what would your ideal dashboard be like?

stapan · 08-10-2005, 09:47 PM

so, its almost time to do my dash and I'd love to get some more ideas.

I have a totally blank slate. a totally bare firewall. all heater/ac vents and controls are thrown in the garbage, etc. all there is is the steering column, a brake pedal, a gas pedal, and the fuse block. thats it. (you should see the looks I got at the drive thru today)

so there is plenty of room for anything. I am making a whole dashboard entirely from scratch. what would your ideal dashboard be like, or what cool thing would it have?

numbers · 08-10-2005, 11:37 PM

As long as you've got a stripper pole at front center, I don't think you can go wrong.

rsd212 · 08-10-2005, 11:38 PM

One giant touchscreen.

JaymzRR · 08-10-2005, 11:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rsd212

One giant touchscreen.

^^

GreenBeast · 08-11-2005, 10:54 AM

nice big touchscreen...10inch or so,
built in hard-buttons like a ripped apart shuttle express or something,
car controls/AC vents in places that YOU need them rather than where the manufacturer thinks they should be

schillrw · 08-11-2005, 10:56 AM

wow...you are brave (and must be talented)

what kind of car is this?

2Fast · 08-11-2005, 10:57 AM

One word, 'KITT'

evandude · 08-11-2005, 11:03 AM

if you're really going to go all the way...
I think it would be cool to have a small touchscreen (7") in the dash permanently exposed, and a much bigger one (12", 15") that would flip up from the top of the dash. then you'd have one discreet one good for normal driving without being too distracting and/or getting you pulled over, and one big one for watching movies in a parking lot.

and how about some sort of fancy flip-out keyboard while you're at it, or at least a good slot to store one... and a little place to store a mouse as well.

and... of course, a fully molded-in slot-loading CDROM... and how about a molded-in character LCD for status display and stuff.

oh, and of course some ports. a few USB ports and some RCA and/or headphone jacks for audio and video input, so you could plug in a game console or something.

edit: well now that i've stopped brainstorming about all the wonderful possibilities... don't you hate it when you return from the fantasy world and realize you're at work?

rsd212 · 08-11-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by evandude

and... of course, a fully molded-in slot-loading CDROM... and how about a molded-in character LCD for status display and stuff.

You forgot the molded NES cartridge slot. Now THAT would be pimp.

2Fast · 08-11-2005, 11:19 AM

You could build the whole pc into the dash, it would save bootspace and make things like USB and slot-load DVD easy, i'd go for an 8" screen as well.

RoyN · 08-11-2005, 10:50 PM

post pics... leather, suede, chrome...

make it high class, no bling though cause that is crap not class

Peoples · 08-11-2005, 11:12 PM

this (astin martin dash btw)

Peoples · 08-11-2005, 11:14 PM

you could make your own information center with VFDs/inverted color LCDs, and it could include music info....and gps info. The touchscreen should be off to the right

Bugbyte · 08-12-2005, 12:20 AM

Like an aircraft cockpit. Multiple screens with different functions grouped on them. An instrumentation screen, perhaps two, one with instrumentation and one with navigation, a screen that has all climate controls and automotive functions like windows, door locks, etc. Separate screen for entertainment system, video control, passenger entertainment, separate screen for PC functions including internet access, wardriving and such.

All displays would be similar in size and reconfigurable to display any of the monitor signals.

Like this.

Large version here

Peoples · 08-12-2005, 09:11 AM

yeah, i havent seen anyone put radar in their car yet. that would be pretty nifty