Carmakers spending billions on technology drivers don't want or use

Sprintey · 02-09-2015, 09:41 PM

http://www.caradvice.com.au/376584/c...-power-report/

So much of it is irrelevant.

Mowdit · 02-09-2015, 10:07 PM

Irrelevant for now maybe.
One day we may be looking back thinking "that's when it started".....
Like disc brakes Vs drum
Half of the things like reverse sensors weren't deemed necessary or as luxury a few years back, but with larger cars and ever smaller parking spots they are often standard on small cars now.
All this tech is just leading to the Google car, you know, the one you don't get to drive so much as sit in.

csv8 · 02-09-2015, 10:40 PM

I remember when power steering, power brakes, 3 speed auto came in!!! It was a big deal at the time,,,

XR Martin · 02-09-2015, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I remember when power steering, power brakes, 3 speed auto came in!!! It was a big deal at the time,,,

Theres is a difference between active and passive technology.

TheInterceptor · 02-09-2015, 10:49 PM

It's true though. Half the cars I've had had no power steer, electric windows or air con. Those additions were good. Often reliable as. These days, parking sensors etc are for hopeless drivers or for older people. More stuff to go wrong especially these days where things are made to fail.

Trump · 02-09-2015, 11:10 PM

The tech that the car makers are spending billions developing is by and large completely irrelevant to those of us born before 1985. However, they realise that their biggest customer base is Gen Y and still growing. They see it as an investment, we see it as a waste or resources.

mik · 02-09-2015, 11:15 PM

just my 2 bobs worth , i reckon some of the safety stuff has made a huge dfference, and i think no driver would want to be without it, disc brakes , anti lock brakes imo was/is still the biggest boon to safety in the last 100 years other than the seat belt, probably stability control to a lesser extent.
as for alot of the other electronic stuff, it probably has its place, but things like lane warning , on the mirrors , i would much rather do the budgie and screw the neck around to see where traffic is rather than rely on warning light on the mirror, maybe im old fashioned, and im not real big on the screens having controls on them ,
i prefer the old knob or dial i can grab and hear go click without taking the eyes off to scroll through options, by the same token controls on the steering wheel i do like.
One thing i do miss is the old dip switch for the high beams, its the dinosaur in me

.

deluxe_ · 02-09-2015, 11:17 PM

I shake my head in laughter when I see some people dismiss the very necessities of modern car essentials such as reverse sensors and cameras as irrelevant.

Need to keep up with the times..

TheInterceptor · 02-09-2015, 11:21 PM

Necessities?? You can't see what's behind you? Or judge distance? Oh that's right. Modern cars have hopelessly large rear pillars so the only way to see out is to put a camera on it. Yeah keep driving your modern delusion..

deluxe_ · 02-09-2015, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Necessities?? You can't see what's behind you? Or judge distance? Oh that's right. Modern cars have hopelessly large rear pillars so the only way to see out is to put a camera on it. Yeah keep driving your modern delusion..

Cameras and sensors aid the driver during parking and driving out of tight spots immensely, to deny this without even trying it first hand and experiencing it for your self is plain fallacy

Trump · 02-09-2015, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deluxe_

Cameras and sensors aid the driver during parking and driving out of tight spots immensely, to deny this without even trying it first hand and experiencing it for your self is plain fallacy

There is no fallacy. They aren't a driver aid, they do however aid in increasing complacency behind the wheel.

If I can parallel park an XF wagon with no power steering into a spot not much bigger than 6 metres in length, parking sensors aren't a must.

TheInterceptor · 02-09-2015, 11:38 PM

I have used it in dads new ranger for a start. And my uncles commodore too.
Still don't see it necessary. But fair enough. Not everyone has great perception... They let anyone drive these days. Sensors are maybe one of the more sensible thing fitted to modern cars. Bluetooth, not really? Voice control? Gimmick?
300gb 9" touchscreen mega centre built into the dash along with all the controls? Have fun replacing any of it when it plays up! All crap to me.

Edit: yes to the fact it increases complacency, like self parking. All else helps distract the driver. In the case of Ford, billions could be better spent on seam sealing and decent primer and paint instead of gimmicky crap

Bill M · 02-09-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deluxe_

I shake my head in laughter when I see some people dismiss the very necessities of modern car essentials such as reverse sensors and cameras as irrelevant.

Need to keep up with the times..

I dont dismiss improvements such as sensors and cameras but try and understand not everybody needs them. Some need chimes and bells to tell them to put a seat belt on...

Itsme · 02-09-2015, 11:48 PM

Nothing wrong with all the new technology, if it makes your driving more enjoyable why not.

Too many dinosaurs here, you will be extinct one day.

Trump · 02-09-2015, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trublu

Nothing wrong with all the new technology, if it makes your driving more enjoyable why not.

Too many dinosaurs here, you will be extinct one day.

There would be very few on here that would snub technology that improves the driving experience (forced induction, damping technology, aerodynamic tech etc). The bone of contention though is with fluff technology that adds zero to the driving experience and to safety.

Franco Cozzo · 03-09-2015, 12:12 AM

I'm not a big fan of the touch screen stuff, I prefer stereo with buttons so you don't have to look at it to do the basics while driving.

I've got 10 radio presets I swap between in my Focus, can just feel the buttons while driving without looking at the stereo.

Ford_The_Win · 03-09-2015, 01:35 AM

Studies have found that younger people (Gen Y and Z) are increasingly disinterested in cars. They don't play a very big role in the inner city, professional urban (yuppie) tribe anymore. It's really suprising how many of my friends and colleagues don't own a car even though they well and truly could afford to! Rather than a car as a status symbol they prefer to spend their money on travelling etc. They just don't see the need for one. By incorporating technology into vehicles it is a way of appealing to that younger demographic as someone mentioned earlier.

arronm · 03-09-2015, 01:46 AM

Ask people who have reversed over their children what they think of reverse sensors and cameras.....................

Express · 03-09-2015, 01:53 AM

I love technology.

I get a lot of enjoyment out of cars with it as well as cars that are just bare bones.

Any electronic help with safety in mind is a no brainer and as far as I’m concerned any of the other stuff that adds to comfort, enjoyment and ease of use doesn’t hurt either.

I just hope as the driverless car draws closer the manufacturers have the foresight to ensure there is a button for me to press so I can tell the computer to do a controlled burnout while I sit back sipping on a latte from the auto coffee machine they’ve thoughtfully installed.

Stefan · 03-09-2015, 07:15 AM

WTF is wrong with journos, these days.

Headline: Cars have technology drivers don't want"

Story: 20% of drivers don't use a cars technology.

OK, so therefore 80% DO use the technology. That is a pretty significant majority last time I checked..

malazn mafia · 03-09-2015, 07:16 AM

The most useless dumb invention was engine auto stop-start technology. I wonder which idiot ever thought of that....

Franco Cozzo · 03-09-2015, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The most useless dumb invention was engine auto stop-start technology. I wonder which idiot ever thought of that....

The batteries for those cars are damn expensive too, around 2x the price of the regular starting batteries.

sexyxe · 03-09-2015, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The most useless dumb invention was engine auto stop-start technology. I wonder which idiot ever thought of that....

I take it you're not familiar with the reasons then? Not a stab, just a question.

Gives a better fuel economy/hour when living in a city. Allows car makers to have 'dirtier' cars while the engine is running as your are not polluting during the idling times.

Seeing as how majority of high end euro cars now have that built in, and importantly with the ability to turn it off, I see that as a positive.

neverready3 · 03-09-2015, 08:36 AM

Everything we buy has more tech whiz bang stuff then we realy need just look at our phones and TV s , so cars aren't much different. not that we need it all.

EDManual · 03-09-2015, 09:36 AM

I hate all the technology myself.
One of my mates drove a new mercedes, went into a median strip with just enough room (another car stopped there in front) and the car wouldnt go at the speed he wanted as there was a car in front also in the median strip, with cars coming from the right... Auto braking. What a joke.
That just makes people rely on technolgy instead of their brains.
I must say a lot of the time, I pull fuses on my cars to get rid of ABS and Traction control as well as Stability control. (mainly on dirt roads).

People just get dumber and dumber with all this stuff.

I drove a few cars reguarly with reverse cameras and reverse beepers, and you quickly rely on this. Then get back into a car without, and you have lost some skill.

2011G6E · 03-09-2015, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Necessities?? You can't see what's behind you? Or judge distance? Oh that's right. Modern cars have hopelessly large rear pillars so the only way to see out is to put a camera on it. Yeah keep driving your modern delusion..

Yes that's right. You very often can't see the corners of modern cars, and have very little idea where they even are.
Reversing cameras? Fantastic idea, especially in the plethora of modern SUV's of all sizes and especially twin cab utes with a canopy where you simply cannot see what is right up close behind you.
And yes, modern cars DO have amazingly large A and C pillars now...especially the A pillar which often takes up a large amount of your view. I sit in our old WB ute (same as the HQ) which I think still has the thinnest A pillars put on a production car in this country. Great view and no intrusive at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

I must say a lot of the time, I pull fuses on my cars to get rid of ABS and Traction control as well as Stability control. (mainly on dirt roads).

People just get dumber and dumber with all this stuff.

I drove a few cars reguarly with reverse cameras and reverse beepers, and you quickly rely on this. Then get back into a car without, and you have lost some skill.

Good luck with that insurance claim when they find you've disabled a safety device...

Reverse cameras and beepers are great...it's not about "losing a skill", it's about "design of modern cars" with thick pillars and corners you cannot see from the drivers seat.

danzvtil · 03-09-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arronm

Ask people who have reversed over their children what they think of reverse sensors and cameras.....................

True, the truth here is that a child under 1m tall cannot be seen behind a reversing VF Commodore sedan because of the height of the bootlid.
I think some people confuse good driving skills with grace of God chance that no child has yet stepped behind them while reversing.

2011G6E · 03-09-2015, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

True, the truth here is that a child under 1m tall cannot be seen behind a reversing VF Commodore sedan because of the height of the bootlid.
I think some people confuse good driving skills with grace of God chance that no child has yet stepped behind them while reversing.

We are going to fit one in our Triton with the canopy now we have grandkids and neighbours kids running around the place. The rear windows are almost black "privacy glass" from the factory. Then there is another window at the front of the canopy, and the rear window itself of the canopy, all tinted. Look in the rear view mirror and you're looking through three layers of tinted glass...you simply cannot see much even in bright daylight in the rear view, and you can only see so much in the side mirrors.
Reversing cameras on modern cars given the way they're designed are one of the best safety fitments around. Again it's nothing to do with "skill", it's because you are just covering somewhere you cannot see.

vztrt · 03-09-2015, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

The most useless dumb invention was engine auto stop-start technology. I wonder which idiot ever thought of that....

Its like Electric power steering. Just for Fuel economy and complete rubbish.

Sprintey · 03-09-2015, 11:49 AM

Interesting responses so far. I think we can agree most of the safety stuff is welcomed over the years?

From the article:

"The report showed Gen Y drivers were even less convinced, with at least 20 per cent of owners claiming there were 23 measured features that they didn’t want in their next car, specifically technologies related to entertainment and connectivity systems."

This bit surprised me tbh. As for why:

"In many cases, owners simply prefer to use their smartphone or tablet because it meets their needs; they’re familiar with the device and it’s accurate,” JD Power driver interaction and HMI research executive director Kristin Kolodge said."