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Intimidated by new car

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No specially shaped knobs. Everything where you need it. Easy to read cluster. NO idiot lights. Even has the special original turn signal assembly...and in 1950, it was still optional.
1950%20Ford%20tudor%20dash.jpg
 
We just picked up a used 2013 Legacy, but ours has just a few of the bells & whistles that many cars have. It is more basic than our 2011 Forester Touring. I was quickly able to sync my flip phone to the blue tooth, and programmed a few radio stations, and I think have the rest pretty much under control in just a few weeks.
 
Brooklands said:
I was quickly able to .... programmed a few radio stations, and I think have the rest pretty much under control in just a few weeks.
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Ah, yes. Rotate the RH tuning knob until your get KRLA, or KFWB.....determine which preset knob you want for that station...unscrew the knob a turn or so, press it in, let go, tighten the knob, and it's preset.
Flow-through ventilation. Open the rear quarter vents, open the vents on the firewall via the A) pull knob to left of column, and B) slide the heater selector to "vent", drive vehicle at 40 MPH and have flow-through ventilation.
Do all of that in a shorter time than it takes to type this (as long as the vacuum tubes have warmed up first).
 
I am not a big fan of all the gadgets and "connectivity" that new cars come with, I am not interested in most of it, but a built in GPS would be handy at times (I like Maps too, if I am going to two or three places in a strange town it is good to see what is close to what and plan your route, but GPS is useful sometimes too). Don't like touchscreens for cars, if you know your car you don't really have to look at switches and knobs to use them. I also don't like that all this stuff acts as a distraction to other people driving around me.

I was shopping for a new ride last year, looked at some of the newer models and even new cars, but ended up with a low mile 2002 Lexus IS300, very nice car, digital controls in the engine compartment, but still and analog cockpit with well laid out switches and controls. I am sure you young kids aren't impressed and think it is pretty old fashioned, but I sure like it.

It does make me feel old though the majority must want that stuff or they wouldn't make them that way, but I don't really even keep up with all the things the new fangled cars can do. Park assist is interesting to me as a technological achievement, and I would like to see how it works in a tighter spot, but more as a curiosity (both how it works and man v. machine who can do it better) than as a desired convenience.
 
All part of the car no longer being about driving. :apologetic:
 
I recently purchased a '15 Mazda 3, 5-door with most of the bells and whistles. Absolutly love it! On a typical 15 mile drive I average 39.8 MPG with the larger engine. Reading the owner's manual is a chore as I have to use a magnifying glass on some sections. Hard enough to remember how to get eveything to work and then there's miliads of personalizations that can be done. And then I read all these safety aids were added for elderly drivers. Ouch- I'm 63!
Again I love the car and am lost when I use the wife's 4 Runner where I have to use a key in the ignition, look over my shoulders to reverse....
 
I can read a map perfectly fine and a radio is all the entertainment I need in a car. I admit to liking the power steering, seat, and windows in my Cadillac- it is a joy to drive on the interstate- but it is not distracting by any means. I'm perfectly happy driving my forty year five year old and older cars, and have no desire to own anything with GPS, blue tooth, touch screens or any other modern contrivance. These things are only distractions that take your attention from the road.
 
65_BRG_Sprite said:
My first w/heated seats- oohlala!
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Nice on cold mornings (even if you start in the garage). My wife LOVES them.
Ours also "cool" (which is nothing more than a small fan that blows air through the tiny holes on the bottom). I'll take it. :congratulatory:
Bottoms in our 60's like this stuff.

Obviously, just bonus stuff.
 
I installed heated seats in my daughters car at the start of the winter. She told me it's one of her favorite gifts. It really wasn't too bad to install.
 
Do a little reading on them. You will find bum burns, lots of them, and fires...and the NHTSA won't tell anyone how many...but some places indicate a lot of fires caused by heated seats..especially once they exceed the takeoff/landing barrier.
 
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