[DeTomaso] NPC - SAAB Question

[Thomas Tornblom]

tony DiGiovanna skrev:
> Since this list collectively knows everything:  My buddy had a SAAB as a
> rental recently.  It had a button on the dash that turned all the dash
> lights and instruments off.  What the hell is that about?

Saab calls that "Black panel". It shuts down all lights and gauges 
*except* the speedo. It is to take away unnecessary distraction and 
allow your eyes to adapt to darkness on night driving. I think they 
boast this as a feature from their fighter aircraft heritage.

If anything happens that need driver attention, the panel will light up 
again.

I used to work with a guy that had been a radar operator during his 
military service, and he always complained that the instrument lights in 
cars couldn't be turned down enough. I found that odd as I always wanted 
to have them bright. He told me that the radar operators have everything 
turned down low in a pitch black room. I tried that once when I was 
driving out in the country, where there are no background lights, and I 
really like it. The only problem is that the blue indicator light for 
the brights is not dimmed with the instruments, which makes it way too 
bright when you turn down everything else.

I once borrowed a Saab, with black panel, from a friend and tested both 
the black panel feature and turning down the light in the speedo, and it 
is amazing how much better road visibility you get. Moonlight is very 
bright when your eyes are adapted to darkness.

DeTomaso knew that all the time when they put the dim Veglias in :-)

Thomas, now running with dimmed instrument lights