Why Tach's?

OK, this isn't just Toyota.. It's basically everything nowdays...
OK, so you have a 'XXXXXXX' with a 'XX' liter engine, with a 'XXXX' automatic trans.
Everything is computer controlled .. Engine, trans, all the body stuff, etc.
Hopefully the engineers got everything dialed in just perfectly so you get the max power/mpg and all that working in perfect harmony.
So, why do I need a tach? Hey, it's not a 60's muscle car with a giant V8 and a 4-speed manual tranny...
Instead of a tach, wouldn't you rather have a real volt/charging gauge and an oil pressure gauge? (I'm sure the more expensive high-performance rigs do, but...)
Even the really modern HP rigs that are manual trannys have a rev-limiter so you don't grenade the engine ...
So why do we need tachs?

 

A tachometer is extremely useful to help quickly diagnose/see any potential problems. A tachometer also helps when you’re OffRoad and you want to watch your RPMs not your speed since the low range gears have an X to 1 ratio

 

Consumers demand information. And tachs are super important while driving.

Gearing down a mountain can you tell the sound difference between 3500rpm and 5500rpm?

Offroading in 4lo its odd especially on trails, you need to know what the engine is doing.

Tachs dont need to be in CVT corollas, but anything remotely enthusiast, we need tachs.

 

I for one love being able to see my engine RPMs since I can tell a lot about what my truck is going regarding shifting, engine load, etc.

 

A better question is why push button start? I hate this feature

 

It is useful as others described and if u have a manual transmission it helps in properly shifting situations . Do some research. Google works great .

 

I will 110% second this.

 

LOL... you know I sold my 2014 2nd gen because it DIDN'T have a push button start. Outdated 20th century tech. <grinning>

 

You know you can absolutely still grenade the engine in a M/T.. but that has more to do with catching the wrong "gate" when showing off.. civic style.
Nothing to do with the tach.
I like having one though. Ok more beer.

 

What I liked about a key is it could be turned to accessory without disturbing the music.

 

The old Money Shift !!!!!

 

Exactly. Now you either have to put it in neutral before turning off the engine to keep the accessories running, or turn it off, then press it again...1st world problems? maybe, but the key was king.

 

Ditto

 

I have to deal with smart key nonsense at work. Stuff sucks when it goes wrong.

 

Oh, I agree...



But anything can go wrong, no need to be a technological Luddite. If the mythical "basic car, no power anything, vinyl floor, no A/C, roll up windows" really existed no one would buy one. I have been on a Mustang forum since 2004 and I have heard that statement ad nauseam but the folks that said it always tended to buy the loaded up models.

To each their own! And now back to the topic, which is YES a tachometer is a good idea to have (sure could have used one with my 1965 Chevy before I grenaded the engine!)

 

I totally didn’t take a basic truck and put all the factory creature comforts in


That being said I just prefer keys. Don’t know why, just do. And tachs? A must. Tach just gives more information than most think. I wish my 66 Mercedes had one!

 

Cars used to routinely come without tachs and were generally only in sports cars (time frame late 70’s - 80’s). Manufacturers realized that consumers associated them with sports cars and started adding them to all cars again. Soon, a car without a tach was an old persons car.

They can be useful (and I get usages people are describing above) but aren’t really needed for modern automatics.

Edit - I’ve never understood the hatred to smart keys but the post above about not being able to turn your engine off without turning off your accessories is dead on.

 

Towing.

 

Tachs are kinda' like turn signals . . .

The manufacturers insist on installing them, even when a large percentage of consumers will never use them.