According to my dealer's Eclipse Rep, the company saw two issues with the last series controls:I think the 2003 and 2004 models looked cheesy, with the baby-blue illumination and all, and I own one (8443). The 2005, in my opinion, look for better though I can't figure out why they ditched the rubber knobs - the new ones appear to be the same exact size and not only less funtional, tactile-wise, but also aesthetically inferior. Another member had the idea of ordering some of the rubber ones of old and swapping 'em out - wonder how easy that'd be?
Well, Max, you're the one who has used the unit so clearly you, not I, know how the knobs feel; however, I say that those are a couple pretty weak reasons that Eclipse would use as to why they would no longer use the rubber. I have experienced the lag you are talking about, but during *normal* use (as long as I am not rapid-fire cranking), I have no issues whatsover w/my 8443.According to my dealer's Eclipse Rep, the company saw two issues with the last series controls:The rubber knobs would wear (thus not so nice aesthetically) and and with the added grip it would cause calibration issues(lag from constant excessive spinning)- so they decided to put a more solid knob.
I actually like it beter.
Hey I dug the grip of my 8443, i had no excessive wear either. But according to the rep there were alot of requests for new knobs on those units.The way older units did have rubber grips, but you have to agree the 8443/8053/8454 were way softer and had much more contact area..Well, Max, you're the one who has used the unit so clearly you, not I, know how the knobs feel; however, I say that those are a couple pretty weak reasons that Eclipse would use as to why they would no longer use the rubber. I have experienced the lag you are talking about, but during *normal* use (as long as I am not rapid-fire cranking), I have no issues whatsover w/my 8443.
And the knobs "wearing?" No way... I've had mine for two years, knobs look like new, and I have used my unit excessively. Cool, though, that you like the new knobbers. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
Btw, the old Eclipses -- from way, way back -- have all used rubber knobs and there were no problems... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif