Automobiles Bells And Whistles - do they make better drivers?

[MossRoad]

Why would you want to do that? First thing I change when I get a car is to disable the auto door locks.
Back in the 90s I had a Chevy Beretta with a stick...that would lock the doors when the car got to ~5mph. No manufacturer-provided way to disable this annoying feature. Using a wiring diagram I did find a way to disable it without totally disabling the power locks, unfortunately, for some reason the radio would lose all its settings if the car hadn't been driven for a couple of days afterwards. Not sure how the two were connected.

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

 

[reb]

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

Right. The doors can be open from the inside when locked, so why should they be unlocked automatically?

 

[Oaktree]

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

You must live in a way rougher neighborhood than I've ever lived in.

 

[MossRoad]

You must live in a way rougher neighborhood than I've ever lived in.

It's a common precaution in any urban area, but yes, we have our share here. It started in the 60's. Until then, no one locked their doors: homes or cars.

 

[ovrszd]

I drive...
2016 Kenworth had most of the features you guys are talking about(manual 13 speed tranny). At 625,000 miles, they gave me a 2019 International with a 12 speed AUTOMATIC. It has even more of the features. I find myself having to watch the speedometer more often than I used to because it gradually slows down as it comes up on a slow car. While I agree that most of the features help the drivers, but it definitely doesn't make the driver better. It is taking away the need for a driver to pay attention to everything going on around them, which makes for a less attentive driver.
David from jax

Finally on the 65th post someone nailed it. These features make you a lazy drive, not a better driver. Fits right into the narrative this country is accepting. It's not my fault, the car did it!!!!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I gotta say again. When backing up, I don't really look around that well, despite it having become defective, thinking my backup warning system will protect my vehicle. I know it won't but pretend it somehow will, because, I have become that lazy it seems.

 

[Dftodd]

I gotta say again. When backing up, I don't really look around that well, despite it having become defective, thinking my backup warning system will protect my vehicle. I know it won't but pretend it somehow will, because, I have become that lazy it seems.

I do love the back up cameras. They take the guess work put of hooking up to a trailer

 

[Aquamoose]

Modern police vehicles have a nifty feature which when the vehicle senses anyone approaching from the rear, the vehicle automatically rolls up the windows and locks the door. Apparently, they “borrowed” the back-up camera to get that data.

 

[Oaktree]

I do love the back up cameras. They take the guess work put of hooking up to a trailer

They are good for that.
Actually, most modern vehicles have so little visibility to the rear that backup cameras are a must. Even on pickups, if you have a small utility trailer you can't see it any other way.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My eighty something year old Mother totalled her Toyotas (2) and now has a 13 or something Impalla. Black interior like the black hole of Calcutta and I can't see out that thing for sheit! No fancy electronics. I don't know how she does it!

 

[MossRoad]

My eighty something year old Mother totalled her Toyotas (2) and now has a 13 or something Impalla. Black interior like the black hole of Calcutta and I can't see out that thing for sheit! No fancy electronics. I don't know how she does it!

We have a 2013 Impala. It is the last of the "rental car" cheap Impalas. There's just a couple knobs for controls. Very easy car. No confusing controls. Cheap plastic everywhere. :laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

If anyone needs a backup camera it's her. But she would probably still rip of the mirrors on a concrete structure. One is just glued back on with silicone.

 

[Dftodd]

If anyone needs a backup camera it's her. But she would probably still rip of the mirrors on a concrete structure. One is just glued back on with silicone.

Wife and I encountered this car trying to merge onto the interstate in the middle of downton Cincinnati Ohio. This car looked like it was on the losing end of a demolition derby. Car merged doing 20mph while traffic was flowing at 65 plus. Sped up to 40mph and stayed at 40 while traffic is trying to get around them.

It was a little old lady that could barely see over the steering wheel.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I lived in this big City, Mississauga and they had this little old lady for Mayor. Hazel McCallion (sp?). She's ninty nine now.

Once was driving behind her in her Big 80s Cadilac and I swore no one was driving. Saw the rearview mirror pointed down at the floor. Only realized it was her by personalized plates.

 

[Oaktree]

Cheap plastic everywhere. :laughing:

Curiously, what do you mean by "cheap plastic"? I've seen that term used in reviews of many different cars. Everything's plastic in cars these days, what's the difference between cheap and non-cheap?

 

[MossRoad]

Curiously, what do you mean by "cheap plastic"? I've seen that term used in reviews of many different cars. Everything's plastic in cars these days, what's the difference between cheap and non-cheap?

Thickness.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Our good old "cushy and pleasing" cars had carpet on the doors and squishy vinyl on the dash. And the cloth seats were as you would have on your living room couch.

 

[Jstpssng]

Our good old "cushy and pleasing" cars had carpet on the doors and squishy vinyl on the dash. And the cloth seats were as you would have on your living room couch.

And how is that any different than what you are complaining about on new vehicles?

 

[Industrial Toys]

The whole interior of many new vehicles seems to be made out of black plastic milk jug like material.

I pay cash for my vehicle before it leaves the dealers lot. There is no way I could put that kind of money on the table, and drive away thinking I didn't just got majorly ripped off.

More on the outside, but my Duramax is quite the pile of junky plastic and soda can thin, metal. I got the Diesel and Allison for Free, so that made the vehicle somewhat acceptable. Of course, I didn't know how chinsey it was on the outside either.

 

[Grumpycat]

Curiously, what do you mean by "cheap plastic"? I've seen that term used in reviews of many different cars. Everything's plastic in cars these days, what's the difference between cheap and non-cheap?

Cheap plastic (vs good plastic) doesn't line up. You can see mold seams on the outside, and details of internal ribbing on the outside.