Posted on 04/30/2023 2:15:43 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
You don’t see a lot of good news about road safety in the United States. Unlike in most peer countries, American roadway deaths surged during the pandemic and have barely receded since. Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities recently hit their highest levels in 40 years, but U.S. transportation officials continue to ignore key contributing factors. In a February interview with Fast Company, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that “further research” is needed before addressing the obvious risks that oversized SUVs and trucks pose to those not inside of them.
Happily, there is one area where we are making at least marginal progress: A growing number of automakers are backpedaling away from the huge, complex touch screens that have infested dashboard design over the past 15 years. Buttons and knobs are coming back.
... Tesla, which has for years positioned its vehicles as “tablets on wheels.” As a result, touch screens were seen as representing tech-infused modernity. But cost has been a factor, too. “These screens are presented as this avant garde, minimalist design,”
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
I would like a return of the AMP gauge. Arizona cars don’t rust, but the battery lifespan is only about two years before they don’t hold a deep charge. An AMP gauge might give me a heads up as to when the battery is fading.
Touchscreens aren’t reliable.
—”The button near the left foot for toggling between high/low headlight beams.”
I have almost acclimated to pulling back on the stalk for the brights, now I’m adjusting to the windshield washer spurting simultaneously.
I had a Dodge Dakota with a manual transmission that was assessed as having ~65% of its clutch life left at ~120k miles.
Yes, I babied it.
It also slowly got better and better mileage until about the same time- mechanic said I’d finally broken in that cast iron block.
I do miss that little pickup, though I have to admit that my current little Subaru Crosstrek is a great little vehicle too.
Amen to that. When I travel to Mass to visit family and rent a car at the airport, it takes forever to figure out the controls so I can operate it reasonably safely. And, of course, Avis never puts an owners manual or instruction sheet in the vehicles, you're on your own.
LOL...who designed these damned things?????
The button near the left foot for toggling between high/low headlight beams.
I have often thought about pursuing some aftermarket solution.
It's already here. Auto high beam has eliminated the need for any type of intervention. I just let the technology do its work.
Mazda.... Other then burning through oil like crazy they were pretty good engines.
—”Record players?”
With a record player, it is essential to have a reverb in the trunk for the correct sound.
“now I’m adjusting to the windshield washer spurting simultaneously.”
LOL...I now what you mean. Either the rear wiper goes on and won’t go off, I squirt the windshield, I get the lights bright (am I sure they are bright? What does the light on the dash mean? There are TWO blue lights)...Wait, all the doors just locked. I didn’t choose that radio station! How do I turn down the volume?? I can’t get the ceiling light on (or off). How do I dim the dash lights? What the H is going on?
Cars today come with built-in poltergeists. The poltergeist industry is raking in the cash hand over fist.
I sold my Pontiac Vibe with 296,000 miles. Original clutch
I love my i pad, but it is where touch controls belong, not on a moving vehicle. A touch screen in a car a a dealbreaker for me. I will drive my ‘03 Civic until the wheels fall off rather than buy a new car with touch screen controls.
Auto touchscreen controls are an example of devolution.
A simple steel rod to hold the hood up? Instead of two hydraulic pistons that wear out and have to be replaced for $600?
I just leave my high beams on all the time.
Must. Do. Old. School. Analog. Technology. To. Stop. Twitching. Foot.
Really, I just don’t like this auto-collision avoidance, auto-warn of lane change, auto...whatever.
But-I am not a complete and total Luddite! I absolutely love the Adaptive Cruise Control.
That I completely love.
The roads are so congested that cruise control had become become unusable. Then, when I got a car that had it, I fell in love with Cruise Control all over again...:)
Hahahahahahahahahaha
I have 193,000 on my ‘03 Civic and original clutch, which is rather surprising, given that Honda engines have minimal low end torque, which often means a fair amount of slipping of the clutch. It also has spent most of its life in Seattle, which has significant hills in certain areas, not a good recipe for long clutch life.
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