air vents… a step too far?
Discussion
ok, I'm not a fan of all the functions migrating to the touch screens (especially as I leave finger prints everywhere - not built for crime my wife says!) but in many cases I can understand the argument for it from the manufacturers point view - less parts, less weight possibly, fewer switches to go wrong etc etc etc
But a couple of cars we're looking at recently now have the controls for the dash air vents direction buried in the screen.
Now this is something my wife & I adjust a reasonable amount so would grumble anyway, but where's the advantage for the manufacturer?
There were no complex switches before, nothing electrical to go wrong and nothing cluttering up that nice simple scandi style that the designers seem to like, just a simple piece of plastic/metal to direct the airflow where you wanted.
Surely the extra complexity of a motor to move the vanes, weight, cost, more to go wrong etc does not justify moving it to a screen, or am i missing something??
But a couple of cars we're looking at recently now have the controls for the dash air vents direction buried in the screen.
Now this is something my wife & I adjust a reasonable amount so would grumble anyway, but where's the advantage for the manufacturer?
There were no complex switches before, nothing electrical to go wrong and nothing cluttering up that nice simple scandi style that the designers seem to like, just a simple piece of plastic/metal to direct the airflow where you wanted.
Surely the extra complexity of a motor to move the vanes, weight, cost, more to go wrong etc does not justify moving it to a screen, or am i missing something??
Catnip64 said:
Jazoli said:
My Tesla has them like this, its stupid, there are also no foot vents which means I get cold feet, stupid.
You can direct the air to your feet in a Model 3. Just tell it that your feet are cold and it will adjust accordingly!Fitting with the topic I suppose, unnecesary complication.
Edited by Jazoli on Monday 2nd November 16:21
I d say it depends on the implementation.
In our Teslas, the integration of the vents into the dash makes for a much cleaner design, and the location of the vents means that the airflow is much less likely to blocked by the driver s hands.
Also, we find the visualization of the airflow during adjustment to be very helpful. Likely as a result, I find myself actually needing to adjust the airflow far less often than in any other car we ve owned.
By contrast, a Porsche Taycan s screen controls and airflow (for instance) are not nearly as well thought out, IMHO.
In our Teslas, the integration of the vents into the dash makes for a much cleaner design, and the location of the vents means that the airflow is much less likely to blocked by the driver s hands.
Also, we find the visualization of the airflow during adjustment to be very helpful. Likely as a result, I find myself actually needing to adjust the airflow far less often than in any other car we ve owned.
By contrast, a Porsche Taycan s screen controls and airflow (for instance) are not nearly as well thought out, IMHO.
Edited by Zcd1 on Tuesday 3rd November 15:53
On my F30, I can adjust the flow rate by a roller dial, and thee direction by a knob on the vent itself.
I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
Pica-Pica said:
On my F30, I can adjust the flow rate by a roller dial, and thee direction by a knob on the vent itself.
I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
Mercs used to have a similar design.I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
Was always a nicely weighted and feeling control too.
Pica-Pica said:
On my F30, I can adjust the flow rate by a roller dial, and thee direction by a knob on the vent itself.
I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
The Saab 'eggbox' vents were brilliant and could adjust the airflow in almost any direction. I think Honda go even better. They have a joystick type knob that you move around to direct the flow, and the joystick has a knurled knob on the top that you rotate to manage the flow rate, so all controlled by one hand
Electric vent controls just seem to be technology for technologys sake. Would infuriate me and are another reason not to buy a newer car
I'd say it's car dependent too.
I've had a Model 3 for 6 months and it was something that I initially thought might annoy me but the reality is I moved the airflow direction to wide and pointing towards the roof, set to Auto and haven't revisited since day 1, only adjusting temp as with all my previous car's.
I've experienced other interfaces over the years which have really grated.
I've had a Model 3 for 6 months and it was something that I initially thought might annoy me but the reality is I moved the airflow direction to wide and pointing towards the roof, set to Auto and haven't revisited since day 1, only adjusting temp as with all my previous car's.
I've experienced other interfaces over the years which have really grated.
Presumably a fully electrically controlled system could be so to the preferences of different drivers in a similar way to memory electric seats. I can see that being useful, if a bit unnecessarily complex.
I rarely need to adjust the (manual) vents in my car, and with the system on "Auto" the only action I need to do regularly with the climate control is activate the fast de-mist on cold damp mornings.
My wife's car has remote only control of enabling/disabling the vent for the rear seats. Bizarrely though it can't be controlled from the touchscreen, only be switched on/off by the voice control.
Annoyingly it also has a habit of switching itself off for no obvious reason from time to time, and the first I know of is when my daughter announces she feels car sick when it gets too hot in the back in the summer.......
I rarely need to adjust the (manual) vents in my car, and with the system on "Auto" the only action I need to do regularly with the climate control is activate the fast de-mist on cold damp mornings.
My wife's car has remote only control of enabling/disabling the vent for the rear seats. Bizarrely though it can't be controlled from the touchscreen, only be switched on/off by the voice control.
Annoyingly it also has a habit of switching itself off for no obvious reason from time to time, and the first I know of is when my daughter announces she feels car sick when it gets too hot in the back in the summer.......
Most cars with touchscreen ventilation controls have them always visible wherever you are in a menu. Our Tesla is just a tap or hold and slide. Audi is the same. Not that you need to. Just set the correct temperature and leave it.
Not difficult. It’s a car, not a F18
Not difficult. It’s a car, not a F18
Edited by smallpaul on Tuesday 3rd November 19:15
smallpaul said:
Most cars with touchscreen ventilation controls have them always visible wherever you are in a menu. Our Tesla is just a tap or hold and slide. Audi is the same. Not that you need to. Just set the correct temperature and leave it.
Not difficult. It s a car, not a F18
Sometimes you want more or less flow to the hands or to the face.Not difficult. It s a car, not a F18
Edited by smallpaul on Tuesday 3rd November 19:15
It's not just air vents though. Nearly every touchscreen car hides basic adjustment in menus which is impossible on the move. I drove our unloved pool Citroen C5 Aircross on a trip to York and back. Someone had set the LCD brightness to max and after a few hours my retinas were hurting. Tried Googling and struggled. A helpful PH member said it was under profiles. Even going into profiles meant so many taps that you couldn't do it at 70mph on the A1.
I may be (very likely am) wrong but the cynic in me thinks the drive towards an led screen controlling everything is for warranty reasons going forward.
More and more warranties already exclude infotainment systems and im thinking that this may be a back door way to reducing warranty claims by excluding the blanket term infotainment?
If your vents or heated seats stop working will the blame conveniently fall on your infotainment system first and that will be £1000 sir to plug a new one in?
In any event i find it totally unnecessary and overly complicated for what were simple tasks and that didn't pose a problem in the first place.
More and more warranties already exclude infotainment systems and im thinking that this may be a back door way to reducing warranty claims by excluding the blanket term infotainment?
If your vents or heated seats stop working will the blame conveniently fall on your infotainment system first and that will be £1000 sir to plug a new one in?
In any event i find it totally unnecessary and overly complicated for what were simple tasks and that didn't pose a problem in the first place.
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff