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> Analog tach and speedo with idiot lights for critical alerts (there is literally an ISO standard for this) should be mandated by law. Substitute tach for a ba

> Analog tach and speedo with idiot lights for critical alerts (there is literally an ISO standard for this) should be mandated by law. Substitute tach for a battery monitor in an EV. You don't need a tacho. Some people add them in, like the Mini dashboard in the pic below, but they are absolutely not necessary. We managed fine without them for long enough. https://treasuredcars.com/public/uploads/2019/10/22/mini_classic-1966-20191022190545-8.jpg https://treasuredcars.com/public/uploads/2019/10/22/mini_cla... There you go, 1970 Mini, it's a 1275 version so it has an oil pressure gauge and an aftermarket rev counter. Does your modern car actually *need* anything more exciting than that? Compare these: 1982 Volvo, like I bought after I passed my driving test in the early 90s: https://autopecas.norsider.pt/content/images/thumbs/136/1365838_quadrante-volvo-340-de-1980-a-1985.jpeg https://autopecas.norsider.pt/content/images/thumbs/136/1365... 2004 Range Rover P38A similar to the '97 I drive now although this is a NAS-spec cluster (like with the "unleaded fuel only" placard): https://www.rangerovers.net/attachments/smartselect_20210517-201254_gallery-jpg.294248/ https://www.rangerovers.net/attachments/smartselect_20210517... Notice something? Both have the fuel gauge, Volvo has a clock but posh models had a tacho, Rangie has a tacho, then both have the speedo, then the temperature gauge. The Volvo has the idiot lights along the top, the Range Rover has them along the bottom - and in the middle a 20x2 LCD (which in that one looks a bit worse for wear) which shows the odometer, gear selection, and occasionally lies about fault conditions. Doesn't it remind you a little of how aircraft have a standard "Six Pack" layout for the flight instruments? We should do it this way.

jcgrillo 6mo ago
See also Mercedes W115 and W123 240D. Even the ones with a manual transmission had a clock where the tach would go. The speedometer had a series of dots at particular speeds that indicate the shift points for each gear (e.g. 1 dot for 1-2 shift, 2 dots for 2-3, 3 dots 3-4). I'm not sure whether a tach was even an option. The higher spec models had them, though.
- ErroneousBosh 6mo ago
  My W123 230TE definitely had a tach, and also the shift point dots, and a 3-speed thirstymatic. I wish I still had it.
  - jcgrillo 6mo ago
    Yeah my 300TD did as well. As you well know the wagons were super fancy though they had all the bells and whistles (except the sunroof, which was manual--and awesome!).
    - ErroneousBosh 6mo ago
      But that latch mechanism, the solid click when you pulled the handle down and twisted it to unlatch! So many of the mechanical controls of that car felt like working the action of a very, *very* expensive shotgun.
      - jcgrillo 6mo ago
        Fantastic machine. I drove mine without a power steering pump for about 6mo. The giant steering wheel helped a lot. Having individual V-belts to all the accessories instead of one serpentine belt saved me a tow and a repair bill more than once. My 1995 80 series Land Cruiser is built very similarly--it's a system that's designed to take battle damage and keep on going, but in sublime comfort the entire time. EDIT: I just remembered the shock absorbers in the front bumper. IIRC in the owner's manual it said you can crash into things at up to 5mph with no fear of damage. I never tested that.. A Subaru did run into one of my fenders, though. The fender was bent in at the wheel arch maybe 3". The poor Subie suffered a punctured A/C condenser, radiator, and the plastic bumper shattered. I yanked the dent out of the fender (more or less) with a prybar and drove away. The Subaru went home on a rollback.

jcgrillo 6mo ago

See also Mercedes W115 and W123 240D. Even the ones with a manual transmission had a clock where the tach would go. The speedometer had a series of dots at particular speeds that indicate the shift points for each gear (e.g. 1 dot for 1-2 shift, 2 dots for 2-3, 3 dots 3-4). I'm not sure whether a tach was even an option. The higher spec models had them, though.

ErroneousBosh 6mo ago
My W123 230TE definitely had a tach, and also the shift point dots, and a 3-speed thirstymatic. I wish I still had it.
- jcgrillo 6mo ago
  Yeah my 300TD did as well. As you well know the wagons were super fancy though they had all the bells and whistles (except the sunroof, which was manual--and awesome!).
  - ErroneousBosh 6mo ago
    But that latch mechanism, the solid click when you pulled the handle down and twisted it to unlatch! So many of the mechanical controls of that car felt like working the action of a very, *very* expensive shotgun.
    - jcgrillo 6mo ago
      Fantastic machine. I drove mine without a power steering pump for about 6mo. The giant steering wheel helped a lot. Having individual V-belts to all the accessories instead of one serpentine belt saved me a tow and a repair bill more than once. My 1995 80 series Land Cruiser is built very similarly--it's a system that's designed to take battle damage and keep on going, but in sublime comfort the entire time. EDIT: I just remembered the shock absorbers in the front bumper. IIRC in the owner's manual it said you can crash into things at up to 5mph with no fear of damage. I never tested that.. A Subaru did run into one of my fenders, though. The fender was bent in at the wheel arch maybe 3". The poor Subie suffered a punctured A/C condenser, radiator, and the plastic bumper shattered. I yanked the dent out of the fender (more or less) with a prybar and drove away. The Subaru went home on a rollback.