A Houston Newbie

[djyeti88]

Hello all! I've been looking at these roadsters over the past couple of years and I'm working on saving up the cash to build one. In the meantime I'll be reading all the great threads to learn as much as I can from this very knowledgeable community.

As it stands right now, since this is very modern version of a classic sports car, I wanted to carry that a bit farther. I'm looking at the technology that we have access today and trying to find a way to make a one of a kind modern roadster. I know from what I have read that the "paddle shift" controls are not favored as much as the good old 5speed manual. I haven't seen anyone who has built one of these that has put paddle shifters in their set-up. I was also thinking about a custom digital gauge set-up like I have seen on some hot-rods at the car shows.

Anyways, many of these ideas may change as I see what others have done or realize that many of those ideas are going to simply be above my skill level. I look forward any comments or wisdom that y'all can bestow on a newbie in Texas.

[Mad Dog]

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you've got some interesting ideas going for a build.

[riptide motorsport]

Welcome!

[Rusty_S85]

Welcome, the digital gauge route is nice but alittle advice if you can try to drive a car with digital gauges, 9 times out of 10 people hate driving cars with the digital gauges since they are harder to read at a quick glance like the indicator gauges.

Aside from that dont let what the majority thinks you should do influence you, make up your own mind from reading on here theres alot of different views and alot of different ideas and ways to build. Its easier to read and research and buy the right item the first time instead of having to change multiple times spending money that you didnt have to.

[Riff]

I can't speak about driving with a digital panel, but I can tell you that around 2005 the small airplane manufacturers starting offering only the "Glass Cockpit" airplanes. There was a big divide among the pilots. Some loved them, others hated them. The debate still continues today. I love the glass panels in airplanes, but have never driven a car with one so I am not sure if I would like it or not. You won't know until you try it for yourself. This is your project, do it the way you want, if you don't like it, change it.

[Rusty_S85]

The thing is a plane and a car are different beasts, if you look down at your gauges too long while driving a car you run the potential for a collision, not so in the air with a plane considering most planes have two pilots.

In the end its all about what the person likes, its best for him to drive some cars with them and see what he thinks cause digital dashes are not cheap, dakota digital makes a digital dash for my car and with all sensors and wiring and gauges was right around $900. That is an expensive mistake to make if you end up not liking it and then having to buy new gauges and sending units.