Knobs V Touch Screens there is only 1 winner!
Discussion
Does anyone actually think using a touchscreen in a car is 1: Easy 2: Safe.
Whilst I love the look of them the actual use for me has been hit n miss and often dangerous.
My 2021 BMW has the usual identikit screens installed on most current BM's.
Look great but rarely used except when stopped,at least there are some switches n buttons 1 knob n I drive for backup.Not to mention hey BMW the Bixby of motoring.
God knows how any VAG drivers are managing to keep their cars on the road,their current touchscreen has to be one of the worst offenders.
My OH's new car has been improved by the chip shortage with manual AC and 4 buttons she can now direct the heater to her feet with 1 button.
Whilst I love the look of them the actual use for me has been hit n miss and often dangerous.
My 2021 BMW has the usual identikit screens installed on most current BM's.
Look great but rarely used except when stopped,at least there are some switches n buttons 1 knob n I drive for backup.Not to mention hey BMW the Bixby of motoring.
God knows how any VAG drivers are managing to keep their cars on the road,their current touchscreen has to be one of the worst offenders.
My OH's new car has been improved by the chip shortage with manual AC and 4 buttons she can now direct the heater to her feet with 1 button.
Agreed.
I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
The screens helped persuade me to buy the new Evoque over the older model. I find them easy to use and no less safe than physical buttons as the contact area is larger and they are more sensitive. Heating control and volume are still analogue which are the most used. Do the people who complain still use Blackberries?
Not many years ago, i had a Mondeo.
If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
sooty61 said:
The screens helped persuade me to buy the new Evoque over the older model. I find them easy to use and no less safe than physical buttons as the contact area is larger and they are more sensitive. Heating control and volume are still analogue which are the most used. Do the people who complain still use Blackberries?
I love a blackberry me! All those lovely wee keys!Best email search facility ever.
OutInTheShed said:
Not many years ago, i had a Mondeo.
If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
Out of interest which modern cars with touchscreens have you experienced?If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
I'm not totally sold on them either but my experience with them over the past 2+ years has been far better than you describe. They've come a long way from the horrible, small, unresponsive resistive touchscreens that certain manufacturers used to fit.
I still think non touchscreen BMW iDrive + physical buttons for heater controls is the best solution ever though.
Edited by SWoll on Tuesday 29th March 22:31
OutInTheShed said:
Not many years ago, i had a Mondeo.
If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
Exactly, my BMW has up n down buttons n they are OK but not as easy to use as a knob.If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
HD Adam said:
Agreed.
I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
Could you not argue that you only struggled with it because the car was new to you and you were unfamiliar with the controls?I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
SWoll said:
I still think non touchscreen BMW iDrive + physical buttons for heater controls is the best solution ever though.
Agreed. The iDrive works well. On F30/31s the heater buttons are rotary for temperature. No screen to touch. Radio volume control is rotary (or up and down on the steering wheel). I’ve not tried a touch screen car, but I can only imagine a downside.OutInTheShed said:
Not many years ago, i had a Mondeo.
If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
Surely on an auto-climate control there is no need for either of those? Push button for max screen fan, then off for back to auto A/C. If the screen began to mist, I could, totally by feel, turn the fan up, the temperature up and direct the air at the screen, just turn all the knobs clockwise all the way.
Modern cars, it's plip-plip-plop to change anything and look at the display to see what it thinks it's doing. Plus a delay while it thinks about it.
I can't see how touch screens are an safer than a mobile in a mount. 
I was out in a mate's 2015 Focus a few weeks ago and he decided to change his route due to traffic but ended up stopping to update the Sat-Nav because being sensible he just didn't think trying to do it while on the move was a good idea.
I was out in a mate's 2015 Focus a few weeks ago and he decided to change his route due to traffic but ended up stopping to update the Sat-Nav because being sensible he just didn't think trying to do it while on the move was a good idea.
ajap1979 said:
HD Adam said:
Agreed.
I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
Could you not argue that you only struggled with it because the car was new to you and you were unfamiliar with the controls?I flew into Heathrow recently & the rental company gave me a M520i Estate.
Nice.
Till I tried to do anything. A big iPad sized screen to control everything.
You (I) couldn't really do anything without taking my eyes off the road to look at it.
How these are legal in the UK yet holding a phone is not because it's dangerous I'll never work out.
If there's a knob or switch, it's all by feel.
If it's a touchscreen, you have to look.
Pica-Pica said:
SWoll said:
I still think non touchscreen BMW iDrive + physical buttons for heater controls is the best solution ever though.
Agreed. The iDrive works well. On F30/31s the heater buttons are rotary for temperature. No screen to touch. Radio volume control is rotary (or up and down on the steering wheel). I’ve not tried a touch screen car, but I can only imagine a downside.But the Z4 screens look great.
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