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Overload?

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NutmegCT

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
Bronze
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I'm beginning to think self-driving cars are desperately needed. How the heck can us poor ol' humans keep track of all the digital screens? Touch the Lighting icon, choose Interior or Exterior. Touch Interior, choose from five "moods". Touch Relaxed, choose from Instrument Panel, Foot Area, Rear Seats, Overhead, Glove Box, Underdash. Touch ... well, you get the idea.

And you're supposed to be able to drive the car at the same time?


Maybe young folks like these advances (?), but I still prefer this:

1951-mg-td-midget-dashboard-and-steering-wheel-jim-hughes.jpg

Your turn!
 
I agree Tom, driving a computer/spa requires nearly all of your attention, how can you be expected to pay attention to the road?

I like the MG dash, but would prefer to see this when motoring
index.jpeg
 
I have a new Chevy truck with all the bells and whistles, the Silverado just came that way, it took me a week to figure what all the controls and switches do! The screen in the middle of the dash is very distracting at night, but I had to do something as the old truck has just under 300,000 miles on it and had to go. I gave it to my son who is totally restoring it. Even though I've always done all the work maintaining my vehicles, only thing I can do to this truck is change the oil. If one took all the computerized equipment out of it, it would probably be 200 pounds lighter. PJ

My old truck
View attachment 51295
 
I don't use half the features of things today - cars, computers, cameras - even if I knew what they did. Including that stupid display that tells me I'm getting 45 mpg when cruising and 8 mpg when accelerating. Who gives a %$#@. And I have to flip a switch to get it.
 
No A/C, no GPS, no back-up camera. Have all the things needed: fuel gauge, temp, oil pressure, speedo and tach. I rarely even have the radio on.

Gotta get me one-a these:

UnPrius.jpg
 
DrEntropy said:
No A/C, no GPS, no back-up camera. Have all the things needed: fuel gauge, temp, oil pressure, speedo and tach. I rarely even have the radio on.
Click to expand...

Radio - what is this thing called "radio"?
 
A one-way comm device said to output "entertainment"... rarely am I entertained by the noise coming from it, though.
 
On the one hand they make a big deal about all the things your car can do for you, from playing movies to updating facebook and twitter while on the road, yet on the other hand they say don't be distracted while driving.
 
Don't use your phone while driving, it's too much of a distraction and might cause an accident! To solve this problem Audi and other manufactures, with the help of Google and other Internet providers being concerned with driver safety, came up with this idea, bigger screen, less confusion!! :rolleyes2: What are these people thinking? Seems like some law makers have their head in the sand! $$$$$$$ talks! PJ

View attachment 51330
 
"Seems like some law makers have their head in the sand! $$$$$$$ talks!"

Money definitely talks. But it's not the law makers with their heads in the sand - it's the folks who buy the cars.

I'd bet very few new car buyers really *need* a new car; they just *want* a new car. So when you walk into the showroom, and everything on the floor is full of unneeded bells and whistles ... tell the sales staff how disappointed you are - and walk out.

I'm one of those rare (and naive) folks who think people need to be encouraged to grow up and think for themselves to take action - and not push all responsibility onto legislatures.

grumble grumble

 
Admittedly we have a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali. It took me a few weeks to familiarize myself with its computer system. I love it especially the heads up display. You don’t really drive, you simply guide it. I was confused by the entertainment controls in the tailgate. Salesman pointed out the advantage of this when tailgating. Well dah never thought of this. Guess it’s because this type of partying didn’t cross my mind. We traded our 2004 GMC Envoy. We keep our cars forever. This is our dependable no nonsense vehicle. As an added plus it pulls Agatha’s trailer when an event exceeds 300 miles or temp exceeds 75.

Having said that, each vehicle has its own purpose. My 2005 Lexus SC430 is my really fast cool car. All the others speak for themselves.

Overload?
 
DrEntropy said:
No A/C, no GPS, no back-up camera. Have all the things needed: fuel gauge, temp, oil pressure, speedo and tach. I rarely even have the radio on.
Click to expand...
I drove to Arizona a month ago for a photo expedition, just under 1000 miles round trip. Installed 9 new speakers and 2 amps before heading out. No FM for me, loaded a thumb drive with MP3s. You could listen to a whole lotta Jimmy Buffet.;)
 
It’s to bad that BLiS adaptive cruise Collusion avoidance backup alarm xcrossing traffic avoidance etc all can and have saved lives and could lower insurance only to be thrown out the window buy the infotainment. And common sense
 
SD Bugeye said:
It’s to bad that BLiS adaptive cruise Collusion avoidance backup alarm xcrossing traffic avoidance etc all can and have saved lives and could lower insurance only to be thrown out the window buy the infotainment. And common sense
Click to expand...

Agree 100%.

(Was that a Freudian slip? " ... thrown out the window *buy* the infotainment"?)

Tom M.
 
Our '02 Accord V6 just passed 150K miles. Still on the original spark plugs and suspension struts. Whoever claimed "they don't make them like they used to" is full of you know what. The squared off trunk can hold 4 sets of golf clubs and the driving position is perfect for short drivers - which we are. I do miss the backup camera and the blind spot indicator. My Legacy lease has 6 months to go. I have to decide what to do. Buy for $16K buyout price, extend the lease, turn it in for a new '18 Legacy lease or turn it in and lease something else. I did not like the new Accord, especially the hybrid. No trunk room at all. Once the Legacy comes off warranty, I'm on my own and I don't trust the CVT transmission although I heard Subaru extended the CVT warranty for 10 years. I'm open to suggestions.
 
Now I drive a 2010 Kia Soul which I love. Not a lot of bells and whistles, 5 speed and the usual cruise control etc. Though great flashing speakers in the door! :grin:

i do rent though when I have to go over 400km for work - and actually appreciate the backup cameras and lane warning signals more than I thought. Certainly my mother swears by her backup camera! I know we have various versions of this conversation on the forum but vastly prefer the Kia over the Midget for pretty much any distance - in part because it is an appliance. It gets me there quicker, safer, more comfortably than a car from the era of our cars ever could.

that all said, I actually think there is an overload argument to be made for our LBCs as well. When i drive the Kia I drive an appliance, I don't worry about anything because I am in a 4 wheel cocoon. In the Midget I have sounds and smells to contend with that keep me constantly alert and constantly worrying. I actually find that if I drive for any period of time that I arrive much much more tired, not only because I am monitoring these things but because of the wind and the sun and those environmental factors as well.
 
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