It only takes me 3kms or so easy town driving to get coolant to around 60deg, only a little bit more to get to normal operating 80deg. Hard driving or up hills with a fair bit of throttle it will hit 100deg. This is with new coolant and everything flushed.
Temp gauge is pretty ordinary to go by, the needle is in same spot from 65deg-100deg. I am glad I put in madman ems, can keep an eye on everything. (Heaters arent worth turning on until coolant hits around 60deg) :)

