Actually polarised sunglasses don't allow you to view that centre at all from experience.

And yes , all cars have a similar issue but generally being able to see the speedo with lights on or off isn't as big of an issue.

I drive almost 100 % of the time with headlights on just so I can read the speedo.

Adzee said:

Actually polarised sunglasses don't allow you to view that centre at all from experience.

And yes , all cars have a similar issue but generally being able to see the speedo with lights on or off isn't as big of an issue.

I drive almost 100 % of the time with headlights on just so I can read the speedo.

Click to expand...

From experience they do I drive with my glasses on when it's not dark and can always see all of the instument cluster. From experience instrument glare is far worse in the uk as the sun is lower in the sky more of the time. It's going to sound counterintuitive, but I need sunglasses more in the UK than when I lived in Australia. I'm never in my car without my polarised Oakley Fuel Cells

On further 'reflection' (sorry!), while it is true that many other cars suffer from this problem most of them do not have a light ivory-coloured steering cowl to reflect so brightly on the instruments. This is the first vehicle I've had in which the problem was even noticable. I'd like to hear from someone who has the dark grey cowl as to whether this is an issue for them.

This was an issue for me with the black interior of my 500 (it's not grey) but then I got a nice pair of glasses

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:

On further 'reflection' (sorry!), while it is true that many other cars suffer from this problem most of them do not have a light ivory-coloured steering cowl to reflect so brightly on the instruments. This is the first vehicle I've had in which the problem was even noticable. I'd like to hear from someone who has the dark grey cowl as to whether this is an issue for them.

Click to expand...

You have heard from someone with a black interior. Me! I have a 500s with the black plastic dash, I think potentially the angle of the clear plastic may be a contributing factor.

I also have a black dash on my 500s, no real issues with it and I drive with polarised sunnies most of the year including winter - I can see the speedo quite well with sunnies, the open sunroof doesn't create a glare issue either ... By the way you can adjust the steering wheel's height - in case that helps...

PsFiat said:

I also have a black dash on my 500s, no real issues with it and I drive with polarised sunnies most of the year including winter - I can see the speedo quite well with sunnies, the open sunroof doesn't create a glare issue either ... By the way you can adjust the steering wheel's height - in case that helps...

Click to expand...

Adjusting the steering column makes no difference at all unfortunately. The speedo is not so much the problem, perhaps because in my car it has the white background - but the flat face of the central data display makes it difficult to read in most daylight situations and impossible if the sun is high enough to strike the steering wheel cowling. Looks like we'll just have to grin and bear it.

Hmm... Have you tried sitting higher in the seat ? Obviously I don't know how tall you are, but wonder if you sit higher in the seat that it might help ??

PsFiat said:

Hmm... Have you tried sitting higher in the seat ? Obviously I don't know how tall you are, but wonder if you sit higher in the seat that it might help ??

Click to expand...

I'm about 5'10" and I like a laid back driving position so even if that worked it wouldn't be comfortable to me. Nonetheless when I'm in the car tomorrow I'll try different positions and see.

Definitely worth experimenting. Regardless of your favourite driving position see if adjusting the seat back and height helps with the glare. Then it's a trade-off between no glare and driving position. Stay in touch!

PsFiat said:

Definitely worth experimenting. Regardless of your favourite driving position see if adjusting the seat back and height helps with the glare. Then it's a trade-off between no glare and driving position. Stay in touch!

Click to expand...

I shall indeed. And, if the weather cooperates, I'll take some photos of various aspects.

Clearly all the cool kids east of Melbourne have 500's. I got mine when I was still in Sydney but I to am now on the east side.

Looks great PsFiat, so glad you finally got it.

Just a couple of quick shots to illustrate. Taken today around 3pm; the first facing directly into the sun and the second at ninety degrees to it. Note that it's mid-Winter here and the sun's angle is as low as it gets - in Summer it's nearly overhead and much more intense of course.

Incidentally, I've tried varying my driving position but it makes no appreciable difference - I just get slightly different views of the cowling..

Bugger. I now see what you are saying. I either haven't noticed it or it isn't so bad as to have bothered me in mine, but that does look quite unreadable as you say

Polarizing sunglasses should help. Low tint if needs be.

zanes said:

Polarizing sunglasses should help. Low tint if needs be.

Click to expand...

why didn't I think of that?

306maxi said:

why didn't I think of that?

Click to expand...

Bugger, should read the whole thread....

As to them blocking out the centre (clock/fuel/temp guages I guess?) then no, they really don't.

Wasn't a dig at you

zanes said:

Polarizing sunglasses should help. Low tint if needs be.

Click to expand...

Sadly I have to wear what my licence refers to as 'corrective lenses' while driving, which limits one's choices somewhat. Clip-ons didn't make any appreciable difference and I'm not going to invest in contacts just because of a Fiat design flaw.

By the way, someone here suggested switching on the headlights to backlight the speedo but this doesn't help. For starters the speedo (as you can see above) is not the major issue and, in any case, in bright sun the sensor automatically turns the backlight off and the central display to full brightness regardless of what setting you may have adjusted it to. Believe it or not I only discovered this fact after 12 month's ownership!

When I got my car tinted, I also optioned up for another $40 a clear uv tint for the windscreen. Virtually undetectable if you don't know what to look for but IMHO it has reduced heat in car and no more burning on back of hands on hot days when sun is glaring down on you. This might be why I haven't noticed it, but doubt my clear tint has some sort of polarizing effect???