Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
How could we possibly reverse the trend away from sticks when people seem to want the HVAC controls operated through the high-definition touchscreen (a feature of a recent rental car that thorougly p***ed me off), want bluetooth syncing of their music, voice activated everything, heated tushie warmers, and can't be bothered to take out a key to open the door (yet don't seem to mind carrying a remote fob the size of a grapefruit... I'd rather have 10 brass keys!). I just don't get it. I don't want to be locked out of my car by a $3.00 battery, I don't want to have to replace a $300 remote when (not if!) it gets run through the washer by accident, and I don't want bright screens distracting me when I try to drive at night. I don't mind luxury... I like it... but things are a little out of hand.
Sounds like your idea of luxury is mushy sofa suspension, A/C, and a radio.
Me? I'll keep my remote key fob, my bluetooth for my phone. I love the heated seats in the nox, the rear seat DVD/AV entertainment system.
The truth is, people that DON'T want the bells and whistles are in the minority these days. If you sold a boxy car (that seems to be what most BITOGers want) with A/C, no power locks, no power windows, a manual transmission only, a carbeurated OHV engine, no ABS, AM/FM radio, and nothing else, I can garuntee that sales would be lucky to be in the hundreds per month. People DO NOT want those kind of cars anymore.
I think you've totally misunderstood me. I want to be CLOSER to the machine, not separated by an electronic wall. I don't want a sofa on wheels, I don't want boxy, I don't even want manual windows and locks (though I do want a keyhole on both sides of the car and the trunk). I don't mind added features at all, its the interface I disagree with. I'd gladly take a car like a Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger with superb handling, quiet interior, and a huge power reserve and a 6-speed stick (yes, I know you can only get that in the Challenger at the moment...) Just don't make me access every aspect of it electronically. I want to push a button or turn a knob dedicated to controlling the HVAC instead of navigating a menu to find the temp controls. NO touch-screens, thank you. People worry about cell phones being a distraction, but the touchscreens on some modern cars are a BUILT IN distraction far worse than a phone. I may choose to use a key fob, but I want the car to start and run and function with nothing more than a brass key (and maybe a SKIS chip in the key) if I don't want to use the fob. I don't want to be forced to carry a lump the size of a fig in my pocket for each car I own.
The "glass cockpit" approach to flying passenger airplanes has been implicated in more crashes in the last few years than mechanical failure... because pilots aren't really in touch with what the mechanical parts of the machine are doing. I really don't want to see that mistake made with cars too. Its not even about "fun" in driving, although that's a big part of it for me. A person who couldn't care less about the fun of driving a car is still a better driver if the controls are simple and the feedback through the wheel and pedals is direct, not decoupled by servos.
