Electronic driving aids - love, hate or indifferent?

[the_mikey]

Lots of these systems can render an older car scrap, and electronics do go wonky with age through connector deterioration. Relying on a dealer means lots of folk are driving round with MIL's lit or even Airbags (until MOT).

Yes they are good idiot devices, but will lead to cars going to scrap earlier than they should for economic reasons, and that includes leccy cars.

Already loads of issues with DPF filters, DSG's (gearboxes), Ford Ecobangs, wxpensive dual mass flywheels... TPS going wonky...

I've been a service technician for the last 20 years and I dread so much poorly implemented tech, a lot is put there because customers demand it, I get it, people simply think why can't I have a display that tells me when my tyres are flat, or similar, but often this turns an otherwise easily serviceable piece of equipment turning into something that has to be scrapped and disposed of because the tech part of it isn't economically serviceable.

 

[CXRAndy]

Tesla have different profile setting for each driver. It knows who the driver is from the App on their phone. It adjusts all the settings I know to each driver, not just seat, steering wheel and mirrors

 

[Brandane]

Some tech is good, some is not so good.

I like:
Cruise control (saves me from a sore right ankle on long motorway drives).
Music system.
Modern economical petrol engines.
Built in satnav.
Air conditioning.

I dislike:
Anything other than the above!
Airbags and crumple zones might save you in the event of a crash, but the downside of this is it encourages some people to drive in a manner that they might not otherwise do. Perhaps a metal spike coming out of the steering wheel in the event of a crash would focus the mind a bit more on the task in hand, i.e. driving!

Tech I would like to see?
Something which prevents phone use by a driver, including hands free. Hands free but talking on the phone? It still takes away concentration.

 

[steveindenmark]

I recently changed from a Kia Picanto which I drove 250k in. It never went wrong. I changed it for a newer model Kia Picanto. I love heated seats, Cruise control, GPS. The fact that I can listen to uk radio while driving in Denmark.

Yes. I like most of the tech stuff .

 

[Mike_P]

I find the cruise control great on my Fiesta as it auto disengages when changing gear as well as braking so I use it literally all the time to keep within speed limits with the knowledge it can be killed almost without thinking about it. In contrast that on the work Corsa does not so regularly disengage so that gets rarely used.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I love heated seats.

I've never had heated seats, I drive an eleven year old Suzuki Swift and have been watching this thread with interest as I've got no experience of most of the driving aids talked about on here.

 

[steveindenmark]

I've never had heated seats, I drive an eleven year old Suzuki Swift and have been watching this thread with interest as I've got no experience of most of the driving aids talked about on here.

I was in the same boat as you until recently. It does not take long to feel spoiled. Having heated seats is great. Especially at this time of the year. Also useful for easing back ache.

 

[gbb]

I'm beginning to suspect that Elon Musk has sent out a fanatical army of influencers with the mission of persuading the populace that self-driving cars are the dogs bollocks. Is Twitter going tit's up that badly?

It makes me laugh when the media report Elon Musks views on hydrogen cars and their 'stupid' idea....of course he will, he's so deeply embedded in EVs, he HAS to from a selfish and financial point of view.
No problem in that in itself, hydrogen may never become a usable alternative, or it may, time will tell. He may be right...or wrong.
Its the fact the media hang on his very words, open mouthed in wonder like he's some kind of messiah.
im coming to despise media and all its stupidity, its spin, bias.

 

[fossyant]

I remember the time one of my mates flicked the heated seat on a mates car without telling him. Couldn't understand why he was sweatting.

Must say I did like the 'cooled' and heated seats that were is some Fords ! Cool is good.

BIL's boot opens if you waggle your toes under the bumper (handy if you've arms full) but bloody useless if you've got short legs like my sister

 

[CXRAndy]

media hang on his very words, open mouthed in wonder like he's some kind of messiah

He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy

 

[CXRAndy]

I remember the time one of my mates flicked the heated seat on a mates car without telling him. Couldn't understand why he was sweatting.

Must say I did like the 'cooled' and heated seats that were is some Fords ! Cool is good.

BIL's boot opens if you waggle your toes under the bumper (handy if you've arms full) but bloody useless if you've got short legs like my sister

I remember my Volvo, it had that feature, everyone looking at you, has you looked like you were a tourette's leg flailing idiot trying to kick something under your car.

So temperamental the way it functioned

 

[stephec]

BIL's boot opens if you waggle your toes under the bumper (handy if you've arms full) but bloody useless if you've got short legs like my sister

Why, are they that short that they don't reach the floor?

 

[fossyant]

Why, are they that short that they don't reach the floor?

If carrying anything, she can't stretch her legs under the bumper far enough for the sensor to work. She's tried it.

 

[mustang1]

The computer in the driver's seat needs some mahoooosive software updates!

 

[fossyant]

Heated steering wheels ? Good if you've got Reynauds I guess, but otherwise ?

Self parking, why, this is for people who can't drive ?