Why do modern cars have dashboards which include useless indicators for the typical driver, such as the temperature of water, pressure of oil and similar technical data?
I would expect that important data would appear when needed (too high of a temperature, or dangerously trending for instance. I do not know whether a 90°C temperature is good, bad or dangerous).
I imagine that regulations enforce one indicator: the speed. It would be ideal if I could place it where it is best for me and then enrich the dashboard with indicators which are relevant to me (not necessarily for others).
Is such frozen design due to
- tradition? (in the sense that someone designed the dashboard in 1950 and it stayed like this)
- regulations? (I doubt so, since my last car does not have oil pressure anymore but for some reason the water temperature is still there)
- customer requirements? (people are maybe attached to knowing the oil pressure)
I looked though the dashboard photos in Google Images and most of them carry the typical large indicators for speed and tachometer and some smaller ones for fuel, pressure, etc. There are very few which are different and they are definitely the exceptions.