Modern Cars - How much technology?!
Discussion
I've just picked up a Golf. Last time I had a Golf was in 2002 and since then I've had a Boxster and a Freelander 2 so I've been lucky there, point being I haven't been driving what anyone would consider "old" vehicles.
Now I know things have moved on but I'm sitting here reading the user manual literally speechless at how much technology is on what is basically an entry/mid-range hatch back - it's like the starship enterprise, blindspot monitors, reactive braking, cameras that recognise speed signs.
I know one side of the coin is more to go wrong, but I was still under the (wrong) impression that you had to have something like a Lexus LS or Merc S Class to get a lot of this tech - and I didn't think I was a luddite by a long stretch
Now I know things have moved on but I'm sitting here reading the user manual literally speechless at how much technology is on what is basically an entry/mid-range hatch back - it's like the starship enterprise, blindspot monitors, reactive braking, cameras that recognise speed signs.
I know one side of the coin is more to go wrong, but I was still under the (wrong) impression that you had to have something like a Lexus LS or Merc S Class to get a lot of this tech - and I didn't think I was a luddite by a long stretch
Shortly after I bought my car a few years ago, a 2001 BMW 330d (this was in 2011), I was talking to a friend of a friend in the pub and happened to mention I'd just got a new car. He then revealed that he'd also just got himself a new one too: then-new Golf of some description. It had a hard drive that played MP3s. It would talk to his phone over Bluetooth. It had a screen with satnav on it. Keyless entry, keyless start, and it would also park itself.
I had been intending to mention my car's automatic headlights, but I decided not to bother.
I had been intending to mention my car's automatic headlights, but I decided not to bother.
I have a loan car just now, you don't have to have the key in the "ignition" . stepped out of the car the other day, locked it with the key which I put in my pocket and walked away, was in a bit of a hurry. When I returned the engine was still ticking over 10 hours later WTF ! Too much useless tech if you ask me
DuckDuck said:
I have a loan car just now, you don't have to have the key in the "ignition" . stepped out of the car the other day, locked it with the key which I put in my pocket and walked away, was in a bit of a hurry. When I returned the engine was still ticking over 10 hours later WTF ! Too much useless tech if you ask me
Your fault for not actually stopping the engine 
GroundEffect said:
Your fault for not actually stopping the engine
I know that..... jeez !!! you missed the point. Your car used to be error proofed to avoid this very situation......like take the key out of the ignition before you can walk away? Now you can have the car running and lock the doors and walk away with the key in your pocket.
Technology is cheap, and can be used to give added value to the more expensive models. It also can't be fixed by average Joe, so there's an income stream for the dealers.
I'm encountering such a problem right now with a ten year old Fabia. The electric windows don't work, and of course this is no simple switch/relay/motor system tat I could mend with ease. This damned thing, like so many other cars, has all sorts of complexity in what could very easily be a simple system.
I'm encountering such a problem right now with a ten year old Fabia. The electric windows don't work, and of course this is no simple switch/relay/motor system tat I could mend with ease. This damned thing, like so many other cars, has all sorts of complexity in what could very easily be a simple system.
I drove from Oxford to Southend yesterday using the ACC cruise function in my Golf Mk7. Due to my scepticism this was the first time I used it despite having had the car for 6 months from new - I didn't touch the brake or accelarator for the middle 80 miles of the journey - Unbelievable technology compared with a few years ago (to me anyway!)
Some technology is good - our Volvo for example has a pedestrian detection unit that will apply the brakes automatically should a collision with a pedestrian be detected (luckily I have never had call to initiate it - and hope I never do). However its's a good system designed to address a real safety risk.
Other technology in cars is just there for it's own sake.....I mean why the f
k do the wipers do that last sweep over the windscreen several seconds after I have washed the screen and turned the wipers off again?
Why when I change the volume on the stereo does the volume indicator stay on the screen for several seconds afterwards - locking out all other functions until after it has disappeared.
Technology implemented just because it can be is invariably annoying.
Other technology in cars is just there for it's own sake.....I mean why the f
k do the wipers do that last sweep over the windscreen several seconds after I have washed the screen and turned the wipers off again?Why when I change the volume on the stereo does the volume indicator stay on the screen for several seconds afterwards - locking out all other functions until after it has disappeared.
Technology implemented just because it can be is invariably annoying.
Moonhawk said:
Other technology in cars is just there for it's own sake.....I mean why the fk do the wipers do that last sweep over the windscreen several seconds after I have washed the screen and turned the wipers off again?
To catch the dribble that runs back down the screen and leaves a streak.k do the wipers do that last sweep over the windscreen several seconds after I have washed the screen and turned the wipers off again?wst said:
To catch the dribble that runs back down the screen and leaves a streak.
Why did that have to be designed in though? If there is a dribble I can easily blip the wipers again to remove it.What does happen however especially in winter is that the windscreen gets little spots of water/salt on it. For a while visibility remains ok as long as you don't wipe the windows smearing the water/salt.
Eventually you have to wash the screen, so you apply screen wash and wipe the windows clear. The wipers pause and water/salt starts to build up again. The wipers then make their final "dribble clearing" sweep - thereby smearing the spots of water/salt making it difficult to see again
You end up constantly washing the windows - just because that last sweep smears the salt every time. The constant interaction of having to clear the windows of smearing because of this last sweep is far worse IMO than doing it on occasion to clear a minor dibble.
DuckDuck said:
I know that..... jeez !!! you missed the point. Your car used to be error proofed to avoid this very situation......like take the key out of the ignition before you can walk away?
Now you can have the car running and lock the doors and walk away with the key in your pocket.
My uncle used to have a Jeep Cherokee (no immobiliser) and something was broken in the ignition barrel so you could remove the key without turning the key back.Now you can have the car running and lock the doors and walk away with the key in your pocket.
As a result that was entirely possible with that car too!
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