4 ms·

Years ago I had a Saab. Everything was a button/knob. Probably the best car instrument panel I've ever used/seen. https://i0.wp.com/saabblog.net/wp-content/u

Years ago I had a Saab. Everything was a button/knob. Probably the best car instrument panel I've ever used/seen. https://i0.wp.com/saabblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Saab_9-3_2.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 https://i0.wp.com/saabblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Sa...

lb1lf 2y ago
And night mode! A killer feature I’ve missed on any car I’ve driven since. (Quite simple - kills all instrument lights except speedo. If something happens which requires your attention, the relevant instrument comes back to life. Makes driving in the dark much less exhausting)
- alberth 2y ago
  I totally forgot about that, yes - was amazing! IIRC, the instrument panel was design by Saab aerospace division.
- swamp_donkey 2y ago
  My recollection is it also dimmed the areas of the Speedo that were far from the current speed
- jonahhorowitz 2y ago
  Yes! Night mode was great on long road trips. I've honestly thought of buying a gently used late-00s Saab instead of anything new.
  - Jeff2Serve 2y ago
    That is exactly what I did last year. Bought a low mileage 2003 9-5. Treated the whole process like owning a commercial aircraft where replaced as part as possible to start fresh. Easier in this day and age, with internet helping on guidance and parts. I am not a car guy overall, though average auto design, external and internal, low-priced or expensive, is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Saab was about only thing that was calming for me.
dismalaf 2y ago
Saabs had amazing design, especially the interior "cockpit". Miss them.
- b0ner_t0ner 2y ago
  SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan AB) started out making airplanes.
  - dismalaf 2y ago
    I'm aware. And they still make planes.
- abruzzi 2y ago
  I don't know if they still do it, but I loved my old Saab 99 with the ignition switch in the console between the front seats. Intead of locking the steering, it locked the gearshift in reverse. It didn't make anything work better, but it made the end user experience feel different/special.
  - petee 2y ago
    They kept it for a long time, I had an '87 900 and a '04 9-3 which had a fob but still plugged in and turned in the center like the old ones. I liked the position; I heard it used to foil car thiefs who couldn't figure out where the ignition was
- petee 2y ago
  Same, and they all had great sightlines. When I bought my 9-3 as the dealer was going out of business, he told me what a huge deal it was internally that they didn't offer cupholders in the US, the idea being that you should be focused on driving not drinking. US dealers pressured them into finally adding that ninja popup before they went out of business
gloxkiqcza 2y ago
It was sometimes mocked but I actually really like the 1st gen Porsche Panamera center console full of buttons as well https://cdn.elferspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/16/ABE84436-C324-4968-A9CF-6FB5BD53886D-scaled.jpeg https://cdn.elferspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/16/ABE8...
- CamperBob2 2y ago
  Amen. And if anybody mocks my Gen2 Macan with 100+ physical buttons and controls within reach of the driver, they will get mocked right the fuck back.
m000 2y ago
Early '00s was the peak of car dashboard UX. After that it has been mostly regressions, sold as "innovation".
- qball 2y ago
  Early '00s was the peak of computer UX, too.
  - psd1 2y ago
    I see where you're coming from with that, but for me, it's either a shell or omnisearch boxes like in Windows 7 and VS code (or emacs)

lb1lf 2y ago

And night mode! A killer feature I’ve missed on any car I’ve driven since. (Quite simple - kills all instrument lights except speedo. If something happens which requires your attention, the relevant instrument comes back to life. Makes driving in the dark much less exhausting)

alberth 2y ago
I totally forgot about that, yes - was amazing! IIRC, the instrument panel was design by Saab aerospace division.
swamp_donkey 2y ago
My recollection is it also dimmed the areas of the Speedo that were far from the current speed
jonahhorowitz 2y ago
Yes! Night mode was great on long road trips. I've honestly thought of buying a gently used late-00s Saab instead of anything new.
- Jeff2Serve 2y ago
  That is exactly what I did last year. Bought a low mileage 2003 9-5. Treated the whole process like owning a commercial aircraft where replaced as part as possible to start fresh. Easier in this day and age, with internet helping on guidance and parts. I am not a car guy overall, though average auto design, external and internal, low-priced or expensive, is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Saab was about only thing that was calming for me.

dismalaf 2y ago

Saabs had amazing design, especially the interior "cockpit". Miss them.

b0ner_t0ner 2y ago
SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan AB) started out making airplanes.
- dismalaf 2y ago
  I'm aware. And they still make planes.
abruzzi 2y ago
I don't know if they still do it, but I loved my old Saab 99 with the ignition switch in the console between the front seats. Intead of locking the steering, it locked the gearshift in reverse. It didn't make anything work better, but it made the end user experience feel different/special.
- petee 2y ago
  They kept it for a long time, I had an '87 900 and a '04 9-3 which had a fob but still plugged in and turned in the center like the old ones. I liked the position; I heard it used to foil car thiefs who couldn't figure out where the ignition was
petee 2y ago
Same, and they all had great sightlines. When I bought my 9-3 as the dealer was going out of business, he told me what a huge deal it was internally that they didn't offer cupholders in the US, the idea being that you should be focused on driving not drinking. US dealers pressured them into finally adding that ninja popup before they went out of business

gloxkiqcza 2y ago

It was sometimes mocked but I actually really like the 1st gen Porsche Panamera center console full of buttons as well https://cdn.elferspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/16/ABE84436-C324-4968-A9CF-6FB5BD53886D-scaled.jpeg https://cdn.elferspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/16/ABE8...

CamperBob2 2y ago
Amen. And if anybody mocks my Gen2 Macan with 100+ physical buttons and controls within reach of the driver, they will get mocked right the fuck back.

m000 2y ago

Early '00s was the peak of car dashboard UX. After that it has been mostly regressions, sold as "innovation".

qball 2y ago
Early '00s was the peak of computer UX, too.
- psd1 2y ago
  I see where you're coming from with that, but for me, it's either a shell or omnisearch boxes like in Windows 7 and VS code (or emacs)