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What happened to temperature gauges?

What happened to the temperature gauge on light cars? I prefer the dash on my 2001 Daihatsu Sirion, which has a temperature gauge but no tachometer. The tachometer is irrelevant on a shopping trolley. Is it cost cutting, or is it because modern cooling systems are bulletproof?

I think you can safely assume that it's cost cutting, but it's probably a reflection of today's drivers who rarely look at their gauges anyway and wouldn't know what a temperature is trying to tell them. I too prefer a gauge as you see what's happening before it gets to the point of serious damage to the engine, but the red light if observed and acted upon should provide sufficient warning of trouble. Like you I also believe a tachometer is a not needed in most cars.

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