Motor vehicle technology

[luvsmiths]

The newest vehicle I drive is this 2020 Volvo and I loath the "driver assist" BS.

We put a piece of tape over the camera that will take the steering away from you if you get too close to the white line.

It beeps at you if you follow too closely.

It honks inside the cab if you turn your turn signal on to let people know you are going to be changing lanes if it thinks there's a vehicle there. And that's the vehicle I am letting know I will be changing into their lane as soon as its clear.

The adaptive cruise control sucks too.

I haven't been in an accident in over 50 years and I don't need a truck telling me how to drive.

Too bad there's not a way to turn all that junk off.

So, let me know if I got this straight.

You like to ride the white line, while you're right on someones bumper. Yeah, they ought to have a shut off switch for that awful stuff. I have to wonder what kind of drivers inspired that stuff anyway.

You CAN tun all that "junk" off. Go back to a 1971 truck that you seem so fond of.

And stay off my bumper!

 

[rubiranch]

So, let me know if I got this straight.

You like to ride the white line, while you're right on someones bumper. Yeah, they ought to have a shut off switch for that awful stuff. I have to wonder what kind of drivers inspired that stuff anyway.

You CAN tun all that "junk" off. Go back to a 1971 truck that you seem so fond of.

And stay off my bumper!

Then stay out of my way.

 

[Farmer17]

I like tilt, cruise, power windows, locks, and heated mirrors and ....that's about it. My 2018 Ram Quad Cab V6 is very smooth and quiet and gets 20 mpg on cheap E-85 gas in the city and with 305 hp has more than enough acceleration than I need. The thing I freaking hate is if I try to back up in a tight space and can't see something in the camera, and have to open the door and look back while backing up a safety device slams the truck in park! The first time it did that I thought I'd knocked a tooth off of one of the transmission gears. On a construction site there are always nails, rebar, or materials on the ground so you really NEED to open the door and look sometimes when backing. I guess the factory didn't think a truck would ever be used in the construction business.

 

[ladder13]

I consider myself fairly competent technology wise with vehicles. (Only vehicles…but that's another story. )

But my new Corvette simply befuddles me. Not lying! HAVE read the owner's manual front to back but find myself searching for You Tube tutorials to learn how to activate certain features and use others. I know 'first world' problems… but still makes me seem dumber than usual.

That said, new technologies have greatly improved automobiles as some have noted. No more points, condensers, valve adjustments, exhaust replacements, etc.

But I need a nerd to help me…preferably a cute female one.

Be safe.

I share your confusion.

Some of the features are accessible, and changed, from the touchscreen, and some are done through the steering wheel controls (wheels and toggles) and show up on the dashboard screen.
My wife's RDX is the same.

Took me awhile, and still learning.

Having the top down and listening to the exhaust negates all that though.

 

[SMSgt]

My 2018 Ram Quad Cab V6 is very smooth and quiet and gets 20 mpg on cheap E-85 gas in the city ...

My 2014 Chevy 1500 can use E-85. I ran a test on a long trip, E-85 one way, regular on the way back. After breaking down the cost and mileage to cents per mile actual cost for each--it came out only a penny or two difference in cost between the two. E-85 costs less per gallon but gives lower mileage. I haven't used E-85 since, regular being much more available. Simply no advantage to using it.

 

[Puller]

There reason there are so many do-dads on modern cars is because of all the incompetent drivers on the road who need the help. Funny thing is, technology can't fix stupid.

 

[rubiranch]

There reason there are so many do-dads on modern cars is because of all the incompetent drivers on the road who need the help. Funny thing is, technology can't fix stupid.

Exactly. And they are ruining the people who do know how to drive.

 

[rubiranch]

Just pulled through my local VW dealership. Not a new car on the lot that I could see.

The Chevy dealer here is the same way. The salesman said sales are great. Everything has to be special ordered and its taking about 90 days for delivery.

 

[Farmer17]

My 2014 Chevy 1500 can use E-85. I ran a test on a long trip, E-85 one way, regular on the way back. After breaking down the cost and mileage to cents per mile actual cost for each--it came out only a penny or two difference in cost between the two. E-85 costs less per gallon but gives lower mileage. I haven't used E-85 since, regular being much more available. Simply no advantage to using it.

I've checked my gas mileage several times with regular unleaded and unleaded plus and neither gets any better mileage than E-10 and the power and acceleration is no better also. So E-10 currently at $2.65/gallon in OKC is a lot cheaper and better value. Sorry I meant to say E10 and not E85.

 

[jeffrefrig]

There reason there are so many do-dads on modern cars is because of all the incompetent drivers on the road who need the help. Funny thing is, technology can't fix stupid.

Hence, the beeper that goes off after you've been driving with the darned turn signal on too long!
Or, headlights on after your wipers go on.

 

[Racer X]

I like all the new technology, the various alarms, active cruise control, auto braking and such. I'll take all the help I can get. Bit of a PITA to figure out initially, but once the learning curve is surmounted makes driving, especially long distance, easier and more comfortable for me.

that is also a lot of expensive stuff to fix when it breaks.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Like I said, I'm no mechanic, but that E85 fuel is bad for your car if it isn't made for it. (According to the 'net mechanics.)

 

[GaryS]

Last year I bought a year old (2019) Toyota Tacoma with under 10,000 miles on it.

When I called my insurance company with the information, I asked the nice lady how much more it was going to cost to insure.

She told me that it was actually going to be a couple of hundred less than insuring my 2006 Tundra.

The reason being that all of the safety features that the new vehicles have reduce their payouts for personal injury claims.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm mostly amazed by the window stickers.

On trucks. Poor old farmers need every doo-dad plus heated/cooled seats, power everything, cameras, etc. Do they even make wind up windows for some "farmers" truck?? Try to get one with no A/C.
"All I want is to get out there and pick up a few bales o' hay and some apples!"
On a side note, do they make tractors without all the ****? I would hope engine technology has kept up with the tractors/working farm machinery.

 

[hsguy]

I quite like a lot of the new technology. I certainly enjoy my backup camera and warning system if another vehicle is alongside of me. I rented a car with the stop engine at stop feature and have no use for that. I also rented a car with with lane assist that kept trying to push me back into my own lane and thought the steering defective and was about to return to the rental agency, I was in a country that drives on the "other" side of the road unlike the USA so a bit disconcerting. The car also had a system to regulate the cruise control based upon the speed of the vehicle ahead of you and as their were many small towns on my route with varying speed limits I grew to like that.

My car personal seldom beeps at me and I have never had an update commence while driving so that is not an issue. I really can't think of anything I dislike in my current car. It starts every time despite the temperature, no choke to fiddle with, has never knocked and always runs smoothly. Just because something is new and a bit unfamiliar and has a bit of a learning curve is not a negative for me, I rather enjoy a bit of a challenge and like learning new things. I have rented many cars while traveling to different countries and always try to take a few minutes to find any idiosyncrasies before driving off the lot although I did miss the lane assist mentioned above. Lesson learned.

I don't miss setting points and timing, changing sparkplugs, adjusting carburetors, boiling out radiators and most of all changing tires. Tire technology has certainly improved and flats are certainly less frequent today.

I used to work on all of the vehicles I owned; Austin Healy 3000, Corvette, Datsun 280Z, Camaro and several motorcycles but sure enjoy the modern features and reliability offered today. I sometimes think about buying a vintage British sportscar again as a hobby but common sense quickly stifles that thought.

 

[rubiranch]

So, let me know if I got this straight.

I am a VERY courteous and safe driver and I don't tailgate other people.

I'm driving 120,000+ incident free miles a year in all kinds of traffic and weather.

I really don't need a truck telling me I'm following too close, or I'm close to the the solid white line or that there is a vehicle on the side of me when I want to change lanes. I am already totally aware of my situation.

If people need a vehicle to tell you how to drive then maybe some folks shouldn't be driving to begin with.

 

[S&W629]

Technology is great....until it fails...I do have days that I wish for a no tech vehicle....a brand new pickup truck circa 1900s....no tech at all....crank windows...points/plugs/condenser....a truck for light duty....that does not take a computer and a geek to diagnose an issue.....I am old enough to remember that it only took three things for a motor to run.....fuel...air...and a spark....and I remember doing all repairs under a shade tree....with simple tools...and a cold drink....

 

[rubiranch]

Technology is great....until it fails...I do have days that I wish for a no tech vehicle....a brand new pickup truck circa 1900s....no tech at all....crank windows...points/plugs/condenser....a truck for light duty....that does not take a computer and a geek to diagnose an issue.....I am old enough to remember that it only took three things for a motor to run.....fuel...air...and a spark....and I remember doing all repairs under a shade tree....with simple tools...and a cold drink....

I bought this 2011 Chevy 2500HD in 2013, it had 20,000 miles on it.

Its a no frills WT (work truck).

I'm guessing it had two options, 4-wd and cruise control.

Manual windows, no power door locks no nothing.

Regular cabs are few and far between and this on fit what I needed.

I think its about as basic as they get any more.

225,000 miles and still running the factory brakes. Its THE most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[vonn]

I don't trust any computer driven steering,braking,etc. controls. Every computer I have ever had has had glitches! Check engine lights are on in most of the cars that come into my shop.

 

[ladder13]

I'm a low tech kind of guy. Still go to my childhood dentist.