Binnacle Blues

[GS450-Junkie]

I was going to post a poll, but I'll just ask....

I'm 6' tall. My seat is all the way back, my steering wheel is all the way up. I can barely see my turn signals, headlight and high beam indicators. I need to duck down to see them. Is this normal? Anyone else drive like that or is my binnacle just aimed too far down towards the floor? I feel dumb for asking but anyone feel like posting some pictures of what you can see from your driver's seat during normal driving? Perhaps you could post your height along with it. LOL I mean, how the hell does Dave S. see anything on his instrument panel?? The guy is a foot taller than all of us!! (No offense Dave).

I also found out tonight my speedo is about 5-6 mph off from actual speed at all speeds. Looks like I'm going back in there again. :facepalm:

[DMCMW Dave]

I know which way I'm turning, I don't need little arrows to tell me.




Seriously, I probably have to lean the seat back farther. Or you don't have the binnacle seated all the way to the dash.

[dmruschell]

I'm 5'9", but I don't tilt the seat all the way back. I have it where it's comfortable, and I cant see the top row of lights on either of our DeLoreans. One is an original binnacle and one is DMCH recovered.

[dustybarn]

5' 10" and I can't see them either. It seems to be a common situation.

I just assumed that this is one of those places where the Delorean was just not as thoroughly developed as it might have been.

[5875]

5' 10" and I can't see them either. It seems to be a common situation.

I just assumed that this is one of those places where the Delorean was just not as thoroughly developed as it might have been.

Same here.

[SS Spoiler]

I wedged some 5/8" blocks under the lower edge to tilt the binnacle up.

[Dangermouse]

It's not just your height, it's how that length is made up. I am 6' as well and have the same problem, but have a long back (relative to my legs) and have to slide down to see those signals.

If you were long legged, with a shorter back, you may not have the same issue

[Jonathan]

I'm 6'3". When I sit comfortably (oxymoron?) in the car, the top of my head is in the recessed area of the top of the door panel/roof. In fact, I can't wear a baseball hat while in the car it's that close and I can't look over at myself in the rear view mirror if I tried without moving the mirror beforehand.

I don't mind the way I fit in the car even if it sounds claustrophobic and I have a black interior too. I can't quite see the top row of lights either (turn signals, headlights, etc.) That doesn't bother me as much as how I can't see the warning lights well down the right side because they seem to get blocked out by a portion of the steering wheel. It's often the battery light that's hidden and if it came on indicating a shredded alternator belt and thus no coolant flow too, I wouldn't count on seeing it immediately, which could get ugly/expensive. I've considered putting a reflector of some kind down the right edge or even along the bottom to catch my eye if one of the lights comes on.

Agreed on it being a piece of the car that never got the refinement or evolution it should have received to improve it. Oh well. I would have bought a Civic if that kind of thing was important to me. It isn't. And the DeLorean is no Civic.

[Denverdelorean]

I am 6'4" and I can't see the turn indicators or brights in my '81. Funny thing is, I remember being able to see them in my first Delorean, an '83. I'm sure my memory is fuzzy as they are identical in dimension.

[DMCMW Dave]

If you were long legged, with a shorter back, you may not have the same issue

----That would be me.

Another factor is the seat itself. If your padding/reinforcement have collapsed, you'll sit lower in the seat.

[GS450-Junkie]

Well, at least I'm not alone then. I'd like to block up the front of my binnacle with washers to prop it up a bit, but it leaves a nasty gap between the binnacle and the knee pads. I guess I will just leave it then. Still contemplating taking the binnacle back off to fix my mph problem. I suspected it was about 3 mph off at all speeds, but I recently downloaded an app on the 'ol smart phone and it is more like 5-6 mph too fast at all speeds. But, then again how accurate is the app? Tried it in my wife's Jetta and hers is off 2-3 mph as well, tried it in my truck and it's right on. I wonder how many cars are even correct in the first place? Never gave it much thought until then.

[dustybarn]

Well, at least I'm not alone then. I'd like to block up the front of my binnacle with washers to prop it up a bit, but it leaves a nasty gap between the binnacle and the knee pads. I guess I will just leave it then. Still contemplating taking the binnacle back off to fix my mph problem. I suspected it was about 3 mph off at all speeds, but I recently downloaded an app on the 'ol smart phone and it is more like 5-6 mph too fast at all speeds. But, then again how accurate is the app? Tried it in my wife's Jetta and hers is off 2-3 mph as well, tried it in my truck and it's right on. I wonder how many cars are even correct in the first place? Never gave it much thought until then.

I'll bet the app is pretty accurate, since it no doubt uses GPS. I tried the same thing, and my D is pretty much spot-on at 55mph. Interestingly, my Smart car reads about 2mph high (as I have heard they all do).

[awildermode]

6', 5'9", 5'10", 6'3", 6'4"...I am a tall 5'6" and I too have trouble seeing the top row of binnacle lights. Most of my height is in my legs. At least I can see over the steering wheel.

[JohnZ]

I'm 6 feet tall, and although I'm very comfortable in driving / entering-exiting and generally staying in the car, I have troubles in looking at the volt meter and the temp gauge... rmps and speedometer are a bit hidden too!

Gonna have to take it as it comes :)

[ALEXAKOS]

Interesting thread. I get to see everybody's height and proportions. Now I know what size pants I can buy for Christmas to dangermouse and sweater to Dave :) I am 6,5" and all I see is the door head liner. Binnacle is an interior design thing for me.

[SS Spoiler]

6'-2", long in the back to the point I can't see overhead stop light without bending down. I fact when I put in sheepskin seat covers my head hits the
door....