# 2018 Mazda CX-5 - RPMs

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-mazda-cx-5-rpms/135552>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda\
**Created:** [February 28, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-mazda-cx-5-rpms/135552 "2019-02-28T23:41:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PegMcCann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@PegMcCann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PegMcCann)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-mazda-cx-5-rpms/135552/1 "2019-02-28T23:41:49Z")

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Why do cars still have RPM gauges, i.e., tachometers? Who uses that info these days? In the olden days when I learned to shift, it was slightly useful if the radio was too loud to hear the engine.

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**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-mazda-cx-5-rpms/135552/2 "2019-03-01T00:02:56Z")

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For looks, to keep the dash symmetrical.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2018-mazda-cx-5-rpms/135552/3 "2019-03-01T14:40:43Z")

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> [@PegMcCann](#):
>
> Who uses that info these days?

Well, me for one. I used the tachs in all my manual transmission vehicles and a couple of automatics as well. Lots of information available in just a glance.

Steady idle  
Proper idle speed  
Proper shift points on manuals, automatics, and manual shift automatics  
Transmission or clutch slipping  
Proper engagement of overdrive

Just to name a few.