‘Technology is replacing common sense’

[Dado]

My wife has a 2022 Ford Kuga plug in hybrid, it does have lots of tech but most everyday functions are switch controlled (well, push switch) and there are so many of them close together it is easy to switch on the heated steering wheel when trying to switch on the rear heated screen. But in its defence the lane keeping is switched off by a single press of the end of the indicator lever, the headlights go from dip to main and back on their own without any glitches so far.
The lights are permanently switched on by me and all go off when ignition is off and DRLs cancel when heads are on.
There isn't much on the screen to switch on or off when driving but all the options are shown on big square icons easy to press if required, even the sat nav is easy, in all not a bad car to drive and with a 2.5 ltr petrol engine and electric motor has 225 BHP to make progress with and have seen over 100 MPG on some trips with fully charged battery and even local pottering shows 40 plus.
Apart from a couple of (starter) battery issues and a failed windscreen washer pump! has been okay so far.

 

[cityconstable]

My wife has a 2022 Ford Kuga plug in hybrid, it does have lots of tech but most everyday functions are switch controlled (well, push switch) and there are so many of them close together it is easy to switch on the heated steering wheel when trying to switch on the rear heated screen. But in its defence the lane keeping is switched off by a single press of the end of the indicator lever, the headlights go from dip to main and back on their own without any glitches so far.
The lights are permanently switched on by me and all go off when ignition is off and DRLs cancel when heads are on.
There isn't much on the screen to switch on or off when driving but all the options are shown on big square icons easy to press if required, even the sat nav is easy, in all not a bad car to drive and with a 2.5 ltr petrol engine and electric motor has 225 BHP to make progress with and have seen over 100 MPG on some trips with fully charged battery and even local pottering shows 40 plus.
Apart from a couple of (starter) battery issues and a failed windscreen washer pump! has been okay so far.

Maybe it's me, my 97 1.9ltr drove 300 miles on its maiden voyage home, through the wilds of New England avoiding hostile Indian casinos, wild mustangs and rams, threading through the corn maze they call rt 95 providence ri, passing Paul Revere to finally arive home. Ahh Lewis Wharf, a respit, and still had 3/8ths of 13 gallon tank left. My tools consisted of only a light switch, a turn signal, 2 pedals and a wheel yet I emerged with but the brightest of smiles and a longing for more...

 

[andyglym]

Maybe it's me, my 97 1.9ltr drove 300 miles on its maiden voyage home, through the wilds of New England avoiding hostile Indian casinos, wild mustangs and rams, threading through the corn maze they call rt 95 providence ri, passing Paul Revere to finally arive home. Ahh Lewis Wharf, a respit, and still had 3/8ths of 13 gallon tank left. My tools consisted of only a light switch, a turn signal, 2 pedals and a wheel yet I emerged with but the brightest of smiles and a longing for more...

Agreed. Cars, like mobile phones, have a myriad of tec we just don't need. I opened the car door in the carpark with the engine running, the car told me the engine was running. I know this as I was the only person in the car and it was me that fired it up.

 

[Pond]

I opened the car door in the carpark with the engine running, the car told me the engine was running. I know this as I was the only person in the car and it was me that fired it up.

I bet it told you the door was open too.

 

[Pond]

Modern cars, like so many things in modern life, are appealing to the 'lowest common denominator' which is a worry.
My daughter, who is 18, and has a full driving licence has no idea where anywhere is, as if she wants to get anywhere she uses the satnav on her phone. She has auto lights, auto wipers, parking sensors, etc. The car does a lot of the basics for her.

I was driving around central London and much of the UK in the days before satnav. I had a London A-Z and a UK road atlas in the car. I never got lost, ever.
Now, if someone told me to go to any town in the UK I could get there without any assistance because the knowledge we had to learn before the 'nanny state' of cars took over is still there. Not for the younger generation; they don't need to know basic geography, or fundamentally how a car works because the manufacturers with their 'technology' have taken it away.
I worry that basic knowledge is being lost because someone else has thought of that, so you don't need to bother thinking about a lot of things.
With driving it encourages a lack of concentration which is dangerous.

 

[cityconstable]

I agree with most but it is a different world today. I like sat nav because even the smallest towns have grown, parking sensors are good especially if I'm the one behind her...grin. bike/bus lanes, one ways, time of day restrictions, varying speed limits due to time of day, traffic etc. Need I mention tolls. I drove up rt 95 through new england Friday, a federally built and funded road that never had tolls is now festuned with electronic charge stations ( a whole nother topic as out of staters pay more yet it's federal). Maybe 16-19 year old drivers should be restricted from interstates with out an over 21 passenger. Might keep them more local, lower speeds and learn their surroundings. As to how a car works, that changes daily and you can't diy most modern cars anyway. Course we paid cash for our first 10 years. $100 got a runner, 600 a chick magnet.

 

[ExMX5owner]

I agree with most but it is a different world today. I like sat nav because even the smallest towns have grown, parking sensors are good especially if I'm the one behind her...grin. bike/bus lanes, one ways, time of day restrictions, varying speed limits due to time of day, traffic etc. Need I mention tolls. I drove up rt 95 through new england Friday, a federally built and funded road that never had tolls is now festuned with electronic charge stations ( a whole nother topic as out of staters pay more yet it's federal). Maybe 16-19 year old drivers should be restricted from interstates with out an over 21 passenger. Might keep them more local, lower speeds and learn their surroundings. As to how a car works, that changes daily and you can't diy most modern cars anyway. Course we paid cash for our first 10 years. $100 got a runner, 600 a chick magnet.

Can you please tell me where to get a chick magnet for $600.00, asking for a friend.... Ah but then we are talking several decades ago, the good old days where a user manual explained how to adjust the tappets, as opposed today with "do not drink the contents of the battery". But yes I guess tech has to replace common sense, because millennials mostly do not have any, due to the fact they were never allowed to learn or pay the consequences of their mistakes.... We have a move over here to ban social media for those under 16. It,s a start I guess ?...

 

[cityconstable]

True, remember when you bought a battery and it came with a bottle of sulfuric acid? First car around 1975, 67 olds delta 88 convertable with a 455 ci. V8. Though I am amazed, if you look there are some amazing cars for cheap money around. Probably because you can't finance over 10 years or so. I see running z's for 2k or less. I just bought a 97 z3 with 30k for 6.9k great but not perfect shape. I think the z3s and older z4s are the bargains of the century. And they are chick magnets. Also a great excuse not to include her friend... grin

 

[ExMX5owner]

True, remember when you bought a battery and it came with a bottle of sulfuric acid? First car around 1975, 67 olds delta 88 convertable with a 455 ci. V8. Though I am amazed, if you look there are some amazing cars for cheap money around. Probably because you can't finance over 10 years or so. I see running z's for 2k or less. I just bought a 97 z3 with 30k for 6.9k great but not perfect shape. I think the z3s and older z4s are the bargains of the century. And they are chick magnets. Also a great excuse not to include her friend... grin

I run 20 x 10 30s rear and 20x8 30 fronts, so If I get a flat it wont fit in the trunk, so the front passenger seat is it.. My excuse for not taking the wife, let alone her girlfriend...

 

[cityconstable]

Install a roll bar. She won't want to climb over it but you still have a seat for emergencies...

 

[ExMX5owner]

Install a roll bar. She won't want to climb over it but you still have a seat for emergencies...

, alright Ill try that.... Its a bit off topic, So Ill bring it back on, Is there any university where you can get a diploma in common sense ?....

 

[cityconstable]

I don't know about a university but a short stint in the armed forces will wake them up. Night all.

 

[ExMX5owner]

I don't know about a university but a short stint in the armed forces will wake them up. Night all.

Did that 80 to 82. In my day it was called the school of hard knocks, nighters..

 

[the Nefyn cat]

a short stint in the armed forces will wake them up.

'71-'79, got me medal, never did me any harm.Can't say it made me a better person, though.

 

[t-tony]

At the side of some, I would guarantee it did.

Tony.

 

[cityconstable]

Taught you to think things through, and not blissfully act with no thought of consequences.

 

[petecossie]

Well we bit the bullet and flogged the Seat Leon, it went yesterday, we were honest with the buyer in that we didn't get along with all the tech on the car and were going to go back over for a VW Golf a few years older.
Picked up a 2018 VW GTD today from dealer in Sheffield. As soon as I had a test drive it was like trying on a pair of your favourite old slippers after 17 years of driving Golfs. It was brilliant, goes like the proverbial wind (181BHP and 280ibs/ft torque).
My wife drove it home to Teesside, she loves it (It's her car). A couple of bits to sort out to make it as we want it (plumb in a dash cam etc) however we are both happy with the purchase.

We have switches and buttons to play with!!!

That's tomorrows job.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

We have switches and buttons to play with!!!

Car drivers don't know nuffink. Here's what your left thumb could be doing if you were misguided enough to buy a Honda Africa Twin (two wheeled version of a range rover, specifically designed for people that never go off-road). And, yes, there are more buttons round the back.

The Royal Enfield version being

That's all, folks. Dip/main, left/right, toot toot. Ya gotta love a bit of simplicity.

 

[cityconstable]

Uhmm... why is there a enter key on the left hand side, middle? Does a keyboard pop out? I really don't understand for that matter, any of those switches. And that's a motorcycle, where you die if you start looking at tech. Waiter, tell the valet I'm ready for my z3 please.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

You need an enter key so that when you connect your phone to your dashboard you can scroll about and do stuff. Why exactly you would want to be doing anything other than enjoying the ride I have no idea. Which may explain why I bought a distinctly analogue Royal Enfield and not one of these modern things with their 6 axis inertia measurment unit. And their lean-sensitive ABS. And their cruise control. And their adjustable rider modes. And their wheelie control. And making phonecalls on the move. And.................................
Anyone attempting to wheelie an Enfield Classic is going to experience a touch of disappointment.