Do you think there trying to make us lazy
Discussion
Drove a new BMW 5 series tiptronic the other day. Christ I thought someone else was driving the car for me.
I remember a time when you had to actually do things. You know like switch on the wipers when it rains or the headlights when it gets dark, to even holding the indicator stork and pushing it up to make it stay on.
Is it me or are the vehicle manufactures trying to make us lazy. BMW says it will work in manual mode, but what do they term as manual. When you reach the rev limit it'll change up and as you decrease the speed it'll change down. At one point accelerating through the gears noting the engine note I wanted to change up to 4th gear , but the car beat me to it, went to 4th then decided that as i had pushed the gear stick obviously i wanted to go up another gear and went straight to 5th. 3rd to 5th in one easy step. Nothing like the power of BMW to slow me down. Still not quite as bad as when I overtook a HGV on a single carriageway having indicated to do so, cancelling the right indication (which will not self cancel) which imeadiately turned on the left indicator leting the chap at the nearside juction up ahead know that I was about to turn left. ( which i wasn't) I'm sure you can guess the rest.
I was wondering if anyone else has come across or been involved in an incident where, these new fangled bits of technology have caused more danger than they are suppose to avoid. Having previously spoken with a VW Golf driver who didn't have his fog lights on in seriously reduced visibility. Saying, "the car puts it's lights on when there needed, so I don't touch them".
( would have been an interesting argument if he had been involved in a collision)
I remember a time when you had to actually do things. You know like switch on the wipers when it rains or the headlights when it gets dark, to even holding the indicator stork and pushing it up to make it stay on.
Is it me or are the vehicle manufactures trying to make us lazy. BMW says it will work in manual mode, but what do they term as manual. When you reach the rev limit it'll change up and as you decrease the speed it'll change down. At one point accelerating through the gears noting the engine note I wanted to change up to 4th gear , but the car beat me to it, went to 4th then decided that as i had pushed the gear stick obviously i wanted to go up another gear and went straight to 5th. 3rd to 5th in one easy step. Nothing like the power of BMW to slow me down. Still not quite as bad as when I overtook a HGV on a single carriageway having indicated to do so, cancelling the right indication (which will not self cancel) which imeadiately turned on the left indicator leting the chap at the nearside juction up ahead know that I was about to turn left. ( which i wasn't) I'm sure you can guess the rest.
I was wondering if anyone else has come across or been involved in an incident where, these new fangled bits of technology have caused more danger than they are suppose to avoid. Having previously spoken with a VW Golf driver who didn't have his fog lights on in seriously reduced visibility. Saying, "the car puts it's lights on when there needed, so I don't touch them".
( would have been an interesting argument if he had been involved in a collision)
The new 5 series is a fabulous bit of kit. Family life necessitates that I moved on from a succession of M3's to a 535d Touring. I expected to hate it, but it's great - so easy to live with. Rapid, too, when conditions allow.
But, as with any car, you need to become properly acquainted with it in order to get the best from it. And the indicators are a great example...
To cancel the indicators in a 5 series, briefly press the indicator stalk in the direction that you were indicating. So, in your particular example, to cancel a right hand signal, press the indicator stalk up.
Hope that helps,
WilliBetz
But, as with any car, you need to become properly acquainted with it in order to get the best from it. And the indicators are a great example...
To cancel the indicators in a 5 series, briefly press the indicator stalk in the direction that you were indicating. So, in your particular example, to cancel a right hand signal, press the indicator stalk up.
Hope that helps,
WilliBetz
For years car manuafacturers have been isolating the driver from the very act of driving. BMW more than most I guess. All the toys and gizmos that are supposed to make driving safer, have made driving way too comfortable for my liking. Driving a modern car puts me to sleep... Literally.
I totally agree with Bing O, I am not a huge fan of all the electronic computerised crap they put in cars, i prefer to use my own computer-my brain!!
Some of the safety things should be there incase i did make a mistake eg seatbelts and airbags or if someone else did, but i think there is way too much crap eg auto lights, wipers, tyre pressure guages. all these electrics cause people to think i'll be alright cos i have got 60 airbags, 900 different abbrevations for brakes abs, esp, abc, xyz, blt , so the car will sort itself out, as for sport buttons!!aaggghh. Why have a wee button that makes your car what it should be like in the first place and when you turn it off it makes itself not sporty!!what!! ie the crappy computer tells the engine suspension etc it stop doin what it was built to do.
Thnks
Some of the safety things should be there incase i did make a mistake eg seatbelts and airbags or if someone else did, but i think there is way too much crap eg auto lights, wipers, tyre pressure guages. all these electrics cause people to think i'll be alright cos i have got 60 airbags, 900 different abbrevations for brakes abs, esp, abc, xyz, blt , so the car will sort itself out, as for sport buttons!!aaggghh. Why have a wee button that makes your car what it should be like in the first place and when you turn it off it makes itself not sporty!!what!! ie the crappy computer tells the engine suspension etc it stop doin what it was built to do.
Thnks
7db said:
Get yourself a Seven:- the ideal antidote to all the stuff that you think is in a car but doesn't need to be...sat nav, abs, waterproofing...
Completely misunderstood there.....The OP mentioned a 5-Series, and I thought you were suggesting a 7-Series as an antidote,
which couldn't be further from the truth!! My 7 has got double glazing and it is so refined, my first few weeks of driving I shared the OP's sentiments exactly.Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff