Back in April of last year, I bought a control unit along with a set of Defi gauges: oil pressure and temperature, boost, and water temperature (the latter is looking for a new owner), all with beautiful, deep amber backlighting. They match Hawk’s ambience perfectly. I then set out to find an ATI gauge pod, which turned out to be quite a challenge. There is a bunch of similar products available, but none with attachment clips at the bottom, and I wanted it to fit perfectly, with no squeaks or gaps. The Belgians came to the rescue, and so, in mid-September, the postman brought a package from AVB Sports.

A quick test fit — looks good. There were a few issues, though: after installation, I found that the pressure sensor was faulty and had to be replaced. But in the end, everything works perfectly and is installed as it should be, in the oil channels of engine’s block.

The last thing I wanted to do was to upholster the pod. And this is where The Witcher comes in, or rather, Valgard Design (those who know, know). At work, I often hear that you can get something quickly, cheaply, and well, but the problem is, you can only choose two options. With Valgard Design, that’s not the case — you don’t have to choose. Here’s how it works: not fast, probably not cheap, but it’s done really well, actually, exceptionally well. I first chatted with them in mid-October, I handed the pod in at the beginning of December, and I picked it up only yesterday. The quality though is absolutely out of this world! All the seams are exactly where they should be, the panels are perfectly integrated, creating a coherent unit with the pod, and the Alcantara looks great, (the geometry of the pot is quite complex, making it even more impressive). I highly recommend them. Here’s how it looks before installing on the dash:

And here’s the ambience I mentioned:

If anyone needs a Defi water temperature gauge and sensor, I’ve got one available:

• Impreza
• Gd
• Sti