‘Technology is replacing common sense’

[Z Victor 1]

Agree with this thread, some. years ago I had an Audi A3 black edition saloon daily drive and loved it. When it was time for a change I thought just get a new one. The new one was awful, had to sit switching stuff off before setting off. In winter having scraped ice off the car and set off after about 3 miles down the A38 dual carriageway there would be flashing lights on the dash and warning alarms to tell me it might be icy weather.Who knew!! Worst was the terrible lane guidance. When overtaking at speed on the motorway it would grab the steering as I changed lane, very scary. I only kept it a few months then bought a used E class merc that let ME drive.

 

[Pond]

I only kept it a few months then bought a used E class merc that let ME drive.

My 2013 Merc E class would decide I needed a cup of coffee after a couple of hours driving. I don't even like coffee!

 

[Toby]

My 2013 Merc E class would decide I needed a cup of coffee after a couple of hours driving. I don't even like coffee!

Higher ended models make it for you too

First encountered this on a hire car in CA - love coffee, and had just passed a local coffee place when it flashed up - I thought thats great telling me where all the coffee stops are

 

[Grumps]

My 2013 Merc E class would decide I needed a cup of coffee after a couple of hours driving. I don't even like coffee!

Haha, mine did the same! I do however love a coffee.

 

[Pond]

I am getting a brand new Audrey next week. Can't wait to find out how many annoying bits of tech I don't know how to work (or turn off) on that puppy.
It has a screen which is bigger than our family TV was in the 70s!

 

[Grumps]

I am getting a brand new Audrey next week. Can't wait to find out how many annoying bits of tech I don't know how to work (or turn off) on that puppy.
It has a screen which is bigger than our family TV was in the 70s!

It's a winner winner for the manufacturers, makes them look bang upto date yet so much cheaper to build in tablet form over the traditional ways "of old" No switches, binnacle etc to have manufactured and build in, simple straight dash with no cuts as the tablet just bolts on.
A mate of mine has a model Y Tesla, it's hideous, the tablet display is huge, beyond stupid, yet the speedo reading is stuck in the top corner and is so small you can hardly see it.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

The amount of people that drive on DRLs when it’s almost dark in Florida truly amazes us. They’re totally oblivious as to whether they have any rear lights displayed at all, mostly they don’t. And all they need to do is set the light switch to “auto”. It’s not too difficult is it?

Tony.

Some kind of Darwinian evolution stuff. If you can't turn the lights on by yourself you don't really deserve to survive.

 

[TJS]

Compulsory but unwanted complexity and technology versus desirability and depreciation ..?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs0-G2vIWiU

 

[B21]

I find it strange that 'human factors' the study of humans behave and interact does not play a fundamental role if these interfaces..

In aviation they learnt quite quickly that when folks are stressed, tired, distracted, unfamilar with a man machine interface you should make it as simple as possible..

In the end they got to the point where the flaps switch is coloured and shaped likea flap and the undercarriage knob is shaped and coloured like a landing wheel!

Had to drive a brand new Golf back to its owner from the local garage last week..for the love of God..so pretty a dashboard but how to switch anything on was beyond me..

 

[as400]

I got into a Morris Minor the other day, the lack of switch gear was delightfully hillarious.

My bloody Tesla, even the glove box has no means of opening it with your finger you have to go into menu options on the ipad. Thankfully you can talk to the car though "Open the pod bay door HAL" doesn't work.

 

[Pond]

My bloody Tesla,

If you insist on driving a car invented by paypal, I have no sympathy.
Just drive German cars made by ex WW2 aeroplane manufacturers whose aim was to kill us all 80 years ago. Much more civil.

 

[cityconstable]

Saw this on MSN, it is so true.

‘Technology is replacing common sense’: everything Telegraph readers hate about modern cars

We purchased a 2 year old Seat Leon 1.5 litre petrol earlier this year to replace my wife's 10 year old 2 litre Golf GT diesel which was coming up 100k miles. We've had three Golfs over the years and got so used to the build quality, performance, control layout etc. We looked at the latest Mk 8 Golfs but the weren't many available to the spec we wanted and they were so expensive. So the Leon was purchased, a great high spec model with leather heated seats, memory drivers seat, reversing camera etc with familiar VW running gear. However the "iPad" on the dash is an absolute pain, it's used to control just about everything on the car. The downside is that there are far too menus and sub menus for the simplest of tasks eg reset trip meter takes 4 sub menus, crazy!!!
Also any functions you cancel eg lane assist, lights on instead of just DTRL, etc have to be reset every time the ignition is switched on. As the article points out it's getting to be a safety issue, as you can't just turn a knob or flick a switch to get an instant result but have to use the "iPad" which is so distracting.
The car itself is great to drive, is very comfortable and does look great, but the lack of conventional switch gear is an absolute pain for everyday driving.
Seriously thing of going back over to the latest low mileage Mk 7½ VW Golf 2litre diesel I can find to get some sense of normality and enjoy driving again.

I'm sorry but when cars talk to me, won't move till I'm wearing a seat belt, make sounds for every time something moves up beside me, stops me from or automatically changes a lane, shakes the stearing wheel or vibrates the pedals has more bings bongs and whistles than a batman cartoon... I can't take it any more... waiter another 97 z3 please.

 

[Rod and Kate]

Don't get me started on this subject!!!
I drive a 22 plate Mercedes Sprinter for work 250-350 miles a day. I turn all "driver aids" off every time I start the engine. The one thing I haven't found out how to turn off is the "Cross wind assist" .
I swear down it's going to, if already hasn't been the cause of collision and injury.
Anyone who has used this joyous revelation will know what I'm talking about.

 

[cityconstable]

Don't get me started on this subject!!!
I drive a 22 plate Mercedes Sprinter for work 250-350 miles a day. I turn all "driver aids" off every time I start the engine. The one thing I haven't found out how to turn off is the "Cross wind assist" .
I swear down it's going to, if already hasn't been the cause of collision and injury.
Anyone who has used this joyous revelation will know what I'm talking about.

Ok one last tirade after reading previous posts in this thread. Because if I move my zed for errands I risk losing my parking spot and having to wait around till one opens up. So for quick trips I'll use a ride share like zip car, however since you never know what kind of car will be available, you never know how to even start the damn things. It literally took half an hour to figure out how to start it (I think it was a civic but could of been a kia or some other compact car with a joy stick, mouse, christmas tree etc). They put all that work into the car electronics but did they think about us "challenged" people? No the seat only adjusted with spring loaded bar I couldn't reach!

 

[Pond]

They put all that work into the car electronics but did they think about us "challenged" people? No the seat only adjusted with spring loaded bar I couldn't reach!

That is a good point. Our E89 Z4 has all sorts of stuff, but the seats are manual. I can't get into it if my wife drove it last and the seat runner handle is under the inside edge of the seat. So despite all the 'tech' I have to scrabble around on my hands and knees to push the seat back to even get into it.

The Z3 has no tech, but has electric seat adjustment. Much more sensible.

 

[Duncodin]

Yeah. bl**dy tech. There I was driving my MB GLA up the M18 earlier this week. Having been on the road nonstop for over 4 hours lots of it at 50mph on them bl**dy M1 roadworks. Anyway just thinking of nodding off and having 40 winks when the dash beeps at me and flashes:-

Attention Assist!
Take a break

Bl**dy cheek. How rude to disturb me like that.

 

[cityconstable]

I know! We all know cruise control was made for napping...

 

[t-tony]

From MSN this morning.

MSN

Tony.

 

[andyglym]

Took delivery of a 74 plate Ford Puma ST Line hire car for a work trip today, Jesus Mary and Joseph WTF Its got more buttons than a Vulcan cockpit and an iPad type thing with eleventytwenty menus and sub menus Should've taken Bella

 

[Rod and Kate]

Yeah. bl**dy tech. There I was driving my MB GLA up the M18 earlier this week. Having been on the road nonstop for over 4 hours lots of it at 50mph on them bl**dy M1 roadworks. Anyway just thinking of nodding off and having 40 winks when the dash beeps at me and flashes:-



Bl**dy cheek. How rude to disturb me like that.

Yeah, Attention Assist!! Who's that for??