Uncle Paul
Well-Known Member
Not sure I buy this gauges drama.
Almost nobody watches their gauges during casual driving. Manufacturers usuall pair them up with warning lights that direct you to checking your gauges. Modern cars have almost no user servicible parts that can be self repaired with the information available from dash gauges. You usually need to plug in a diagnostic computer to see what parts are suspect of need replacement.
Most modern vehicles have fairly non accurate gauges. Most temp and pressure gauges don't even have numerical markings, just hot-cold, high-low, or color coated guidelines. The computers not control all these parameters with feedback loops and sensors.
An electric vehicle needs no driver gauges, but can instead rely of warnings displayed on the display. Tesla's system is far advanced and will give advanced warnings to slow down, pull over safely, get out ot the car, check tires, take in for service, or do not drive. Far more useful information that a gauge that reads at 2 O'clock instead of 3 O'clock.
When I used to race, that was a different story. We were always pushing our vehicles to the limit, and it was much temperature control as fast driving that got us to the finish line in one piece. We were trained to scan our gauges on every straight piece of track, but the rest of the course there was no time (or concentration) for that.
Even modern airplanes have gotten away from all those gauges that were impossible to constantly monitor, and displays just pop up items that are out of normal readings.
It is going to be difficult for people to change their old way of thinking and embrace a better future product. Hanging onto the preconcieved ideas might make you feel more comfortable, but there are better ways coming.
Almost nobody watches their gauges during casual driving. Manufacturers usuall pair them up with warning lights that direct you to checking your gauges. Modern cars have almost no user servicible parts that can be self repaired with the information available from dash gauges. You usually need to plug in a diagnostic computer to see what parts are suspect of need replacement.
Most modern vehicles have fairly non accurate gauges. Most temp and pressure gauges don't even have numerical markings, just hot-cold, high-low, or color coated guidelines. The computers not control all these parameters with feedback loops and sensors.
An electric vehicle needs no driver gauges, but can instead rely of warnings displayed on the display. Tesla's system is far advanced and will give advanced warnings to slow down, pull over safely, get out ot the car, check tires, take in for service, or do not drive. Far more useful information that a gauge that reads at 2 O'clock instead of 3 O'clock.
When I used to race, that was a different story. We were always pushing our vehicles to the limit, and it was much temperature control as fast driving that got us to the finish line in one piece. We were trained to scan our gauges on every straight piece of track, but the rest of the course there was no time (or concentration) for that.
Even modern airplanes have gotten away from all those gauges that were impossible to constantly monitor, and displays just pop up items that are out of normal readings.
It is going to be difficult for people to change their old way of thinking and embrace a better future product. Hanging onto the preconcieved ideas might make you feel more comfortable, but there are better ways coming.
