Easiest job, installing a tachometer!

Jul 30, 2005 3 Replies
T

I just installed a tach on my 98 Civic LX (Canadian, so thats the cheap version). It cost me about $100 canadian, and took 15 minutes. I'm very impressed with the design, but it leaves me wondering, why don't they just put a tach in all vehicles from the factory, especially if they are all prewired for it? I didn't have to run any wires at all, so its just a little weird. Like how much more could it cost to make all civic gauge clusters with tachs? When you factor in part reduction, probably about the same, no?



t
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S

I'd guess it PURELY a marketting decision. Base models don't have tachs, up-market versions do, and its part of the package set.

Stewart DIBBS

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B

Absolutely market(ing) driven: *most* people don't really care about a tach, or a good stereo/speakers (something I care about), or "name your favorite item(s) here".

For base models: fewer items = lower cost = more sales.

People definitely price shop, hence the pressure to lower prices.

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J

Nothing is free, but you are probably right that the cost differential to include it would be very small.

However, base models of most vehicles have very skinny profit margins and Honda hopes almost nobody buys the stripper version. They take as much out as possible in order to advertise a low price, then count on the vast majority of people to pony up for the higher level vehicles in order to get the long list of goodies. Pretty basic modern marketing :(.

John

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