A lot of new in-car tech is “not necessary,” survey finds

[silvrsvt]

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/08/ai-good-passenger-infotainment-screens-bad-says-car-technology-survey

 

Quote

For example, drivers generally appreciate advanced driver assistance systems, known as ADAS in the industry; blind spot monitoring solves a real problem. But does anyone ever actually use their automatic parking system? JD Power found that systems that partially automate a driving task—even the most advanced hands-free systems—had a low perceived usefulness, a finding that dovetails nicely with data published last month by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that revealed partial automation did not make cars any safer.

 

[DeluxeStang]

As someone in their late 20s, a lot of people assume my generation is obsessed with having all the latest and greatest tech. While that's certainly the case for some buyers, a lot of us just want a good car. Something that's affordable, reliable, fun to drive, and good to look at. That's all we really need. 

 

People who want more can spend more, but that's something Ford should keep in mind for CE1 and other affordable cars. Just give us a great car first, worry about the tech second. 

[Rick73]

Agree completely that technology can be overdone, and often wonder when it’s controversial or maybe polarizing, if manufacturers consider the negative impact as much as the positive, or if they tend to think that given more time customers will come to like and embrace the new technology or design.

 

As one example, I’ve always loved technology, but I also love driving, so Elon Musk’s obsession with self driving has no value to me.  It adds cost to a Tesla for stuff I’d pay not to have.  Essentially it has negative value.  Similarly, in case of Tesla I don’t like having to control essentially everything through center screen, and that they don’t even provide a small screen in front of driver.  Minimalistic design, which I generally like, can also be overdone.

 

Article mentions excessive amount of screen, now sometimes across entire dash, being a potential problem.  I can relate.   No doubt some buyers love it, but others probably don’t, finding them distracting or perhaps too much visual clutter.  People inherently have very diverse tastes, preferences and needs (both physical and mental), so it would be nice to have more choices.  And before I get an ear full, I’m aware manufacturers have financial limitations on variety of vehicles and designs they can build profitably.

[ANTAUS]

I'm sure power windows and power locks are not necessary either... in fact, a car isn't technically a necessity...someone can just get a bike instead. But it's a very nice convenience, and many appreciate that.

[rmc523]

I think it depends on the technology.   The parking features mentioned in the article don’t get used because they take too long.  They take triple the time to get set up and “find” a spot I already know is there….and that’s IF it reads properly that there’s a spot.   By the time I set it up, I could’ve parked already.

 

but other technologies like blind spot or auto cruise control are different.  Also I feel like with everyone glued to their phones anyway, they’re less likely to use in car stuff

[Captainp4]

15 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Agree completely that technology can be overdone, and often wonder when it’s controversial or maybe polarizing, if manufacturers consider the negative impact as much as the positive, or if they tend to think that given more time customers will come to like and embrace the new technology or design.

 

As one example, I’ve always loved technology, but I also love driving, so Elon Musk’s obsession with self driving has no value to me.  It adds cost to a Tesla for stuff I’d pay not to have.  Essentially it has negative value.  Similarly, in case of Tesla I don’t like having to control essentially everything through center screen, and that they don’t even provide a small screen in front of driver.  Minimalistic design, which I generally like, can also be overdone.

 

Article mentions excessive amount of screen, now sometimes across entire dash, being a potential problem.  I can relate.   No doubt some buyers love it, but others probably don’t, finding them distracting or perhaps too much visual clutter.  People inherently have very diverse tastes, preferences and needs (both physical and mental), so it would be nice to have more choices.  And before I get an ear full, I’m aware manufacturers have financial limitations on variety of vehicles and designs they can build profitably.

I can't wait until all the idiots staring at their phone while driving have full self driving so I don't have to constantly drive like they could pull out in front of me at any second while I'm pulling 10k lbs around. It's exhausting driving the work truck with the little cuvs and nissan altimas near me.

[atomcat68]

As much as I think a lot of the new car tech in unnecessary, I have to think about things we are used to in cars that have been there a long time, that you really don't need:

 

Power windows- How much effort does it take to crank a window open?

Power locks - One can't simply push the door lock down?

Auto wipers- I've never had this, because I can tell when it rains, and the stalk is right at my fingertips.

Auto Lamps - If a driver can't tell when it's dark out, they shouldn't be driving.

 

But you do get used to having these features, and it's good that the auto industry tries new things.

[silvrsvt]

48 minutes ago, atomcat68 said:

As much as I think a lot of the new car tech in unnecessary, I have to think about things we are used to in cars that have been there a long time, that you really don't need:

 

Power windows- How much effort does it take to crank a window open?

Power locks - One can't simply push the door lock down?

Auto wipers- I've never had this, because I can tell when it rains, and the stalk is right at my fingertips.

Auto Lamps - If a driver can't tell when it's dark out, they shouldn't be driving.

 

But you do get used to having these features, and it's good that the auto industry tries new things.

 

Some of this stuff was done to make the build process easier or cut weight down in vehicles also. 

[Rick73]

Long video but conversation between Bill Ford and Jay Leno was worth it.  The car is very opposite of today’s technology.  I can relate because my very first car, a used 65 Mustang, also did not have power steering, power brakes, power windows, power locks, or even air conditioning.  Helps put technology in perspective.
 

https://fordauthority.com/2024/09/bill-ford-shows-jay-leno-very-special-1964-1-2-ford-mustang/

[akirby]

That was fantastic!

[Andrew L]

On 9/2/2024 at 9:30 PM, atomcat68 said:

 

Auto Lamps - If a driver can't tell when it's dark out, they shouldn't be driving.

 

 

 

I see people driving around at night with their lights off all the time. 

 

Worst case is most of the time it's a newer car so people are moving their switch from auto to off and forgetting 

[dmpaul]

In the not too distant past, if your lights were off, you couldn't read the instrument panel. Now the instrument panel is either a screen or is constantly backlit, so it's easier to not notice your lights are off. All my cars have auto headlamps now so if I get into a car without them, I don't automatically reach for headlights when it's getting dark. That's pretty rare these days, as it seems most cars have auto headlamps.

 

An example of progress changing habits and maybe making us less aware drivers, perhaps?

[Andrew L]

4 hours ago, dmpaul said:

In the not too distant past, if your lights were off, you couldn't read the instrument panel. Now the instrument panel is either a screen or is constantly backlit, so it's easier to not notice your lights are off. All my cars have auto headlamps now so if I get into a car without them, I don't automatically reach for headlights when it's getting dark. That's pretty rare these days, as it seems most cars have auto headlamps.

 

An example of progress changing habits and maybe making us less aware drivers, perhaps?

 

But cars do have a headlight indicator light too.  But goes with people not paying attention or not knowing what the icons on their cluster stand for.  Hell even my 04 Aviator has this but it's on the headlight switch itself not in the cluster.  But my 13 MKZ and my 17 MKZ have this.

 

Edited September 4 by Andrew L

[morgan20]

9 hours ago, Andrew L said:

Worst case is most of the time it's a newer car so people are moving their switch from auto to off and forgetting 

 

Ford fixed that issue in its newer vehicles. My F-150 Lightning defaults the exterior lighting switch to autolamps every time the vehicle is switched on (C position in the diagram)

 

[akirby]

1 hour ago, morgan20 said:

 

Ford fixed that issue in its newer vehicles. My F-150 Lightning defaults the exterior lighting switch to autolamps every time the vehicle is switched on (C position in the diagram)

 

Best change ever.  Should be required.

[dmpaul]

18 hours ago, Andrew L said:

 

But cars do have a headlight indicator light too.  But goes with people not paying attention or not knowing what the icons on their cluster stand for.  Hell even my 04 Aviator has this but it's on the headlight switch itself not in the cluster.  But my 13 MKZ and my 17 MKZ have this.

 

 

 

What you say is 100% true, but a missing light is not something people will notice, especially if they are already clueless about their headlights. I'm just amazed at how many people I see with no headlights on at night, and trying to find a reason for it. Granted, I live in a city with lots of lights on interstates but still, you have to notice the road in front of you is not lit up.

 

I think we can agree that many drivers are not paying sufficient attention to their car or the road.

 

[ANTAUS]

I believe the federal government has mandated, or will be mandating car manufacturers to have automatic headlamps as standard equipment in vehicles.  Not sure what the update with that is... and something related to the instrumentation, where people assume the lights are on because the instruments are bright and meanwhile have their headlights off.  I see so much of that when I'm in the Disney area here in Orlando, and you have tourists driving in rental vehicles that are new to them.

[rmc523]

1 hour ago, ANTAUS said:

I believe the federal government has mandated, or will be mandating car manufacturers to have automatic headlamps as standard equipment in vehicles.  Not sure what the update with that is... and something related to the instrumentation, where people assume the lights are on because the instruments are bright and meanwhile have their headlights off.  I see so much of that when I'm in the Disney area here in Orlando, and you have tourists driving in rental vehicles that are new to them.

that’d actually be a good one…..

on a different note, I’ve been in the UK for a few days and we had a Renault Trafic rental van (Transit Custom size)….apparently they don’t have the same backup camera requirement we do over here….it was crazy driving that big van without a camera