Useless features in modern cars
- Thread starter LVSteve
- Start date
codenamedave
Member
I'm with you on the subject of irritating gizmos. Obviously the majority of buyers want them, or the manufacturers wouldn't bother putting them on the cars. I've often thought that if I were shopping for a new vehicle, at least half of my questions to the salesman would be along the lines of: "So how much extra would I have to pay to disable that thing? And that thing? And that infuriating robotic voice?"
Even commercial trucks aren't immune. The last one I was in was a 2015 Dodge tow truck, and it was equipped with built-in features to allow cell phone and digital music inputs through the factory sound system. The part that irritated me was that it was impossible for the driver to turn the interior (and exterior "courtesy lights") off when you want. The computer just did whatever it wanted to do with them, and to hell with what the driver might want. I ended up pulling all the LEDs and incandescent bulbs out.
Even commercial trucks aren't immune. The last one I was in was a 2015 Dodge tow truck, and it was equipped with built-in features to allow cell phone and digital music inputs through the factory sound system. The part that irritated me was that it was impossible for the driver to turn the interior (and exterior "courtesy lights") off when you want. The computer just did whatever it wanted to do with them, and to hell with what the driver might want. I ended up pulling all the LEDs and incandescent bulbs out.
OP
LVSteve
Member
OP
LVSteve
Member
I added another one that I saw the other day in a car review.
Tyrod
Member
Cars you can sit in to start are too new fangled for me. I prefer the ones you have to stand in front of to start.
My cars aren't loaded up with modern gizmo's but they both have one I that wonder how I got along without for so long.
Back-up camera's. Man, I love those things. When I first heard of them, I thought it was the silliest thing I could imagine, but it didn't take me but one time using one to realize what a handy thing they are. No more wondering if I'm six inches too close, or six inches too far. I know just how far away I am now.
Back-up camera's. Man, I love those things. When I first heard of them, I thought it was the silliest thing I could imagine, but it didn't take me but one time using one to realize what a handy thing they are. No more wondering if I'm six inches too close, or six inches too far. I know just how far away I am now.
Why bother with the motor, wires, controls, etc. if you only use them once.../
Maketh little sense to me.
I like power seats - they have far more adjustment than manual seats. Manual seats just have fore/aft, and maybe recline.
Power seats have fore/aft, up/down, tilt, lumbar, recline. Some seats have even more. Yes, I just set it once, but I can set it to fit ME.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
Steve, you are a fine writer of rants. I always enjoy them.
I drive a decrepit 2000 Hyundai Elantra five-speed manual, and have no idea what the hell you guys are talking about.
I drive a decrepit 2000 Hyundai Elantra five-speed manual, and have no idea what the hell you guys are talking about.
31FordA
Member
I don't mind stuff so much as the amt of stuff they are putting into the new cars that require manipulation while driving.
All we hear about is 'distracted driving' and then they pack all sorts of things in the dash that require you to take your eyes off the road and your mind off of driving. Like they say it only takes a moment of in-attention.
All we hear about is 'distracted driving' and then they pack all sorts of things in the dash that require you to take your eyes off the road and your mind off of driving. Like they say it only takes a moment of in-attention.
31FordA
Member
My brother had to special order his F150 back in '11 to get crank windows. He got the most stripped truck you could get, the dealer had a heck of a time. You can't even get a manual trans in the F150 anymore.
I hate, no, I loathe power windows. They always quit, usually with a storm approaching. I seek out cars with crank windows. When I finally track down a Vic with crank windows and vent wings (they're out there, pre '90 models) that isn't trashed I'm buying it.
italiansport
Member
I guess that's why I treasure my 89 Corvette. It's new enough to take it out of the primitive category but old enough to not have a lot of electronic gadgetry.
Jim
Jim
codenamedave
Member
Ah, you sometimes get called upon to do "that" kind of towing. Gotcha.
If by that you mean the Freeway Service Patrol, then yes.
[No longer employed.]
Freeway Service Patrol
Glam site for the local division:
Home | The Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol
Heck even granddad liked the new-fangled electric starters.
OP
LVSteve
Member
I was thinking more of repo work. Don't need the interior lights giving away your presence.
Jack Flash
Member
Primitive is not always bad. When simple = robust / bulletproof and complex = always breaking down, I'll take simple / primitive every time.
Story about hand crank windows. I've always had them on all my cars. One weekend my wife volunteered to babysit two pre-teen girls for some friends. Seems mom & dad had to get away from the little dears for a sanity break. This had to be in the early '90s, and at the time I had a nice two door Pontiac Catalina (it was probably 10 years old, I can't remember). We were going to take the girls out for some ice cream cones or something -- just a chance to get out of the house on a nice St. Louis evening. The girls hopped in the back and the first thing they did was roll the little rear windows down. Then up. Then down. ... You get the idea. They had never in their lives seen crank windows.
Story about hand crank windows. I've always had them on all my cars. One weekend my wife volunteered to babysit two pre-teen girls for some friends. Seems mom & dad had to get away from the little dears for a sanity break. This had to be in the early '90s, and at the time I had a nice two door Pontiac Catalina (it was probably 10 years old, I can't remember). We were going to take the girls out for some ice cream cones or something -- just a chance to get out of the house on a nice St. Louis evening. The girls hopped in the back and the first thing they did was roll the little rear windows down. Then up. Then down. ... You get the idea. They had never in their lives seen crank windows.
Push-button start--a silly Eurotrash idea that is unnecessary. Wait until your wife gets out of the car and sends you to the 7/11 for milk. The key fob is in her purse and you get to the store, shut off the engine, and discover you cannot restart it.
Auto up/down windows--can you ever stop them where you want to?
Voice phone dialing-- "Call Iris!" "Calling IRS"
" Call Bob!" " Calling Mom"
Auto up/down windows--can you ever stop them where you want to?
Voice phone dialing-- "Call Iris!" "Calling IRS"
" Call Bob!" " Calling Mom"
Things are built to fail, eventually.
I keep my rides for a long time. Always have.
I can adjust a mechanical seat close enough. I'm driving, not fixing to nap.
I just cannot buy into any auto driving feature. Instant turn off. I don't know from the technical stand point about programmable logic control which would be the only way it could work... just a guess. If so the D/C driven signal would be a 420 mA loop subject to variance in voltage. I'm familiar with the operational stand point of these systems. Not fun when they fail, they do, unless manual control can be established.
I really need some education on the sensors. Weather, environment could all make these really wonky... in my opinion.
I keep my rides for a long time. Always have.
I can adjust a mechanical seat close enough. I'm driving, not fixing to nap.
I just cannot buy into any auto driving feature. Instant turn off. I don't know from the technical stand point about programmable logic control which would be the only way it could work... just a guess. If so the D/C driven signal would be a 420 mA loop subject to variance in voltage. I'm familiar with the operational stand point of these systems. Not fun when they fail, they do, unless manual control can be established.
I really need some education on the sensors. Weather, environment could all make these really wonky... in my opinion.
kozmic
Member
For the most part I like the convenience and pampering of the creature features found in new vehicles. I just wish they all had a defeat button to weed out the few that annoy me.
Life is a journey, enjoy the ride!
Embrace technology.
Life is a journey, enjoy the ride!
Embrace technology.
Jack Flash
Member
Why did they eliminate manual chokes? I remember conversion kits for auto to manual used to be popular in the '70s.
My wife had a Saturn. The engine temperature sensor failed. Apparently, the geniuses at Saturn decided that failure mode should be to make the onboard computer think that the engine was warm enough to shut off the choke even if the engine was ice cold. It would run for a little while, then stall. Restart, run, stall again till it warmed up. Before I could get it fixed, it stalled at a stoplight at the most embarrassing time possible. So I took it in for repairs immediately.
Another sensor complaint:
On my old Dodge Dakota, there was a sensor to tell you, of all things, that you were low on window washer fluid. My routine was to check fluid levels frequently, so I never knew the truck had this vital feature. Until the sensor failed that is. I had to look in the manual to see what the idiot light meant! It's against my religion to go around with an idiot light illuminated, no matter how meaningless. So I disconnected the sensor and the light went out. Problem solved.
My wife had a Saturn. The engine temperature sensor failed. Apparently, the geniuses at Saturn decided that failure mode should be to make the onboard computer think that the engine was warm enough to shut off the choke even if the engine was ice cold. It would run for a little while, then stall. Restart, run, stall again till it warmed up. Before I could get it fixed, it stalled at a stoplight at the most embarrassing time possible. So I took it in for repairs immediately.
Another sensor complaint:
On my old Dodge Dakota, there was a sensor to tell you, of all things, that you were low on window washer fluid. My routine was to check fluid levels frequently, so I never knew the truck had this vital feature. Until the sensor failed that is. I had to look in the manual to see what the idiot light meant! It's against my religion to go around with an idiot light illuminated, no matter how meaningless. So I disconnected the sensor and the light went out. Problem solved.
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