I did a dealer trade for the local GMC dealer yesterday and drove a new Canyon truck about 175 miles. If you leave the turnlight on, it beeps at you and a light flashes. Now, there is something we have been in need of.
Finally, A New Car Gadget I Approve Of
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Mrs. Chad and I had 1990 Lincoln Continentals that would sound a chime if you left your turn signal on too long. It was fairly obnoxious on big sweeping cloverleaf freeway entrances and exits. It did come in handy on occasion.
What we need around here is smart technology that can read your mind and turn the blinker on before you make a turn. A lot a people in my neck of the woods seems to think signaling isn't worth the trouble.
What we need around here is smart technology that can read your mind and turn the blinker on before you make a turn. A lot a people in my neck of the woods seems to think signaling isn't worth the trouble.
OLDSTER
Member
Good idea; my old 2003 Jeep sounded an alarm if you left the lights on.
Yeah, in TN I'm pretty sure turn signals are optional equipment for vehicles.
A small panel of LED lights to indicate a burnt out tailight, headlight, ect, but then the local cops would have no reason to pull me over...
In New England, use of turn signals is considered the equivalent of passing classified information to the enemy in wartime.
The new car gadget that I like is adaptive cruise control. Set the speed you want, and it will maintain that unless there is a car ahead moving more slowly. If a slower car is ahead, it will stay at a set distance behind that car until it speeds up beyond the setting, or moves out of the way.
On a long trip, one less thing to worry about. (However, it will not slow down for curves, so you need to keep that in mind and reduce speed as prudent.)
On a long trip, one less thing to worry about. (However, it will not slow down for curves, so you need to keep that in mind and reduce speed as prudent.)
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I have not turned my lights on or off in about 25-30 years! Every vehicle I have owned during that time period has had automatic headlight controls. Honestly, even economy cars have been built that way for some time now, haven't they? If you override the automatic system and manually turn them on, there is a bell or horn sound to warn you that they are on - again, this has been my experience for many years now - even with inexpensive vehicles.
Just out of curiosity, what was the year and model of your old vehicle?
Just out of curiosity, what was the year and model of your old vehicle?
Remember when the auto off headlights first came out, people didn't quite trust it. Kept looking over your shoulder or peeking through the blinds to make sure it actually worked.
Whats a turn signal?
Turn signal vs. Headlights. The auto lights on most cars are pretty good right now, but I don't think I've ever owned a car with a turn signal alarm.
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OOOPS! I did misread the OP post regarding the turn signals (thanks for the heads up) but still, a warning bell or buzzer has been standard on every car I have owned for many many years when the signals are left on as well. Maybe some models were excluded but if so I am unaware of them.
The OP must have had a fairly old model or they never worked correctly for some reason. Can't recall a vehicle not doing that in many many years.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
My 2000 Silverado had the Signal alarm. On very long freeway exits it came on about 10 seconds before you finished the turn!
Automatic headlights usually came on 10 minutes after the small town cop thought I should have turned them on! (7 times!) never a ticket, but he was always on the side of the road giving a blue light inspection. I don't know what happened to him, but I haven't seen him in 3 or 4 years. Stupid thing is, as far as I can tell, he either didn't radio the stop in, or didn't wait for dispatch to get back to him. In Ohio your CCW is tied to your license plate, but he was always surprised by the required notification!
Ivan
Automatic headlights usually came on 10 minutes after the small town cop thought I should have turned them on! (7 times!) never a ticket, but he was always on the side of the road giving a blue light inspection. I don't know what happened to him, but I haven't seen him in 3 or 4 years. Stupid thing is, as far as I can tell, he either didn't radio the stop in, or didn't wait for dispatch to get back to him. In Ohio your CCW is tied to your license plate, but he was always surprised by the required notification!
Ivan
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
In Alabama you have to be over 21 to buy blinker fluid, and then only a pint every 6 months. 
Have a blessed day,
Leon
Have a blessed day,
Leon
THE PILGRIM
Member
I'm going with Rain Detector.
It's been an ongoing problem through out history.
Is it Raining? I can't tell.
I wish my Uncle Ben was here.
He can tell tell when it's raining!
But one I have and do like is -
Blind Spot Detector.
Tells you when somebody is echeloned in your blind spot.
It's been an ongoing problem through out history.
Is it Raining? I can't tell.
I wish my Uncle Ben was here.
He can tell tell when it's raining!
But one I have and do like is -
Blind Spot Detector.
Tells you when somebody is echeloned in your blind spot.
The Norseman
Member
Rear View
I would say the best gadget is; the Rear View Tailgate
Camera.
I really like them, but have trouble trusting them.
I would say the best gadget is; the Rear View Tailgate
Camera.
I really like them, but have trouble trusting them.
Backup cameras are great.
I dont care for the adaptive cruise control and lane assists, the lane assist is just annoying and the while the cruise control can occasionally be nice in a busy area, it also means my windshield replacement is $1k due to the need to re-calibrate the cameras. Guess I'll just live with a crack.
I dont care for the adaptive cruise control and lane assists, the lane assist is just annoying and the while the cruise control can occasionally be nice in a busy area, it also means my windshield replacement is $1k due to the need to re-calibrate the cameras. Guess I'll just live with a crack.
I want a Trunk Monkey
I wish that vehicles had a monitor that made them speed up when approached by a faster vehicle in the passing lane.
LVSteve
Member
Probably because the long sweeping ramp divides in two at some point. Even if it doesn't, which way are you turning at the bottom of the ramp, or is that Need to Know information.
LVSteve
Member
I have a rabid hatred of adaptive cruise control systems where the adaptive part cannot be disabled. The Cadillac my wife used to have had it, and the driving habits of others had the adaptive system braking unnecessarily and laying on way too much to get back up to speed. It made the SUV behave like you were wearing Herman Munster's shoes.
I feel you. The worst I had was in a rental Camry, I drove from Denver to Dallas it was so gentle you'd realize you were doing 65 when you wanted to do 80 because there was another car it detected. Usually it would be so far in front you wouldn't even notice you had been gaining on it.
In my Outback, it at least beeps at you to let you know it's about to start matching another car's speed. In some situations I'll let it do it's thing, but usually at that point I just say screw it and pass.
why isn't everyone scanning their dash periodically for info, you know, like you were taught when you took defensive driving classes? "Always keep your eyes moving" "Always leave yourself an out" there are lot's more rules too.
People don't need options or gadgets, they just need to be a good driver. It's not that hard either.
People don't need options or gadgets, they just need to be a good driver. It's not that hard either.
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SASABERANGER
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
My 2006 Silverado Cheapie and my 2020 Suburban both have the turn signal alarm and automatic headlamp feature.
Not sure when it started.
It was not featured on my 1998 Tahoe or 1999 GMC Suburban.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
Not sure when it started.
It was not featured on my 1998 Tahoe or 1999 GMC Suburban.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474
I remember! All Good Kids Like Milk.
Always beat the guy in the lane next to you to the merge.
Get the big picture of the hot girl walking/driving.
Keep your eyes moving from the txt message to the road... or see above.
Leave room to sweep three lanes over in the very last 100yards before your turn.
Make sure hot girl sees you.
Always beat the guy in the lane next to you to the merge.
Get the big picture of the hot girl walking/driving.
Keep your eyes moving from the txt message to the road... or see above.
Leave room to sweep three lanes over in the very last 100yards before your turn.
Make sure hot girl sees you.
Ford had auto headlamps as part of the "Courtesy Lighting Package" option as least as far back as '94. My old '94 Mercury Topaz had them, my current '99 Sable, and my partner's '03 Mountaineer.
Just different switch, a light sensor on the dashboard and some wires. Absolutely no reason they aren't standard equipment. Jeez, it was an option on '61 Cadilacs for Gawds sake. One old room mate had them on his '61, and another on his '68 Coupe De Ville.
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