher than the digidash and require even more wiring as the digidash does it off 2 9 way connectors so fitting is a doddle as well. I'm singing the praises of the ETB version as well as it comes in a machined alloy case and will easily outlast the car and if you want to fit it to another car all there is is 4 fixing screws and 2 plugs you don't get that with individual instruments.
Once you've gone digital you'll never go back to instruments every again.
I had to offset mine as there wasn't enough room above the steering column but if it was there you would have all the information you would need without having to search the dashboard for the right instrument. I can also plug in my laptop to it so I can set all the right units for pressure and temp, set the shift lights, set at what fuel tank level you want an alarm at and so on. If I had bought the more expensive full Digi Dash I would have got all the accelerometers for full data logging and video overlay but I deemed on a road car that wasn't much use.
My ECU Emerald K3 has CAN bus support and will interface to the AIM dashboards so even more data can be gleemed from the ECU as well thus needing less sensors on the engine (ECU and digidash can't share sensors).
Another reason for buying a digidash is cost once you have bough all the individual instruments and their respective sensors the final cost would actually be higher than the digidash and require even more wiring as the digidash does it off 2 9 way connectors so fitting is a doddle as well. I'm singing the praises of the ETB version as well as it comes in a machined alloy case and will easily outlast the car and if you want to fit it to another car all there is is 4 fixing screws and 2 plugs you don't get that with individual instruments.
Once you've gone digital you'll never go back to instruments every again.
I have to say if I was buying a completed Ultima (I wish!) I'd walk if it had a Digidash.
Let's face it, the thought process goes "if he's scrimped on that, what else?"
It's not a bad product at all but I'd expect a little more investment in that type of kit car.
For £300 more the Stack system would complement the car better, be upgradeable for datalogging, and if you ever came to sell the car, not affect the sale price.
Like I say, no offence to Digidash or those who have them - just think their place in the market is different to Ultima's.
/2p and all that.
Let's face it, the thought process goes "if he's scrimped on that, what else?"
It's not a bad product at all but I'd expect a little more investment in that type of kit car.
For £300 more the Stack system would complement the car better, be upgradeable for datalogging, and if you ever came to sell the car, not affect the sale price.
Like I say, no offence to Digidash or those who have them - just think their place in the market is different to Ultima's.
/2p and all that.
r1ot said:
What's wrong with the digi dash, not expensive enough for you! I'm sorry that £450 isn't enough, but I've seen some of the competition and with a lot you seem to pay far too much for far too little.
Quite simply I don't like the look of it. That's all it is. Doesn't look 'motorsport' enough for me.
I'd looked at AIM kart dashes, they do the job for me too, and a similar price to the Digidash.
I just think the Ultima dash area lends itself better to the Stack system, truth be told, and that on a £25k+ build it seems a bit pinching to save £300 on something that you spend a lot of time looking at.
I'd never dream of sticking a pukka Stack display in a Seven, for what it's worth.
Although Im an original Digidash1 owner I do know what you mean, the Digidash2 is better looking and functionality / quality of both is very good, but I can understand why it still doesn't do it for some people in the looks department.
I have tried a similarly priced AIM Mycron3 on a friend's car though, and although it looks neater with the single LCD screen and a few LEDs for shift lights etc, its not nearly as easy to read as a Digidash.
I have tried a similarly priced AIM Mycron3 on a friend's car though, and although it looks neater with the single LCD screen and a few LEDs for shift lights etc, its not nearly as easy to read as a Digidash.
Ah the Digidash could be a good option then because I believe the guy who developed the Digidash (a chap called Alistair Massarella who used to race in RGB) is about to do some work so the Digidash2 can log engine parameters via the Emerald. Im not sure how far down the road this development is or how long it will take to become a feature of the production unit, but its worth bearing in mind.
I've got a Digidash 2 on my Fury R1 and it is very good. I'd prefer an analogue speedo and rev counter though.
Rob
www.robcollingridge.com/kitcar/
Rob
www.robcollingridge.com/kitcar/
Hi all, I am currently building my Fury and am going to put a Techtronics Evodash in my car, I have already got the dash and am currently trying to fit it all.
I considered the DigiDash 2 but for me it looked a little toy car ish. I have no doubt its a good dash but for me the evodash was a better solution.
Mathew
I considered the DigiDash 2 but for me it looked a little toy car ish. I have no doubt its a good dash but for me the evodash was a better solution.
Mathew
The Stack system is nice too, also the Digidash - all different in their own ways and you have to choose one that 'fits' your style. 
I have got a Digi Dash2 in my BEC and a Stack in my Caterham. Both do what's expected of them very well. The DD is a great bit of kit for its ease of configuration but I do find it a bit annoying scrolling through screens for fairly basic information on different screens (fuel springs to mind) and also the gear selector display has an annoying habit of flashing back to "6" when I change gear up or down before showing its correct gear, maybe its a delay that I could adjust?
Overall if you are building a Ultima even on a budget I agree it may not look the part in such an expensive-type car but horses for courses, it would certainly be functional enough for you.
HTH
T
Overall if you are building a Ultima even on a budget I agree it may not look the part in such an expensive-type car but horses for courses, it would certainly be functional enough for you.
HTH
T
FNG said:
I have to say if I was buying a completed Ultima (I wish!) I'd walk if it had a Digidash.
Let's face it, the thought process goes "if he's scrimped on that, what else?"
It's not a bad product at all but I'd expect a little more investment in that type of kit car.
For £300 more the Stack system would complement the car better, be upgradeable for datalogging, and if you ever came to sell the car, not affect the sale price.
Like I say, no offence to Digidash or those who have them - just think their place in the market is different to Ultima's.
/2p and all that.
Let's face it, the thought process goes "if he's scrimped on that, what else?"
It's not a bad product at all but I'd expect a little more investment in that type of kit car.
For £300 more the Stack system would complement the car better, be upgradeable for datalogging, and if you ever came to sell the car, not affect the sale price.
Like I say, no offence to Digidash or those who have them - just think their place in the market is different to Ultima's.
/2p and all that.
I've have a Digidash in my Ultima and I can assure you that I haven't scrimped on any part of my build, just because it was cheaper than the Stack doesn't necessarily mean that it's rubbish. I could afford a Stack dash but I went for the Digi2 with all the data logging etc, as it offered more functionality than the Stack. It also has the warning lights in the dash (SVA friendly) which saved me from installing 'kit car'(no offence)type tell tale lights or the Bright6 module in the dashboard itself.
The only thing I would change would be the A and B buttons on the dash, but for what it offers I can live with them.
Also ETB have offered excellent customer service for some of my more stupid questions.
I have been given positive comments on the look I have gone for, and if they didn't like it they would've said.
I wonder, have you ever looked at the interior of a built to factory spec Ultima?
Graham-P said:
I've have a Digidash in my Ultima and I can assure you that I haven't scrimped on any part of my build...
Good - pleased to hear it - my interpretation of seeing a Digidash in an Ultima differs from yours.
Graham-P said:
just because it was cheaper than the Stack doesn't necessarily mean that it's rubbish
I took pains to note that I don't believe the Digidash to be rubbish.
Graham-P said:
I wonder, have you ever looked at the interior of a built to factory spec Ultima?
What does that have to do with anything? I'm not sold on the Digidash, versus a Stack, in an Ultima. My preference.
To answer your question, despite not seeing the relevance of it, is that yes I've seen quite a few Ultimas. There's not a lot more I can add to that unless you can explain what difference it makes?
To summarise:
I'm pleased you're happy with your choice of instruments.
It's unfortunate that you seem to have taken offence to me expressing my opinion.
Hope the above makes it clear for a second time that my post was merely my subjective viewpoint and is not a poke at the Digidash or the people that buy them.
Edited by FNG on Tuesday 10th April 11:08
Having seen the Digidash in Grahams Ultima I can say I'd think very carefully before I spent the extra on a new STACK dash (and I had a STACK in my Ultima).... also the digidash is definatelly better quality IMO than the std Ultima dials so I'd also say it would be very unlikelly to effect your residuals if it's done nicelly.
I guess its down to what you want to see, personnelly I like the STACK layout with an analogue rev counter with everything else digital... the Digidash has a different enphasis and seems more road biased to me.
I guess its down to what you want to see, personnelly I like the STACK layout with an analogue rev counter with everything else digital... the Digidash has a different enphasis and seems more road biased to me.
FNG said:
Let's face it, the thought process goes "if he's scrimped on that, what else?"
I think this is the bit along with suggesting that it would effect resale values purelly because you don't like the look, is what gets the back up of those that may have used them.
I'm not a lover of the Digidashes look myself but then I know of lots of people that didn't like my STACK and considered it a royal waste of money and considering it added nothing to the performance or enjoyment of the car they could possibly be right.... which is why I have a STACK for my GTT lol.
Edited by andygtt on Tuesday 10th April 16:51
Appreciate the point Andy, I was trying my best not to hack anyone off and did point out it was my opinion based on aesthetics and brand image, not quality or functionality.
I'm not going to edit my post cos what's done is done - but will reiterate that I don't intend to offend.
As for residuals - one man's meat and all that. I'd personally decline the car.
I'm not going to edit my post cos what's done is done - but will reiterate that I don't intend to offend.
As for residuals - one man's meat and all that. I'd personally decline the car.
Having re-read the post I think I jumped in with both feet there. Oopps sorry about that.
I do not have a problem with peoples opinion, I think it was just the comment about scrimping that got to me.
I agree with you on one man's meat etc.............
Also that my car is more road biased than race.
I do not have a problem with peoples opinion, I think it was just the comment about scrimping that got to me.
I agree with you on one man's meat etc.............
Also that my car is more road biased than race.
Edited by Graham-P on Tuesday 10th April 20:35
I'd also suggest looking at Race Technology's Dash 2, very nice looking dash:
www.race-technology.com/dash2_2_31.html
www.race-technology.com/dash2_2_31.html
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff