I have found very few things I don't like about my 991S (2014) but the one thing I don't care for is the gray background on the tachometer instead of black like on all the other instruments. When wearing sunglasses, it makes the background virtually invisible, all you can see is the tach needle. I've asked around why Porsche did that, and no one seems to be able to come up with a logical answer? Anyone know the rationale behind that?

BTW, for any of you guys ordering a car, I'd strongly suggest checking the WHITE gauge face option on your build to avoid that, and make sure the Tach is included in the option package.

 

I know they do it to differentiate the S from the base Carerra (which comes black).
Why they chose grey, I have no clue, maybe because it goes with most interior trims??
Just like the red calipers on the S, just to be different.
I remember reading about this when I ordered my car, I have yet to be bothered by it, but I know others have mentioned it before. I don't look at the tach that much, I've learned to shift mostly by sound and an inner clock (at WOT), I guess--I also have PDK, so it's a little less crucial vs a manual. I wish we had lights on the dash or steering wheel, like Ferraris do, but the big rev counter is history and tradition, so that's cool too

 

One of the great mystery's. I'm not sure I've ever talked to anyone who likes it.. The black of course is a 0$ option.. You would think the black would be standard and the silver (that's what they call it) would be an option.. Unfortunately poor souls get it by default and then hate it..

I wanted the white gauges as well. My build locked before changing it.. Unfortunately it's a $500+ option + another $350 or so to make the sport chrono match. So it was like $850 not to get white..


Note suncoast has a kit to convert the face's to another color. They aren't OEM but from what I have heard you can't tell the difference. But you do have to take some stuff apart to change them out. So it is an option...

 

It's ironic... This being my first porsche.... It took some getting used to having the rev counter only in line if sight... But i can honestly say i never look at anything else consciously now. I love the fact that engine behaviour (revs) is first and foremost and i can still see the digital speedo without averting my gaze. I can honestly say i don't remember ever watching the analogue speed, temp or any other gauge.... Just that marvellous big rev counter in the middle! Boy would i miss that if i shift to another brand...

And yes... Thankfully i ordered the black tacho facia

 

Personally I find White dials hard to read. Nothing is clearer than White on black. There is a no cost option to have black tachometer to match the other black instruments. See the attached thumbnail.

 

The grey/silver in tach and the sport plus seat backs work perfectly for my GT Silver and match my silver seatbelts too. I couldn't ask for better one

 

They need to be illuminated better either
A) the entire dial
b) the needle and numbers

I chose b

 

Does anyone have any experience with white dials in a cab? I've had them in prior, non-cab 911s, but am now concerned that with the roof open, the sun may make them unreadable.

 

I have all white dials in my cab with full red interior. I can't ever recall having any issues seeing of the dials. I have my top down just about every day.

 

I actually like the the tachometer being a different colour than the other gauges. Makes it stand out from the other gauges.

Grey works perfectly for me as I have an Agate grey exterior with black interior so the black and grey/silver theme in the interior works nicely.

I have absolutely no problem seeing the info in the grey gauge but I'm not at the bifocal age group yet as I suspect those are the people complaining about the legibility of the dials!

But to answer the OPs question, it is an "S" vs "non-S" thing to distinguish the gauges between the two (although all black is an option as above for the S)

In the 997 generation, the "S" gauges were all white (all 5) while the "non-S" gauges were all black.

 

how legible are the grey tach's markings (not the needle itself) driving with sun in your face or on the gauge , with your " young eyes " , with POLARIZED sunglasses vs unpolarized , as I think that is the issue for many who wear the former .

most seem fine with the gauge markings on cloudy/overcast sunglasses- free days , young or old

 

I like the setup with the silver tach face; also like the white dials!!

 

I had a grey one on my 2009C2S and couldn't stand it so I went out of my way to ensure the 991 had black.

ChuckJ

 

The Silver tach is less readable than the black, due to the reduced contrast between numbers and face.
Sun reflecting on the silver makes it barely readable.

Has anyone found out if its possible to buy a factory black face and get it switched out.

 

I'll check tomorrow morning ! Polarized sunglasses essentially reduce glare from lights bouncing off a horizontal plane so I definitely notice a reduction in glare from the dash and dash reflections on windshield. Should not be a problem with analogue gauges; if anything would help improve contrast.

Polarized sunglasses may make it difficult to read certain digital readouts. We had an e90 BMW and the radio digital readout essentially disappeared when wearing polarized sunglasses. What were the BMW engineers thinking !?