How relevant is the RPM counter on the dash of modern automatic and CVT cars and SUVs ?

carboy21

RPM counter was relevant during the days of the manual cars to change gears at appropriate revs. With automatics and CVT transmissions, it is just a waste of valuable real estate on the dash. Why not devote that space to the fuel gauge and temperature combo or a trip computer showing instant mileage and estimated range and average mileage and other similar modern useful information stuff ?

isellhondas

I totally agree. All three of our cars have tachs and we NEVER look at them! They are useless on cars with automatics UNLESS people push their cars to their limits.

carboy21

I am glad you agree with me. I never paid attention to RPMs in all four of my automatic vehicles except at the start to know that the car is on due to the very silent engine I have
There should be one large center speedometer surrounded by multiple displays of fuel/temp/mileage /trip computer

stever

I like having a tach for that very reason. I've been known to try to recrank running cars.

carboy21

stever said:

I like having a tach for that very reason. I've been known to try to recrank running cars.

I have the same habit but a green engine-on light would do the same job

stever

I think most of the keyless start buttons have such a light.

Still like having a tach. Go with a digital dash and you could just swap the readouts around to your preferences.

carboy21

stever said:

I think most of the keyless start buttons have such a light.

Still like having a tach. Go with a digital dash and you could just swap the readouts around to your preferences.

Digital dash would look bland. The circular offset dials look so supercar style like a Lamborghini