Auto Meter buys Stack ltd, meddles.

In 2007 Auto Meter bought Stack ltd.
http://www.autometer.com/media_newsarticle.aspx?yr=0&mo=0&pg=4&aid=76
They bought a company that made this:

After some time, Auto Meter starts selling this (albeit cheaper):

My response is filmed here:


I'm curious how the mixed crowd here feels about this. I posted this on thejdm and being that the site is pretty focused on style, predictably there wasn't much discussion, rather a lot of agreement.

I love it, having to stuff 10 gauges somewhere in your car to be able to monitor things closely is just retarded.

I agree, Autometer makes great products, don't really see how this is a "bad" thing for anyone short of maybe the "JDM fanyboys" who don't like to say they have an autometer product.

I tried to find the stuff via google. Ill bet Stack got a good price for the company and for longevity sake autometer should be a great parent company. I do like autometer gauges in general.

Flicktitty wrote:

I agree, Autometer makes great products, don't really see how this is a "bad" thing for anyone short of maybe the "JDM fanyboys" who don't like to say they have an autometer product.

Aesthetics? It's not at all about the Auto Meter brand, throw that on there, no problem. The issue is they changed the look of the meter, and made it very Nascar and less classic motorsport.

People wouldn't be pleased if their Lamborghini had VW badges all over it, but does that make them "elitist"?

i was contemplating buying a stack unit...but then i found a good deal on the rest of the defi gauges i wanted. i do like the older look better. that pro comp bullshit needs to go. if they come down in price some more i might pick one up, but for now i will stick with my defi gauges that dance around and do magical shit like make my panties tight when i turn my car on. it's like i own a cadillac or something........ha hah? hopefully some one gets that joke.

Looking at the screen pictures you posted leads me to believe that it's much easier to read the gauge face after autometer got a hold of it. I had a procomp tach and I loved it, it was very easy to read.

I'd run it...but then again, I do like to turn left.

77 wrote:

Flicktitty wrote:

I agree, Autometer makes great products, don't really see how this is a "bad" thing for anyone short of maybe the "JDM fanyboys" who don't like to say they have an autometer product.

Aesthetics? It's not at all about the Auto Meter brand, throw that on there, no problem. The issue is they changed the look of the meter, and made it very Nascar and less classic motorsport.

People wouldn't be pleased if their Lamborghini had VW badges all over it, but does that make them "elitist"?

i don't know if you have actually ever sat in a (newer) "lambo" but they do have audi radio's and climate control. pretty much the exact units from the a8 line if i remember correctly. (its been a while)

as far as the autometer version of the stack gauges, i say who cares? its a legit american company who makes products in america making a quality product at a better price. i don't see anything wrong with it.

93sapphirecoupe wrote:

i don't know if you have actually ever sat in a (newer) "lambo" but they do have audi radio's and climate control. pretty much the exact units from the a8 line if i remember correctly. (its been a while)

Parts-sharing for common items just makes fiscal sense. However, these units aren't badged as VAG parts on the dash. I didn't expect VW to reinvent the wheel for every item on the Bugatti Veyron, but people who know, noticed shared parts. Takes away a little of what makes truely unique cars special.

93sapphirecoupe wrote:

as far as the autometer version of the stack gauges, i say who cares? its a legit american company who makes products in america making a quality product at a better price. i don't see anything wrong with it.

I'm not debating that Auto Meter making the product here doesn't make it "better" in a "I love America" sort of way, I'm with you on that, really. What I'm talking about is that changing the aesthetics of the part, not just sneaking their badge on it next to Stack, is taking away some of what made the original special. It would be like GM buying Pagani, and not just sneaking one of those little silver "GM" squares on the side, but instead putting "Firebird" on the back, and the flaming chicken decal on the hood. Car would remain the same, but it would trash the class of it. If you can't see that, you'll never "see" my point.