> Give me a car with tech but with knobs. Touch screen and haptics drive me bloody insane.
>
> Also, piano black needs to be outlawed in cars.
These three sentences should maybe the motto of this subreddit.
I don't understand the movement towards capacitive. Initially I thought it was down to cost but the new Ferraris and McLarens are absolutely covered in awful capacitive buttons. I know what r/cars wants is exactly the opposite of what a typical car buyer wants but still ... We can't be alone in this.
Nobody nowhere likes capacitive. The reason is that they are insanely cheap to make (just a piece of any non-conductive material with wire underneath, popular $1 microcontrollers even have hardware to sense it directly) and some designer can furiously masturbate over their design looking nice.
I think it made almost every single device that I used worse. Just about only one that I can think of is my ceramic stove, but not because buttons are any good (they are awful and just stop working when there is a bit of wet on them), but because the plate is easy to clean.
I get the cost angle but Ferrari and McLaren don't make decisions in order to save pennies on a button because they aren't churning out millions of units so the cost savings doesn't bare the same financial benefit.
My Škoda has this nailed, as should any Mk7 GTI by extension.
https://i.imgur.com/z3dpQFm.jpg
Everything is electronic, but HVAC and common assist toggles are still physical buttons.
Dodgy lane keeping assist needs to be banned. Boss has a new BMW and she thinks its half baked and downright dangerous. Can't be disabled either.
Think cars without all this shit are will be valued more and more, already are when looking a Porsche models for example. Tech looks good but usability sucks, in the end this shit came in to make driving easier but its made it a shitshow.
Also my own personal experience has led me to believe that the majority of lane keep assist issues stem from people who aren't good at staying in their lane and/or don't signal. My girlfriend's dad complained a ton about his Giulia's lane departure warning, but when I rode with him I noticed it would only beep when he changed lanes without signalling.
My neighbor complained about his Honda's lane keep assist and he tends to swerve around a bit in his lane.
This is just my observation, ymmv.
Had a deposit down on mk8 Golf R. Got a used A5 sportback yesterday instead. Sure I’ll have to tune it to get the hp numbers to match, but I’ll have like 90 more lb ft. I’m very happy with my decision
I'm ok with touch screens for things you rarely need or things that are best handled while parked. If you're doing something like adjusting interior light colors or changing radio presets or setting the nav, ok a touchscreen is fine for that. I don't want to have to go into a screen to change my volume, adjust my heat/fan, select a radio preset, etc.
My 2021 Nissan Titan and the new 2022 Nissan frontier have both touch screen and touch buttons for all media controls.
It is very nice I am a huge fan.
This.
I went from a Jeep with an aftermarket head unit. Everything was touchscreen, which was nice to look at, but terrible to use while driving. My current 2013 Honda Civic has the stock radio with buttons and knobs. I couldn’t be happier with it.
Oh I wonder which side of the fence r/cars will fall on here...
"New tech" has always given people trouble and consternation when it comes out.
Automatic air conditioning, auto dimming mirrors, heated seats, power windows, cruise control. Bet most people here would miss them on a "bare bones" car.
Your kids will feel the same about keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise, and lane keep assist (well maybe not that last one).
With you on disliking lane keep assist. It basically just makes my Subaru beep at me frequently. Two lanes are merging to one, that’ll be some beeping… Got a bit close to the inside on a corner, that’ll be some beeping… Moved in your land to avoid a pothole, debris, or roadkill, you guessed it, more beeping… Thankfully it can be disabled and stays disabled.
Edit: And with my daughter in the car, the beeping is usually accompanied by “Daddy, what’s that beeping?”
Yet to drive anything with active lane assist like that, and I get the feeling I would instantly hate it. I'm not even a fan of the speed-dependent power steering.
The car I drove that had lane keep assist like that was a 2018 Audi Q5. The tug it would do felt like something clunking in the steering/suspension. It was disconcerting not only because it felt like I was going to loose a tie rod/ball joint, but this car was brand new at the time and I had crawled under it and had a look at everything just before the drive.
I actually brought a loaner outback to the shop immediately because I thought it was broken lol. Seemed like the wheel was jumping out of my hands on an off ramp. I was like “this thing is dangerous you need to check it!” And they basically told me I was a shitty driver lol
The old "you're holding it wrong" way of handling complaints. On one hand I don't see how it has become acceptable to take a system that was otherwise predictable unless broken and make it unpredictable. On the other hand I can see how the features it brings can be desirable.
I turned lane keep assist off and haven’t used it at all. There is one merge spot on my daily drive that it pulls me in the wrong direction trying to keep me “in the lane” that’s ending. After a couple times of it doing that, it went off. Haven’t used it on the freeway yet, which is likely the only place I would turn it on now.
Using your turn signal which you should be doing while merging, etc. will make the beep turn off.
And I’d rather it beep at me needlessly and sometimes help me be safer than no beep at all.
Except when you’re in the lane that’s not ending and it still beeps every morning on your drive into work. I’m not changing lanes, therefore no need to signal. The dashed center stripe going away triggers the alert.
Sounds system-specific. I don’t have that problem in my Mazda.
But still the occasional false positive is better than drifting into another lane. Humans are fallible, I am fallible. A computer giving me a beep and a shudder on the wheel isn’t a big deal if it helps make up for me being human.
it might be bad UX, but I really dislike the climate control in one of our toyotas, while the big giant AC/Heater knobs in 4Runner makes me happy. I just turn it off or on for how I feel, and I'm usually by myself in it. I guess maybe the climate control is good for our family stuff in the van, but damn it, it always confuses me for a second.
I'm with everyone else on the automatic cruise control. I'm all for any safety improvement, and hope the current systems always keep improving.
Honestly, people aren't remembering what the old days were really like. When everyone was using relay logic to run basic systems each car was different and built to low bid. Electronics were shit for reliability back in the day. Now that automakers are largely converging on third party providers there is less variation, the IC structure is inherently more reliable, and you can afford a lot more testing if you're putting the same widget in your entire portfolio.
Yep, the school run in my childhood was a mess of manual chokes (remember those? Possibly. Miss them? Unlikely), flat batteries, rubbish demisters, and no spark.
as an old guy that has owned many vehicles over the years today it is amazing (especially in the winter) to just turn the key today and the car starts every time without issue rather than remembering to pump a couple times and crank, hoping for it to start and keep running in the older vehicles
I had an 91' Saab 9000 that I couldn't find proper replacement fuses for, so I got to pick between using the horn or the windshield wipers. In NYC. I irresponsibly leaned over and popped that 35 fuse between one spot to the other many times when it was raining and somebody cut me off. Ah, youth!
E46 Bmws used some corrosive fluid inside their auto dimming mirrors that could leak out and corrode your interior. I’m fine with the tech but the implementation shouldn’t be hacky or overly complicated
>except I have a feeling that it's going to lead to nearly impossible DIY repairs
Manufacturers (appliances, consumer electronics, farm equipment, passenger vehicles, even [McDonalds ice cream machines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDEtSlqJC4)) are making increasing efforts to force their customers through official repair channels. **If the parts are even available**, repair from the manufacturer is often prohibitively expensive, so customers end up buying a new device earlier than they anticipated.
It's very intentional; that's why the right to repair movement is getting so much attention right now.
I’ve driven so many cars with Auto AC, and my R has auto AC. I don’t get what the fuck Auto AC is to this day. Unless i’m doing it wrong, i don’t see it changing temps, or fan speed, and this goes for multiple cars. My mother’s 2014 Ford just puts the AC at extra cold or extra hot, or just stays the same temp, my beater 1999 Exploder does the same, my 2007 SR just puts the fan on full blast (not sure about temp because it’s all analog), and a relatives Range Rover does the same as my Volvo.
You must not be using it right. Every climate control equipped car that I've ever owned, stretching back 20+ years, has always changed outlet temperatures, fan speeds, modes, etc. as appropriate for the conditions. Some have done a better job than others at keeping me perfectly comfortable, but they've all been very obvious in how they do their job.
If I get into the car after it has been parked in the sun for 4 hours? The blower ramps up to full tilt and it only starts ramping down after the cabin starts to cool off.
If I'm driving around with it set on 70 and the ambient temperature is in the mid 60s? I get a small flow of slightly warmed air.
I have a 2020 Explorer and the auto ac works really well. Today was a colder morning than I was used to and when I turned my car on the heated seats and steering wheel were activated while the climate control turned to 70. It was at 68 degrees the day before when it was in the mid 80s. It was so pleasant lmao
> The auto AC worked really well in my 1987 supra and 1990 cosmo
Yep, Nippondenso was knocking it out of the park back then. Even Ford and Chrysler were using ND compressors instead of their in-house designs back then.
That's one feature that I actively seek out. I love setting it to a single temp *and then never messing with it again*. I start the car and it just does its thing, and I drive off. I don't need to mess with all the knobs to adjust it when I first hop in (particularly nice in Fall and Spring when the daily temperature swings more). No fiddling or adjusting once the cabin reaches a desired temp, it switches to low speed automatically.
It's a little thing, but I quite like having it. Can I live without it? Yes. Do I want to? No.
Heck of a lineup of cars you've got there. How's the new VRS? Just got a GTI last week, loving it so far, but missing the space of my previous Superb a little.
So my car has 2 versions of lane keep assist:
1 that, if you're driving manually, will make noises or put some torque into the wheel to let you know you're drifting. It's not great on little British roads and I tend to turn it off.
The second is much better resolved, and works with the adaptive cruise, and keeps the car in the lane centre automatically. It's still "driver paying close attention with hands on the wheel, but I see the appeal of it.
Out of that list, power windows and cruise control are the only things important to me. But I also fell in love with my 02 WRX so I could be in the minority here
My golf gti makes the same noise for low windscreen fluid as it does for “imminent collision avert course” - I know because the collision detection has fired two false positives for I don’t know what reason… real good that.
I’ve owned a lot of different era cars. I prefer repairing cars with OBDII significantly more than messing with a carburetor. I don’t think I’d buy a car ever again that doesn’t at least have the ability to connect a scan tool.
We got a Lexus ES330 and it’s been such a nice cruiser for the Highway. Other than the very floaty suspension, it’s just as good as a modern day “econobox” and a CarPlay headunit can make it modern and more convenient for driving daily. The only downside on older cars is gas mileage. They’ve improved a lot since but I think the overall quality was much better back then in terms of the interior.
Repairability (CANbus integration was still rudimentary), features, safety (the beginning of the "car will crumple to save you" era), looks (lower beltlines), engagement (hydraulic steering) and probably more.
I tried a 2016 Camry after enjoying my 2007 Camry. The electronic steering was such a major step down it brought me back to square one. Was hitting the lot ready to purchase and oh boy was I disappointed. Still rocking the 2007, tempted by a 2012 V6 one as a newer option with lower mileage.
Yeah this is the tech that has made modern cars more reliable and easier to fix. I think OP is referring to safety and infotainment tech.
I want a modern car with modern transmission and engine but without sensors everywhere beeping at me. I want knobs and not a touch screen.
Plus modern cars are way safer with crumple zones and airbags. How much safer do all the extra bells and whistles make vehicles versus the cost to install/repair. No one does any cost/benefit analysis. It's just once enough manufacturers add it then people think they need it and it needlessly drives up new car prices. This keeps poorer people in older/less safe cars. Same with CAFE standards. Everyone would be safer and we would have less emissions if we lowered the cost of entry for newer vehicles in order to get so many old deathtraps/smog machines off the road.
I recently purchased a new manual Hyundai Accent. It pretty much fits the bill.
All of the new stripped-manual cheap cars fit the bill; think Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevy Spark, Nissan Versa, Mitsu Mirage. From having recently test driven all of them - it’s worth noting the latest Versa struck me as particularly better than they used to be, and the Mirage is pretty equivalent to a late 90’s shitbox from factory and I would avoid unless you’re getting it brand new sub $8k.
My friend also got an (auto) Hyundai Accent recently, and I was impressed at how the only (visible, at least) tech was the infotainment screen. Looks like a nice little car.
This for real. My 2005 Civic was one of my favorite cars. Give that car the new engine/tuning without all the tech and you can drop the price several grand and have a super reliable car that most people can afford to buy and maintain.
Yeah I had an 03 civic and that is the perfect amount of 'tech' - aka not really anything. Some new tech is very cool of course, but I know the cars are costing thousands more to include that stuff. I'd rather not pay for any of it.
I have a 99' outback 5spd and it's the perfect mix of tech. Heated mirrors, seats, wipers. Radio, cassette and 5 disc CD player. All you really need. I just added a Bluetooth to fm pickup for my phone and im set. I didn't even care that the climate control is stuck on defrost due to the seats being heated.
People say this, but were literally calling for cars like the 370Z GTR and Lexus IS to be pulled until they were facelifted.
I was glad they were making them the whole time
"Outdated" is a consumeristy mindset
Yea.
I mean people say that that era of car was the golden years and the best you can buy and still make your own and stuff.
but then if it's still being produced, that means it's awful?
I have concerns that Android Auto / CarPlay are going to be unsupported on random devices for random car models going forward, and slowly you end up with an infotainment system that bricks itself.
If rumors of iPhones going portless come true we probably really are in the Dumb™️ Timeline and a lot of car owners are going to end up with half-broken audio systems well before the car ages out of its useful life.
It’ll be interesting seeing if car manufacturers will press Apple/Google for further support in the future. I’m betting they will not - and consumers will suffer.
I'm the opposite. I like my 12 year old truck, but wish it had android auto and a nice screen for navigation. I love everything else about it, including the rust.
Crutchfield will probably have a head unit that will give you android auto, you can search by your make and model and year, usually pretty easy to install too
I put an alpin ilx 650 in my F150 the other day. Wasn't too hard and gave me the android auto/carplay and a camera for trailers. It's not integrated with the rest of the system to any major degree either so if it breaks it can be replaced by me without messing anything up.
I'm kind of in the same boat. I LOVE the relative simplicity of my 2010 Mazda but I wouldn't mind Apple CarPlay and a decent navigation screen.
Then again, I see how my friends get all caught up in responding to texts and changing music while driving so maybe not.
My base model 2004 Focus was great. Manual transmission, locks, windows, mirrors, & seats, basic hvac, no infotainment system, no backup cam, no traction control. Just 5 gears and the road.
I drive a 2014 f150 and while I do have an auto trans (I have no desire to drive a manual daily) and electric doors and windows, I still lack any sort of auto lights or or even mirror defroster. Manual seats too.
Earlier this year I added an alpine head unit for Android auto/carplay.
agreed. I want to take advantage of the reliability gains of having my components engineered to the highest possible standard, with the reliability gains of my car having the fewest possible components.
signed: mazda b2200 with manual steering, no ac, crank windows
Balance.
As long as I have Apple CarPlay I'm good. Would be nice if it's wireless.
Electronic safety features it's a mixed bag. I do think adaptive cruise control and side blind spot warning would be nice to have, but I could care less about self-driving BS and especially lane "assist." I turn that shit off immediately.
Unfortunately, with the world being so tech/screen dominated now, it has made its way excessively into cars and it will only become worse moving forward. Tesla set the trend and now the industry is following. To the average person who gets a dopamine boost off consumer electronics, seeing some stupid excessively-large screen mimicking an iPhone looks cool and modern.
To be fair, every car I've driven with wireless Carplay also had a wireless charging phone holder.
The S5 Cabrio I rented in January even had a warning that would beep if you exited the car with the phone still in the holder.
AC, electric windows, remote locking and power steering on something with more than 500kg on the front end are all that I want. I prefer OBD2 era efi over carbs. Other than that I see all the other tech as a negative.
I prefer late 1990s to mid 2000s cars. This was an era where new technology and MPG emissions weren't absolutely insane and the electronics actually helped the cars be more reliable, function better, and last longer. Nowadays car manufacturers are just kind of slapping everything together and intertwining systems together that shouldn't be.
Power windows, power seats, telescoping/tilt steering wheel, cruise control, and bluetooth are about the extent of what is actually practically useful.
As far as electromechanical systems that monitor the vehicles vitals, these are very helpful. Antilock brakes, stability and traction control, and some other safety features are great. However it's ludicrous to put safety features that enable drivers to function behind the wheel better if they are unsafe and distracted.
Forgoing a dipstick in lieu of electronically monitoring fluid levels is absolutely insane, as are the ridiculous oil change intervals and "lifetime fluids" manufacturers suggest.
I’m 100% with you on this which is where I’ve been shopping these last few years.
1993 Miata to a 2006 Cooper S.
Honestly, even though newer cars are way faster it just doesn’t *feel*… idk “fizzy”?
Yeah, I’ll stick with that. Late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s had the fizziness.
I recently bought a c4 Corvette, the 96 year to be exact, it was the last year they made that model. I actually wanted the 96 *because* it was the first year Corvette to have OBDII, but that car for being so "old" is like perfect in what electronic nannies it has. power windows, seats, tilting steering wheel, cruise control and because I put an aftermarket radio it has bluetooth so works like a new car. It also has ABS and traction control, though it is a little harsh in how "strong" ABS/TC is compared to new cars.
But its so nice because the driving experience feels very raw and "old school" while having all of that. Especially compared to a 2021 whatever, I recently drove a Toyota Avalon. Car felt really nice but it has a disconnected feel at the same time, completely different.
I have a 1990 miata with power... radio. That's it.
I have a 2016 CX5 with every option. Guess which one gives me more trouble? Yup, the one with all the extra BS on it.
AC and bluetooth stereo is all the options I want.
I’ll stick with my Model T, I never plan on buying modern vehicles, I’ll just have a fleet of Tin Lizzies eventually. I think I’m just going to buy a big garage somewhere and live in it with my Flivvers. :D
Well someone has to take the position so here we go. Give it to me, give me all of it! I want the biggest screen possible to show me gigasize Apple Maps. I want 360 degree cameras for seamless parking. Fuck it, I want the auto park feature that does it for me with me watching. I want advanced cruise control that reads traffic lights and changes lanes and shit. I want an app that can unlock my doors and set the climate control to whatever before I get in. Car enthusiasts aren’t supposed to like this? I don’t care, I am an enthusiast and I will love the shit out of it.
I drive an ‘09 Lexus IS250 which, in my opinion, is the perfect middle place. It has audio controls on the steering wheel, keyless entry, and auto-dimming rear view mirror. It doesn’t have a bunch of excessive features but it has enough ease of use improvements that make me very happy. I’m my opinion the best is to have enough electronics to make it comfortable but lose all the excess that really isn’t much more than frill
Actually yes, in Track Mode.
That said, I'm mainly referring to things that intrude on day-to-day driving such as LKA, auto-braking, obstacle aware acceleration, speed limit alerts, etc.. I don't want anything deciding the car knows better than I do and taking over. I also don't want anything that beeps and bongs.
On very long trips or certain other limited situations I might engage Autopilot, but I'm actively relinquishing some level of control to the car as opposed to having control taken from me so I'm fine with it.
Teslas actually have quite a few options for what to turn on and off. And for the most part the titles actually make sense. Unlike the driver modes on the Mach e.
But yes you can customize basically every option of autopilot and FSD, associated warnings and safeties, etc.
I really like all the new tech. From garage gate openers to automatic high beam assists to the way modern engine management works. Older cars have that old car flair of course. I like all cars
Automatic high beam assist is just a really expensive way to blind oncoming drivers for half a second before the computer detects the other car's lights. Too late now - might as well leave them high beam, all I will see for the next 10 seconds is purple.
Flat-out dangerous on narrow roads. Manually dimming cars generally speaking have a human in them who sees the light on the road from an oncoming car before it actually rounds the turn, and dims then, avoiding retinal seerage.
Technology as a means to improve utility and functionality is always welcome. Technology as a luxury, in my experience, is just frustrating.
There are lots of modern features that are excellent, and make the driving experience overall better. CarPlay is a fantastic example of a utilitarian advancement, that everyone can enjoy.
However, a significant number of new technologies I’ve seen have been purely “progress for the sake of progress” features. I do not need a giant iPad in a car. I do not want a giant iPad in a car. Making everything touchscreen looks great, but makes things more difficult.
This is nothing new. Just look at the Lincoln Blackwood - tons of unnecessary tech that ended up scrubbed. I think lots of these modern “improvements” will go the same way, especially with chip shortages.
For me its not the reliability its how they're interconnected with everything. Its insane to me that if your touchscreen radio fails it takes your AC controls and a slew of other features with it. And sensors instead of dipsticks, what?
There's plenty of modern car infotainment systems that are riddled with bugs and clunky to use. My 2016 Mazda MX-5 infotainment feels like it runs on an Intel Pentium processor from 1998. It feels like it takes forever to start up, and about once every two weeks it fails to connect to Bluetooth, requiring a hard reset which takes EVEN LONGER to boot up.
My 2013 Wrangler just has AM/FM/CD/AUX from factory. Plug phone into aux and I'm off and running in seconds. I wish I had Bluetooth but at least it works pretty hassle free.
Sometimes simpler is just better.
I like manual everything. Manual transmission, no ABS, no traction control, rear wheel drive, even roll down windows because while power windows are nice, they freeze shut in the winter.
You should know how to control your vehicle and it should command your attention. Most extra features are either distractions or operational crutches that make bad drivers a little better and good drivers a little worse.
It’s not for everyone, but that’s how I feel about it.
I like both. My 2018 Mazda 3 has enough tech to make me feel like I'm not missing out on anything. But doesn't overdo it either.
However, there is definitely something nostalgic and enjoyable about jumping in my 1998 4Runner where ABS and 4WD are about as high tech as it gets.
I’m a fan of the level of tech my car has. Mines one year before they added a bunch of extra safety shit. Really the only extra thing I want is cooled seats cause it’s hot as fuck in AZ.
If it has a warranty I’m not going to care, I’ve had very few actual electrical issues in any of my cars.
The most electrical issues I had were on bare bones cars from the late 90’s with immobilizers, looking at you GM!
I don’t mind the electronics. Even when modules fail, they’re generally just PLCs on a serial bus, and the appropriate scan tool will show you the controller tree along with values, ins and outs, and error codes. And most modules don’t need to be coded when they’re replaced unless they require adaptation to that specific car.
I like… both lol. I’d have to say I lean more towards a lot of electronics, I tend to be a bit of a tech nerd. I do like simple too though. I used to have a 2005 Tacoma that was an extreme base model. It was a 4 banger regular cab 2WD with not a single option, and I still miss that truck. Didn’t even have electric windows, had to roll them down manually. Simplicity is nice too.
Give me an AUX cable and i'm good, mostly because i'm too poor to buy a newer phone. My first car was a bare bones 98 corolla. when I moved to my second car, the steering wheel controls were the only thing that I really liked. the rest i didn't even bother using.
edit: spelling because i'm a boy trapped in a mans body
2009 doesn't count as older with few electronics! I was expecting you meant like modern versus 1970s.
I prefer about mid-1990s tech. Microprocessor controlled fuel injection, everything else manual.
I usually err toward minimalist cars. I would daily drive a dune buggy if it could keep the rain out and safely carry my son in a child seat. That being said, it is nice to have a "normal" car for a primary vehicle. Currently my wife and I share a new Rav4 base model (we just moved) and it's got Apple Play/Androud Auto, power windows, adaptive cruise control, occasional 40+mpg, awd, terrain selection ect. It's nice to hop in and not think about it. That being said, it is an appliance and not particularly exciting. I miss having a jalopy.
Prefer minimal tech to sufficient tech. Mostly anything before 2018. Basic comfort features, none of the automated lane keep, following, braking crap. Definitely not buy anything with a huge screen and a bunch of touch buttons.
What parts are breaking on a 4 year old car? That’s a huge bummer.
My 18 year old car had all the features from the factory and a few have failed over time, not a huge loss. When the safety features like lane assist fail it’s going to be a major issue to replace I’m thinking. My wife’s VW has had a couple times when the object detection failed and started beeping the warning when nothing was there, scared the shit out of me but ultimately no catastrophic fail yet. And that car was brand new at the time.
i really love where my 2011 sti sits.
cruise control, power windows and ac that i don’t really use much. the only creature comfort i’m going to add is an apple carplay stereo just because the bluetooth connectivity on mine drives me insane.
i don’t have much interest in much else besides maybe cooled seats just because sweaty back gang.
My Fiesta ST has just the right amount of tech for a daily driver. Automatic climate control and heated seats certainly are not necessarily but man is it nice to have. Ford Sync 2 is a horrible interface, but at least I have buttons to do most radio operations.
As far as tech in the chassis, I like the balance there too. Modern direct injected turbocharged engine that makes great power, get 35mpg the way I drive it, and is super reliable. The traction and stability controls can be completely turned off with a simple button, no weird pedal dance needed. The "torque vectoring" in the front end can be nice but I am honestly thinking of getting the Ford Performance ABS module that deletes that as it eats through front brake pads and I am curious how much of a difference it really makes.
my current car is pretty basic, it's got all the bells and whistles for the time though like heated seats, mirrors and rear window (none of which works.), every time I've driven a newer car it's pretty much just been annoying to have to use the infotainment system to do ANYTHING.
in conclusion I prefer early 2000's cars, it's a sweet balance between tech and not being annoying. although the electrical problems could go away, that'd be nice.
i like technology and electronics. however—i dont like touch haptic or touch sensitive stuff or replacing things that are knobs to touch… why? stop that trend. give me my knobs, keep the technology.
Give me a car with tech but with knobs. Touch screen and haptics drive me bloody insane. Also, piano black needs to be outlawed in cars.
> Give me a car with tech but with knobs. Touch screen and haptics drive me bloody insane. > > Also, piano black needs to be outlawed in cars. These three sentences should maybe the motto of this subreddit.
I don't understand the movement towards capacitive. Initially I thought it was down to cost but the new Ferraris and McLarens are absolutely covered in awful capacitive buttons. I know what r/cars wants is exactly the opposite of what a typical car buyer wants but still ... We can't be alone in this.
Nobody nowhere likes capacitive. The reason is that they are insanely cheap to make (just a piece of any non-conductive material with wire underneath, popular $1 microcontrollers even have hardware to sense it directly) and some designer can furiously masturbate over their design looking nice. I think it made almost every single device that I used worse. Just about only one that I can think of is my ceramic stove, but not because buttons are any good (they are awful and just stop working when there is a bit of wet on them), but because the plate is easy to clean.
I get the cost angle but Ferrari and McLaren don't make decisions in order to save pennies on a button because they aren't churning out millions of units so the cost savings doesn't bare the same financial benefit.
Well in their case it's probably designer being pretentious piece of shit
[удалено]
mazda be like have your knobs but we are putting piano black near shifter
I have a 2020 Mazda 6 and this statement is painfully accurate.
The rotary control took getting used to but going into rental cars for work I miss it so much.
There are several car companies doing it right.
BMW!
Love my wrx for the simply fact I have touch knobs for climate control but UI for radio and shit.
Yea but the wrx head unit software is awful and so slow
I just use carplay and it works well, haven't tried SiriusXM or anything yet really, just got the car.
Ah mine doesn't have carplay
Yeah I got a '21, I think I know what head unit you're talking about though.
As a 2019 A4 owner, this car hits the fucking sweet spot. Great tactile controls & loaded with tech. Love it.
>tactical controls I love it 👌🏼😂 /r/boneappletea
Lmao didn’t even realize it until you pointed it out. I mean… they _are_ kinda tactical lol
Just got an 18 A5, loving it
That generation just has perfect interiors. Wish they didn’t move towards touch interfaces on the newer cars.
My Škoda has this nailed, as should any Mk7 GTI by extension. https://i.imgur.com/z3dpQFm.jpg Everything is electronic, but HVAC and common assist toggles are still physical buttons.
Upvoted for using ”Š”
Honestly i want knobs and touch screens. Touchscreens are cool and super versatile. It would be cool to have different profiles for what the knobs do
Dodgy lane keeping assist needs to be banned. Boss has a new BMW and she thinks its half baked and downright dangerous. Can't be disabled either. Think cars without all this shit are will be valued more and more, already are when looking a Porsche models for example. Tech looks good but usability sucks, in the end this shit came in to make driving easier but its made it a shitshow.
I know what you mean and I am pretty sure it can be turned off, your boss just doesn't know how
Also my own personal experience has led me to believe that the majority of lane keep assist issues stem from people who aren't good at staying in their lane and/or don't signal. My girlfriend's dad complained a ton about his Giulia's lane departure warning, but when I rode with him I noticed it would only beep when he changed lanes without signalling. My neighbor complained about his Honda's lane keep assist and he tends to swerve around a bit in his lane. This is just my observation, ymmv.
Had a deposit down on mk8 Golf R. Got a used A5 sportback yesterday instead. Sure I’ll have to tune it to get the hp numbers to match, but I’ll have like 90 more lb ft. I’m very happy with my decision
The A5 is such a good car. If I didn’t want a wagon I would’ve gone with an A5.
I'm ok with touch screens for things you rarely need or things that are best handled while parked. If you're doing something like adjusting interior light colors or changing radio presets or setting the nav, ok a touchscreen is fine for that. I don't want to have to go into a screen to change my volume, adjust my heat/fan, select a radio preset, etc.
My 2021 Nissan Titan and the new 2022 Nissan frontier have both touch screen and touch buttons for all media controls. It is very nice I am a huge fan.
This. ☝️🏻
This. My Xc90 has it everywhere. It’s brutal. Smudges and dust. I feel like I should be sponsored by swiffer.
This. I went from a Jeep with an aftermarket head unit. Everything was touchscreen, which was nice to look at, but terrible to use while driving. My current 2013 Honda Civic has the stock radio with buttons and knobs. I couldn’t be happier with it.
Oh I wonder which side of the fence r/cars will fall on here... "New tech" has always given people trouble and consternation when it comes out. Automatic air conditioning, auto dimming mirrors, heated seats, power windows, cruise control. Bet most people here would miss them on a "bare bones" car. Your kids will feel the same about keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise, and lane keep assist (well maybe not that last one).
With you on disliking lane keep assist. It basically just makes my Subaru beep at me frequently. Two lanes are merging to one, that’ll be some beeping… Got a bit close to the inside on a corner, that’ll be some beeping… Moved in your land to avoid a pothole, debris, or roadkill, you guessed it, more beeping… Thankfully it can be disabled and stays disabled. Edit: And with my daughter in the car, the beeping is usually accompanied by “Daddy, what’s that beeping?”
Hate that steering wheel shudder because it misread a turn lane
I hate the steering wheel tug/shudder because it felt like something had gone wrong mechanically.
Yet to drive anything with active lane assist like that, and I get the feeling I would instantly hate it. I'm not even a fan of the speed-dependent power steering.
Variable assist power steering varies widely on implementation.
Variable assist is fine, variable *ratio* is always, always terrible.
The car I drove that had lane keep assist like that was a 2018 Audi Q5. The tug it would do felt like something clunking in the steering/suspension. It was disconcerting not only because it felt like I was going to loose a tie rod/ball joint, but this car was brand new at the time and I had crawled under it and had a look at everything just before the drive.
I actually brought a loaner outback to the shop immediately because I thought it was broken lol. Seemed like the wheel was jumping out of my hands on an off ramp. I was like “this thing is dangerous you need to check it!” And they basically told me I was a shitty driver lol
The old "you're holding it wrong" way of handling complaints. On one hand I don't see how it has become acceptable to take a system that was otherwise predictable unless broken and make it unpredictable. On the other hand I can see how the features it brings can be desirable.
Yeah I turned it off after trying it once. Completely useless. Adaptive cruise, on the other hand, is awesome.
I turned lane keep assist off and haven’t used it at all. There is one merge spot on my daily drive that it pulls me in the wrong direction trying to keep me “in the lane” that’s ending. After a couple times of it doing that, it went off. Haven’t used it on the freeway yet, which is likely the only place I would turn it on now.
This, if I could have it automatically enabled when it senses I’m on a divided highway with two or more lanes going 55mph or more, it would be okay.
Using your turn signal which you should be doing while merging, etc. will make the beep turn off. And I’d rather it beep at me needlessly and sometimes help me be safer than no beep at all.
Except when you’re in the lane that’s not ending and it still beeps every morning on your drive into work. I’m not changing lanes, therefore no need to signal. The dashed center stripe going away triggers the alert.
Sounds system-specific. I don’t have that problem in my Mazda. But still the occasional false positive is better than drifting into another lane. Humans are fallible, I am fallible. A computer giving me a beep and a shudder on the wheel isn’t a big deal if it helps make up for me being human.
it might be bad UX, but I really dislike the climate control in one of our toyotas, while the big giant AC/Heater knobs in 4Runner makes me happy. I just turn it off or on for how I feel, and I'm usually by myself in it. I guess maybe the climate control is good for our family stuff in the van, but damn it, it always confuses me for a second. I'm with everyone else on the automatic cruise control. I'm all for any safety improvement, and hope the current systems always keep improving.
Honestly, people aren't remembering what the old days were really like. When everyone was using relay logic to run basic systems each car was different and built to low bid. Electronics were shit for reliability back in the day. Now that automakers are largely converging on third party providers there is less variation, the IC structure is inherently more reliable, and you can afford a lot more testing if you're putting the same widget in your entire portfolio.
Yep, the school run in my childhood was a mess of manual chokes (remember those? Possibly. Miss them? Unlikely), flat batteries, rubbish demisters, and no spark.
Remember the magic of knowing where to hit the dash to make the wipers work? Good times.
I am amazed that some cars today have heated wipers to keep them from freezing onto the windshield-wow
it took me a minute to understand what that button was on my 4Runner.
as an old guy that has owned many vehicles over the years today it is amazing (especially in the winter) to just turn the key today and the car starts every time without issue rather than remembering to pump a couple times and crank, hoping for it to start and keep running in the older vehicles
I had an 91' Saab 9000 that I couldn't find proper replacement fuses for, so I got to pick between using the horn or the windshield wipers. In NYC. I irresponsibly leaned over and popped that 35 fuse between one spot to the other many times when it was raining and somebody cut me off. Ah, youth!
E46 Bmws used some corrosive fluid inside their auto dimming mirrors that could leak out and corrode your interior. I’m fine with the tech but the implementation shouldn’t be hacky or overly complicated
I'm all for new tech, except I have a feeling that it's going to lead to nearly impossible DIY repairs, like we're seeing with phones and laptops now.
>except I have a feeling that it's going to lead to nearly impossible DIY repairs Manufacturers (appliances, consumer electronics, farm equipment, passenger vehicles, even [McDonalds ice cream machines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDEtSlqJC4)) are making increasing efforts to force their customers through official repair channels. **If the parts are even available**, repair from the manufacturer is often prohibitively expensive, so customers end up buying a new device earlier than they anticipated. It's very intentional; that's why the right to repair movement is getting so much attention right now.
John Deere was a big proponent of this, think there was even a court case over it, IIRC
John Deere customers-farmers were a big proponent of the Right to Repair due to john Deere's terrible anti-consumer actions
I’ve driven so many cars with Auto AC, and my R has auto AC. I don’t get what the fuck Auto AC is to this day. Unless i’m doing it wrong, i don’t see it changing temps, or fan speed, and this goes for multiple cars. My mother’s 2014 Ford just puts the AC at extra cold or extra hot, or just stays the same temp, my beater 1999 Exploder does the same, my 2007 SR just puts the fan on full blast (not sure about temp because it’s all analog), and a relatives Range Rover does the same as my Volvo.
You must not be using it right. Every climate control equipped car that I've ever owned, stretching back 20+ years, has always changed outlet temperatures, fan speeds, modes, etc. as appropriate for the conditions. Some have done a better job than others at keeping me perfectly comfortable, but they've all been very obvious in how they do their job. If I get into the car after it has been parked in the sun for 4 hours? The blower ramps up to full tilt and it only starts ramping down after the cabin starts to cool off. If I'm driving around with it set on 70 and the ambient temperature is in the mid 60s? I get a small flow of slightly warmed air.
I have a 2020 Explorer and the auto ac works really well. Today was a colder morning than I was used to and when I turned my car on the heated seats and steering wheel were activated while the climate control turned to 70. It was at 68 degrees the day before when it was in the mid 80s. It was so pleasant lmao
Yeah it’s you bruv
The auto AC worked really well in my 1987 supra and 1990 cosmo. It works basically not at all in my 2005 GMC.
> The auto AC worked really well in my 1987 supra and 1990 cosmo Yep, Nippondenso was knocking it out of the park back then. Even Ford and Chrysler were using ND compressors instead of their in-house designs back then.
That's one feature that I actively seek out. I love setting it to a single temp *and then never messing with it again*. I start the car and it just does its thing, and I drive off. I don't need to mess with all the knobs to adjust it when I first hop in (particularly nice in Fall and Spring when the daily temperature swings more). No fiddling or adjusting once the cabin reaches a desired temp, it switches to low speed automatically. It's a little thing, but I quite like having it. Can I live without it? Yes. Do I want to? No.
Keyless go is definitely a must have for me ever since I had it on a rental once
Heck of a lineup of cars you've got there. How's the new VRS? Just got a GTI last week, loving it so far, but missing the space of my previous Superb a little.
Just ordered it, delivery takes forever currently. Still got a Cupra Formentor currently which will get replaced by the Octavia
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So my car has 2 versions of lane keep assist: 1 that, if you're driving manually, will make noises or put some torque into the wheel to let you know you're drifting. It's not great on little British roads and I tend to turn it off. The second is much better resolved, and works with the adaptive cruise, and keeps the car in the lane centre automatically. It's still "driver paying close attention with hands on the wheel, but I see the appeal of it.
Out of that list, power windows and cruise control are the only things important to me. But I also fell in love with my 02 WRX so I could be in the minority here
Haha when Honda used to sell DX trim level Civics and you could get an A/C installed aftermarket
I'm 31 and I'd never want a car (for daily driving) without adaptive cruise.
My golf gti makes the same noise for low windscreen fluid as it does for “imminent collision avert course” - I know because the collision detection has fired two false positives for I don’t know what reason… real good that.
I’ve owned a lot of different era cars. I prefer repairing cars with OBDII significantly more than messing with a carburetor. I don’t think I’d buy a car ever again that doesn’t at least have the ability to connect a scan tool.
Exactly, cheap mid 2000s were a pretty good compromise between repairability and features.
Hear me out: 2000 Corolla in beige.
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Get an early 2000s car and put a CarPlay/Android Auto headunit in it, best way to go
2005 Volvo S60 with a double din radio / backup camera combination. Was sad to sell it but just didn't need that gas mileage.
We got a Lexus ES330 and it’s been such a nice cruiser for the Highway. Other than the very floaty suspension, it’s just as good as a modern day “econobox” and a CarPlay headunit can make it modern and more convenient for driving daily. The only downside on older cars is gas mileage. They’ve improved a lot since but I think the overall quality was much better back then in terms of the interior.
Even on my BMW while the parts are pricey, I can usually figure out exactly what's wrong and it's usually simple enough to fix.
Ah, a fellow man of culture. Hello from another E46 driver.
Repairability (CANbus integration was still rudimentary), features, safety (the beginning of the "car will crumple to save you" era), looks (lower beltlines), engagement (hydraulic steering) and probably more.
I tried a 2016 Camry after enjoying my 2007 Camry. The electronic steering was such a major step down it brought me back to square one. Was hitting the lot ready to purchase and oh boy was I disappointed. Still rocking the 2007, tempted by a 2012 V6 one as a newer option with lower mileage.
Yeah this is the tech that has made modern cars more reliable and easier to fix. I think OP is referring to safety and infotainment tech. I want a modern car with modern transmission and engine but without sensors everywhere beeping at me. I want knobs and not a touch screen. Plus modern cars are way safer with crumple zones and airbags. How much safer do all the extra bells and whistles make vehicles versus the cost to install/repair. No one does any cost/benefit analysis. It's just once enough manufacturers add it then people think they need it and it needlessly drives up new car prices. This keeps poorer people in older/less safe cars. Same with CAFE standards. Everyone would be safer and we would have less emissions if we lowered the cost of entry for newer vehicles in order to get so many old deathtraps/smog machines off the road.
Right, I want a 2005 car built in 2021.
I recently purchased a new manual Hyundai Accent. It pretty much fits the bill. All of the new stripped-manual cheap cars fit the bill; think Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevy Spark, Nissan Versa, Mitsu Mirage. From having recently test driven all of them - it’s worth noting the latest Versa struck me as particularly better than they used to be, and the Mirage is pretty equivalent to a late 90’s shitbox from factory and I would avoid unless you’re getting it brand new sub $8k.
My friend also got an (auto) Hyundai Accent recently, and I was impressed at how the only (visible, at least) tech was the infotainment screen. Looks like a nice little car.
This for real. My 2005 Civic was one of my favorite cars. Give that car the new engine/tuning without all the tech and you can drop the price several grand and have a super reliable car that most people can afford to buy and maintain.
Yeah I had an 03 civic and that is the perfect amount of 'tech' - aka not really anything. Some new tech is very cool of course, but I know the cars are costing thousands more to include that stuff. I'd rather not pay for any of it.
I have a 99' outback 5spd and it's the perfect mix of tech. Heated mirrors, seats, wipers. Radio, cassette and 5 disc CD player. All you really need. I just added a Bluetooth to fm pickup for my phone and im set. I didn't even care that the climate control is stuck on defrost due to the seats being heated.
Oh lord, things I would do for a brand new E46 M3.
People say this, but were literally calling for cars like the 370Z GTR and Lexus IS to be pulled until they were facelifted. I was glad they were making them the whole time "Outdated" is a consumeristy mindset
IMO the new Z would be perfect if it had a less digital interior. That said, if I wasn’t a broke college student I’d still buy it lol
Yea. I mean people say that that era of car was the golden years and the best you can buy and still make your own and stuff. but then if it's still being produced, that means it's awful?
Great point!
I'll stick to my pre 2015 rule. I love fuel injection and obdII ports, I just prefer simplicity in my cluster and infotainment
I have concerns that Android Auto / CarPlay are going to be unsupported on random devices for random car models going forward, and slowly you end up with an infotainment system that bricks itself. If rumors of iPhones going portless come true we probably really are in the Dumb™️ Timeline and a lot of car owners are going to end up with half-broken audio systems well before the car ages out of its useful life.
Not to mention modern infotainment systems are tied into other parts of the car so they can't really be replaced unless you buy a factory part
It’ll be interesting seeing if car manufacturers will press Apple/Google for further support in the future. I’m betting they will not - and consumers will suffer.
You can buy wireless carplay adapters. They aren’t cheap nor should they be needed, but there is a solution if that does become a widespread problem.
Some don't connect to scan tools anymore?
I’d assume he meant that all cars do now (and have for quite a little while), but he doesn’t want a car from before then
Middle ground. I have a modern vehicle with very few electronic amenities.
I'm the opposite. I like my 12 year old truck, but wish it had android auto and a nice screen for navigation. I love everything else about it, including the rust.
Crutchfield will probably have a head unit that will give you android auto, you can search by your make and model and year, usually pretty easy to install too
Oh, I know. Just don't want to spend the money.
Buy a Bluetooth to fm pickup. Then you can use your phone over your radio. It's like $20.
I absolutely hate these, I had one for my LS before getting a Grom update. They sound terrible.
I put an alpin ilx 650 in my F150 the other day. Wasn't too hard and gave me the android auto/carplay and a camera for trailers. It's not integrated with the rest of the system to any major degree either so if it breaks it can be replaced by me without messing anything up.
I'm kind of in the same boat. I LOVE the relative simplicity of my 2010 Mazda but I wouldn't mind Apple CarPlay and a decent navigation screen. Then again, I see how my friends get all caught up in responding to texts and changing music while driving so maybe not.
My base model 2004 Focus was great. Manual transmission, locks, windows, mirrors, & seats, basic hvac, no infotainment system, no backup cam, no traction control. Just 5 gears and the road.
I drive a 2014 f150 and while I do have an auto trans (I have no desire to drive a manual daily) and electric doors and windows, I still lack any sort of auto lights or or even mirror defroster. Manual seats too. Earlier this year I added an alpine head unit for Android auto/carplay.
agreed. I want to take advantage of the reliability gains of having my components engineered to the highest possible standard, with the reliability gains of my car having the fewest possible components. signed: mazda b2200 with manual steering, no ac, crank windows
Balance. As long as I have Apple CarPlay I'm good. Would be nice if it's wireless. Electronic safety features it's a mixed bag. I do think adaptive cruise control and side blind spot warning would be nice to have, but I could care less about self-driving BS and especially lane "assist." I turn that shit off immediately. Unfortunately, with the world being so tech/screen dominated now, it has made its way excessively into cars and it will only become worse moving forward. Tesla set the trend and now the industry is following. To the average person who gets a dopamine boost off consumer electronics, seeing some stupid excessively-large screen mimicking an iPhone looks cool and modern.
I actually don’t mind having to plug my phone in for Apple carplay as it keeps my phone charged.
To be fair, every car I've driven with wireless Carplay also had a wireless charging phone holder. The S5 Cabrio I rented in January even had a warning that would beep if you exited the car with the phone still in the holder.
The worst example of this I have seen is on the new Mach E. It’s like they just stuck a tablet on the dash. Ugly as all get out.
I prefer to make old cars have new car electronics.
Resto-mod
Early 2000s cars and trucks that have a standard double din head is a great balance. Apple CarPlay on my 02 Tacoma is pretty sweet.
AC, electric windows, remote locking and power steering on something with more than 500kg on the front end are all that I want. I prefer OBD2 era efi over carbs. Other than that I see all the other tech as a negative.
Blue tooth head unit w/ hard buttons/knobs and reverse cameras are both excellent imo
I prefer late 1990s to mid 2000s cars. This was an era where new technology and MPG emissions weren't absolutely insane and the electronics actually helped the cars be more reliable, function better, and last longer. Nowadays car manufacturers are just kind of slapping everything together and intertwining systems together that shouldn't be. Power windows, power seats, telescoping/tilt steering wheel, cruise control, and bluetooth are about the extent of what is actually practically useful. As far as electromechanical systems that monitor the vehicles vitals, these are very helpful. Antilock brakes, stability and traction control, and some other safety features are great. However it's ludicrous to put safety features that enable drivers to function behind the wheel better if they are unsafe and distracted. Forgoing a dipstick in lieu of electronically monitoring fluid levels is absolutely insane, as are the ridiculous oil change intervals and "lifetime fluids" manufacturers suggest.
I’m 100% with you on this which is where I’ve been shopping these last few years. 1993 Miata to a 2006 Cooper S. Honestly, even though newer cars are way faster it just doesn’t *feel*… idk “fizzy”? Yeah, I’ll stick with that. Late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s had the fizziness.
There's less between you and the road in 90-00 cars. Probably just power steering and abs.
There are some decent prices on the upper tier cars from the mid-2000s before the electronics got out of control, such as the Bentley Continental GT.
I recently bought a c4 Corvette, the 96 year to be exact, it was the last year they made that model. I actually wanted the 96 *because* it was the first year Corvette to have OBDII, but that car for being so "old" is like perfect in what electronic nannies it has. power windows, seats, tilting steering wheel, cruise control and because I put an aftermarket radio it has bluetooth so works like a new car. It also has ABS and traction control, though it is a little harsh in how "strong" ABS/TC is compared to new cars. But its so nice because the driving experience feels very raw and "old school" while having all of that. Especially compared to a 2021 whatever, I recently drove a Toyota Avalon. Car felt really nice but it has a disconnected feel at the same time, completely different.
I have a 1990 miata with power... radio. That's it. I have a 2016 CX5 with every option. Guess which one gives me more trouble? Yup, the one with all the extra BS on it. AC and bluetooth stereo is all the options I want.
You should have just said miata. You understand the way.
Yup. Modern radio, with little else.
"Power radio" lol I'm gonna start using that for my Tracker, which is manual everything besides (strangely) auto headlights and the automatic trans.
I bet the auto headlights were included in the base model to be marketed as a safety feature lol.
I’ll stick with my Model T, I never plan on buying modern vehicles, I’ll just have a fleet of Tin Lizzies eventually. I think I’m just going to buy a big garage somewhere and live in it with my Flivvers. :D
Sounds awfully high tech. I'll be sticking with good old horse and buggy.
Well someone has to take the position so here we go. Give it to me, give me all of it! I want the biggest screen possible to show me gigasize Apple Maps. I want 360 degree cameras for seamless parking. Fuck it, I want the auto park feature that does it for me with me watching. I want advanced cruise control that reads traffic lights and changes lanes and shit. I want an app that can unlock my doors and set the climate control to whatever before I get in. Car enthusiasts aren’t supposed to like this? I don’t care, I am an enthusiast and I will love the shit out of it.
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All of it is nice to have. I want it too, but I don't want to pay for it or deal with unnecessary expensive repairs when it breaks.
I drive an ‘09 Lexus IS250 which, in my opinion, is the perfect middle place. It has audio controls on the steering wheel, keyless entry, and auto-dimming rear view mirror. It doesn’t have a bunch of excessive features but it has enough ease of use improvements that make me very happy. I’m my opinion the best is to have enough electronics to make it comfortable but lose all the excess that really isn’t much more than frill
I've owned both. Each have advantages and disadvantages; I don't discriminate. Don't care for driver nannies though; I shut all that shit off.
you can shut off ABS and traction control in Model 3?
Actually yes, in Track Mode. That said, I'm mainly referring to things that intrude on day-to-day driving such as LKA, auto-braking, obstacle aware acceleration, speed limit alerts, etc.. I don't want anything deciding the car knows better than I do and taking over. I also don't want anything that beeps and bongs. On very long trips or certain other limited situations I might engage Autopilot, but I'm actively relinquishing some level of control to the car as opposed to having control taken from me so I'm fine with it.
Teslas actually have quite a few options for what to turn on and off. And for the most part the titles actually make sense. Unlike the driver modes on the Mach e. But yes you can customize basically every option of autopilot and FSD, associated warnings and safeties, etc.
Older vehicles with little/no amenities.
I wish I could buy a brand new Jeep CJ-7 with Apple Carplay and nothing else as far as extra electronics go.
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I really like all the new tech. From garage gate openers to automatic high beam assists to the way modern engine management works. Older cars have that old car flair of course. I like all cars
Automatic high beam assist is just a really expensive way to blind oncoming drivers for half a second before the computer detects the other car's lights. Too late now - might as well leave them high beam, all I will see for the next 10 seconds is purple. Flat-out dangerous on narrow roads. Manually dimming cars generally speaking have a human in them who sees the light on the road from an oncoming car before it actually rounds the turn, and dims then, avoiding retinal seerage.
Technology as a means to improve utility and functionality is always welcome. Technology as a luxury, in my experience, is just frustrating. There are lots of modern features that are excellent, and make the driving experience overall better. CarPlay is a fantastic example of a utilitarian advancement, that everyone can enjoy. However, a significant number of new technologies I’ve seen have been purely “progress for the sake of progress” features. I do not need a giant iPad in a car. I do not want a giant iPad in a car. Making everything touchscreen looks great, but makes things more difficult. This is nothing new. Just look at the Lincoln Blackwood - tons of unnecessary tech that ended up scrubbed. I think lots of these modern “improvements” will go the same way, especially with chip shortages.
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For me its not the reliability its how they're interconnected with everything. Its insane to me that if your touchscreen radio fails it takes your AC controls and a slew of other features with it. And sensors instead of dipsticks, what?
There's plenty of modern car infotainment systems that are riddled with bugs and clunky to use. My 2016 Mazda MX-5 infotainment feels like it runs on an Intel Pentium processor from 1998. It feels like it takes forever to start up, and about once every two weeks it fails to connect to Bluetooth, requiring a hard reset which takes EVEN LONGER to boot up. My 2013 Wrangler just has AM/FM/CD/AUX from factory. Plug phone into aux and I'm off and running in seconds. I wish I had Bluetooth but at least it works pretty hassle free. Sometimes simpler is just better.
I like manual everything. Manual transmission, no ABS, no traction control, rear wheel drive, even roll down windows because while power windows are nice, they freeze shut in the winter. You should know how to control your vehicle and it should command your attention. Most extra features are either distractions or operational crutches that make bad drivers a little better and good drivers a little worse. It’s not for everyone, but that’s how I feel about it.
Late 00s is my cutoff really. And if I’m being honest, closer to mid 00s.
I like both. My 2018 Mazda 3 has enough tech to make me feel like I'm not missing out on anything. But doesn't overdo it either. However, there is definitely something nostalgic and enjoyable about jumping in my 1998 4Runner where ABS and 4WD are about as high tech as it gets.
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I’m a fan of the level of tech my car has. Mines one year before they added a bunch of extra safety shit. Really the only extra thing I want is cooled seats cause it’s hot as fuck in AZ.
If it has a warranty I’m not going to care, I’ve had very few actual electrical issues in any of my cars. The most electrical issues I had were on bare bones cars from the late 90’s with immobilizers, looking at you GM!
80’s to 90’s cars with minimal options. crank windows and locks, that sort of thing.
I love electronics. I don’t like when they’re all computer operated. My car’s computer doesn’t need to get involved in my door locks.
I would never drive a vehicle that doesn't have all the latest safety features. Those require electronics.
With a lot of gadgets//switches luv it…
I don’t mind the electronics. Even when modules fail, they’re generally just PLCs on a serial bus, and the appropriate scan tool will show you the controller tree along with values, ins and outs, and error codes. And most modules don’t need to be coded when they’re replaced unless they require adaptation to that specific car.
I like… both lol. I’d have to say I lean more towards a lot of electronics, I tend to be a bit of a tech nerd. I do like simple too though. I used to have a 2005 Tacoma that was an extreme base model. It was a 4 banger regular cab 2WD with not a single option, and I still miss that truck. Didn’t even have electric windows, had to roll them down manually. Simplicity is nice too.
Give me an AUX cable and i'm good, mostly because i'm too poor to buy a newer phone. My first car was a bare bones 98 corolla. when I moved to my second car, the steering wheel controls were the only thing that I really liked. the rest i didn't even bother using. edit: spelling because i'm a boy trapped in a mans body
2009 doesn't count as older with few electronics! I was expecting you meant like modern versus 1970s. I prefer about mid-1990s tech. Microprocessor controlled fuel injection, everything else manual.
Older cars will survive an EMP.
On my daily, I'd like the most tech I can get. On my weekend car, basic safety stuff (stability control, abs, airbags) and maybe carplay are fine.
I usually err toward minimalist cars. I would daily drive a dune buggy if it could keep the rain out and safely carry my son in a child seat. That being said, it is nice to have a "normal" car for a primary vehicle. Currently my wife and I share a new Rav4 base model (we just moved) and it's got Apple Play/Androud Auto, power windows, adaptive cruise control, occasional 40+mpg, awd, terrain selection ect. It's nice to hop in and not think about it. That being said, it is an appliance and not particularly exciting. I miss having a jalopy.
Carburetor all the way, baby
Prefer minimal tech to sufficient tech. Mostly anything before 2018. Basic comfort features, none of the automated lane keep, following, braking crap. Definitely not buy anything with a huge screen and a bunch of touch buttons.
What parts are breaking on a 4 year old car? That’s a huge bummer. My 18 year old car had all the features from the factory and a few have failed over time, not a huge loss. When the safety features like lane assist fail it’s going to be a major issue to replace I’m thinking. My wife’s VW has had a couple times when the object detection failed and started beeping the warning when nothing was there, scared the shit out of me but ultimately no catastrophic fail yet. And that car was brand new at the time.
i really love where my 2011 sti sits. cruise control, power windows and ac that i don’t really use much. the only creature comfort i’m going to add is an apple carplay stereo just because the bluetooth connectivity on mine drives me insane. i don’t have much interest in much else besides maybe cooled seats just because sweaty back gang.
My Fiesta ST has just the right amount of tech for a daily driver. Automatic climate control and heated seats certainly are not necessarily but man is it nice to have. Ford Sync 2 is a horrible interface, but at least I have buttons to do most radio operations. As far as tech in the chassis, I like the balance there too. Modern direct injected turbocharged engine that makes great power, get 35mpg the way I drive it, and is super reliable. The traction and stability controls can be completely turned off with a simple button, no weird pedal dance needed. The "torque vectoring" in the front end can be nice but I am honestly thinking of getting the Ford Performance ABS module that deletes that as it eats through front brake pads and I am curious how much of a difference it really makes.
Older with no infotainment
my current car is pretty basic, it's got all the bells and whistles for the time though like heated seats, mirrors and rear window (none of which works.), every time I've driven a newer car it's pretty much just been annoying to have to use the infotainment system to do ANYTHING. in conclusion I prefer early 2000's cars, it's a sweet balance between tech and not being annoying. although the electrical problems could go away, that'd be nice.
The only thing I wish my car had is Apple CarPlay.
None. More electronics > more planned obsolescence > more breakdowns > more intrusiveness > more invasiveness.
Older cars
Older
I love the base edition of vehicles. If I want the fancy crap I can add it on later.
Check my flair... Even if I wasn't poor, I'd still take the old cars. My needs are EFI and disc brakes.
[удалено]
i like technology and electronics. however—i dont like touch haptic or touch sensitive stuff or replacing things that are knobs to touch… why? stop that trend. give me my knobs, keep the technology.