low sensory stimulation car for ASD person
Discussion
Hi,
I wondered if I could ask which car in production at the moment would suit my needs as a person with ASD sensory sensitivities as follows:
I get migraines from LED lights, and screens.
I don't get on with screens that have things swooshing about on them.
I prefer not to have the heated wires in the windscreen
I like cars that are very stable on the road and don't rock from side to side much.
I previously had a 2006 Form Mondeo, which was great, and currently I have a 2016 3 series BMW tourer, which is just starting to show its age.
They both had lovely bland dash boards with not too many LED lights and screens, and the navigation screen on the BMW is okay for my eyes. It's also handy because I really don't need to use it much, but for the small amount of time when I do need to use it, it is okay. This is really unusual as most LED screens wouldn't work for me.
I haven't looked at new cars yet, but when we were looking ten years ago we found that new cars either had lots of screens, or really a lot of little LED lights all over the controls.
I just wondered if it is the same now, or even more so, and if there is any modern car that is bland enough and screen-free enough for me?
I slightly wonder if I'm going to need to be come a classic car owner and drive a Morris Minor eventually.
Thank you very much.
Jennifer
I wondered if I could ask which car in production at the moment would suit my needs as a person with ASD sensory sensitivities as follows:
I get migraines from LED lights, and screens.
I don't get on with screens that have things swooshing about on them.
I prefer not to have the heated wires in the windscreen
I like cars that are very stable on the road and don't rock from side to side much.
I previously had a 2006 Form Mondeo, which was great, and currently I have a 2016 3 series BMW tourer, which is just starting to show its age.
They both had lovely bland dash boards with not too many LED lights and screens, and the navigation screen on the BMW is okay for my eyes. It's also handy because I really don't need to use it much, but for the small amount of time when I do need to use it, it is okay. This is really unusual as most LED screens wouldn't work for me.
I haven't looked at new cars yet, but when we were looking ten years ago we found that new cars either had lots of screens, or really a lot of little LED lights all over the controls.
I just wondered if it is the same now, or even more so, and if there is any modern car that is bland enough and screen-free enough for me?
I slightly wonder if I'm going to need to be come a classic car owner and drive a Morris Minor eventually.
Thank you very much.
Jennifer
jsp56 said:
Hi,
I wondered if I could ask which car in production at the moment would suit my needs as a person with ASD sensory sensitivities as follows:
I get migraines from LED lights, and screens.
That's going to be a real problem, we're heading towards only cars at the very top end having physical dials and instruments. I wondered if I could ask which car in production at the moment would suit my needs as a person with ASD sensory sensitivities as follows:
I get migraines from LED lights, and screens.
I'd buy the newest Toyota I could find that was sufficiently primitive and look after it so that it'll last forever.
I had a 2024 Audi A3 until recently, not sure if this is the right size car for you, but the screen isn't in your face.
It has buttons for heating and radio controls etc, so you don't need to mess around on the screen too much.
Have a search of the dashboard, see what you think.
Also, it drives well (I had the 1.5 TFSI) and definitely doesn't throw you around, although I will say the steering is a bit vague, but it seems most modern cars are like that. The Q5 I replaced it with is worse!
It has buttons for heating and radio controls etc, so you don't need to mess around on the screen too much.
Have a search of the dashboard, see what you think.
Also, it drives well (I had the 1.5 TFSI) and definitely doesn't throw you around, although I will say the steering is a bit vague, but it seems most modern cars are like that. The Q5 I replaced it with is worse!
When you say "showing its age" do you mean its starting to go wrong, or looks a bit old from a styling point of view?
To my mind, around 2015 was the sweet spot for car design, with decent and unfussy styling, and interiors that were relatively straightforward, but all the mod-cons that you really need. I'd stick with the BMW unless you really fancy a change.
To my mind, around 2015 was the sweet spot for car design, with decent and unfussy styling, and interiors that were relatively straightforward, but all the mod-cons that you really need. I'd stick with the BMW unless you really fancy a change.
Mrs Will's Suzuki Vitara is pretty decent in this regard. Traditional dials, no heated windscreen, one small screen in the centre console for entertainment but you can turn the display off if you dont need nav etc. Physical controls for most things.
Not the poshest car in the world but done us fine, is a decent cruiser and not actually bad to drive (lack of outright speed excepted) as it is very light for a modern car which also helps with it not rolling about.
Not the poshest car in the world but done us fine, is a decent cruiser and not actually bad to drive (lack of outright speed excepted) as it is very light for a modern car which also helps with it not rolling about.
Is it any screens, or is it graphics/animation that is more annoying?
I can think of a few cars with screens which can feel quite "calm" as there's not a lot going on in them (Porsche/JLR instrument cluster in one of the simple modes springs to mind), and equally cars even with physical buttons which still deliver full sensory overload (Mercedes/Toyota/Lexus/BMW).
Pick a car you can turn the main screen off if you ever need Nav etc. Or go whole hog and get one without it but I wouldn't automatically assume a row of switches/dials solves the problem as sometimes the frequency of the LED drivers for the illumination can be a bit triggering/noticeable at night.
If it's just screens in general I think you'll struggle as most clusters will have a screen (whether full or in between the gauges). You'd need to go *really* old to avoid a screen in your eyeline.
For less wallowy cars, just pick a car rather than an SUV/MPV/Van. And ideally something post 2000's, when we got started getting cars that dissociated softness from comfort (although I can already hear the PH outcries of a 1990's volvo 740 being the most "comfortable car ever" or some such just because it was softly sprung and massively underdamped).
I can think of a few cars with screens which can feel quite "calm" as there's not a lot going on in them (Porsche/JLR instrument cluster in one of the simple modes springs to mind), and equally cars even with physical buttons which still deliver full sensory overload (Mercedes/Toyota/Lexus/BMW).
Pick a car you can turn the main screen off if you ever need Nav etc. Or go whole hog and get one without it but I wouldn't automatically assume a row of switches/dials solves the problem as sometimes the frequency of the LED drivers for the illumination can be a bit triggering/noticeable at night.
If it's just screens in general I think you'll struggle as most clusters will have a screen (whether full or in between the gauges). You'd need to go *really* old to avoid a screen in your eyeline.
For less wallowy cars, just pick a car rather than an SUV/MPV/Van. And ideally something post 2000's, when we got started getting cars that dissociated softness from comfort (although I can already hear the PH outcries of a 1990's volvo 740 being the most "comfortable car ever" or some such just because it was softly sprung and massively underdamped).
Oh also take a look at the Mazda 3. The dials are calm and not cluttered with too much information, the nav screen isn't in your face and can be easily turned all the way off, and the general interior demeanour and design is very calm for a modern car.
Any new car will have bings and bongs you'll need to turn off before each drive, sadly.
Any new car will have bings and bongs you'll need to turn off before each drive, sadly.
InitialDave said:
If you largely like the BMW, what specifically leads you to feel it needs changing?
The analogue dials and red backlighting seem like they're still what suits your needs, so unless it's got something major wrong with it, I'm not sure how much better a car you'll find.
Also that, it'll be cheaper to keep that running forever than buy a new car too!The analogue dials and red backlighting seem like they're still what suits your needs, so unless it's got something major wrong with it, I'm not sure how much better a car you'll find.
OP I think I'm similar to you.
I move new, and late cars around for a local dealer, and they drive me nuts.
I try to switch as much off as I can.
The Omodas, Jaecoos, are by far the worse for annoying features.
My own cars I have chosen are a VW Up, and a 2016 Seat Ibiza.
Both have similar basic features.
The Ibiza FR is the better, it doesn't have stop/start, and no driver warnings other than low fuel, and low outside temperature.
No huge touchscreens on either.
I think touchscreens are dangerous.
Drivers should be looking at the road, not scrolling through a touchscreen.
Best of luck, but as a poster has already said, look at cars around 2015/ 2016
I move new, and late cars around for a local dealer, and they drive me nuts.
I try to switch as much off as I can.
The Omodas, Jaecoos, are by far the worse for annoying features.
My own cars I have chosen are a VW Up, and a 2016 Seat Ibiza.
Both have similar basic features.
The Ibiza FR is the better, it doesn't have stop/start, and no driver warnings other than low fuel, and low outside temperature.
No huge touchscreens on either.
I think touchscreens are dangerous.
Drivers should be looking at the road, not scrolling through a touchscreen.
Best of luck, but as a poster has already said, look at cars around 2015/ 2016
Saab would be your best option in terms of lighting, at night the Nigh Panel is excellent at providing an almost dark cabin bar the speedo. Lovely on a late night cruise. They are considered old cars but having owned a few, if you're prepared to pay for a good one there are still low mileage examples around. They don't feel old to drive from my experience.
Thank you very much for all these comments, it's hugely helpful. I will have a look at all these cars if I need to do anything radical.
I think our BMW is okay for a while.
It's got this problem recently where it smells strongly of petrol both inside and out when the engine is running. The garage changed the spark plugs and the problem went away, but now it has come back. I had a terribly difficult drive today because smell of petrol really does bad stuff to my stomach and I was stuck in a long traffic jam. I didn't enjoy it much.
Otherwise the car is really fine. It looks brand new and only has 20K on the clock after 10 years. I just was a bit worried that it has gone wrong in such a grim way twice in a few weeks. I wondered if this was the beginning of it becoming complicated and expensive. I've never had a BMW before. I always had Fords, and then previously two different metros.
Our cars always go wrong in special ways because of low mileage. We live in city where walking and cycling is almost mandatory but we need a car just for some jouneys, so it ends up being used only a little, and then slowly and not for very much distance. It seems to make them go wrong in funny ways.
Thank you very much :-)
I think our BMW is okay for a while.
It's got this problem recently where it smells strongly of petrol both inside and out when the engine is running. The garage changed the spark plugs and the problem went away, but now it has come back. I had a terribly difficult drive today because smell of petrol really does bad stuff to my stomach and I was stuck in a long traffic jam. I didn't enjoy it much.
Otherwise the car is really fine. It looks brand new and only has 20K on the clock after 10 years. I just was a bit worried that it has gone wrong in such a grim way twice in a few weeks. I wondered if this was the beginning of it becoming complicated and expensive. I've never had a BMW before. I always had Fords, and then previously two different metros.
Our cars always go wrong in special ways because of low mileage. We live in city where walking and cycling is almost mandatory but we need a car just for some jouneys, so it ends up being used only a little, and then slowly and not for very much distance. It seems to make them go wrong in funny ways.
Thank you very much :-)
jsp56 said:
Thank you very much for all these comments, it's hugely helpful. I will have a look at all these cars if I need to do anything radical.
I think our BMW is okay for a while.
It's got this problem recently where it smells strongly of petrol both inside and out when the engine is running. The garage changed the spark plugs and the problem went away, but now it has come back. I had a terribly difficult drive today because smell of petrol really does bad stuff to my stomach and I was stuck in a long traffic jam. I didn't enjoy it much.
Otherwise the car is really fine. It looks brand new and only has 20K on the clock after 10 years. I just was a bit worried that it has gone wrong in such a grim way twice in a few weeks. I wondered if this was the beginning of it becoming complicated and expensive. I've never had a BMW before. I always had Fords, and then previously two different metros.
Our cars always go wrong in special ways because of low mileage. We live in city where walking and cycling is almost mandatory but we need a car just for some jouneys, so it ends up being used only a little, and then slowly and not for very much distance. It seems to make them go wrong in funny ways.
Thank you very much :-)
With such low miles I'd give it to a specialist find the leak (it may just be vapours) checked out & sorted. I think our BMW is okay for a while.
It's got this problem recently where it smells strongly of petrol both inside and out when the engine is running. The garage changed the spark plugs and the problem went away, but now it has come back. I had a terribly difficult drive today because smell of petrol really does bad stuff to my stomach and I was stuck in a long traffic jam. I didn't enjoy it much.
Otherwise the car is really fine. It looks brand new and only has 20K on the clock after 10 years. I just was a bit worried that it has gone wrong in such a grim way twice in a few weeks. I wondered if this was the beginning of it becoming complicated and expensive. I've never had a BMW before. I always had Fords, and then previously two different metros.
Our cars always go wrong in special ways because of low mileage. We live in city where walking and cycling is almost mandatory but we need a car just for some jouneys, so it ends up being used only a little, and then slowly and not for very much distance. It seems to make them go wrong in funny ways.
Thank you very much :-)
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