CNET top 5 techs you can live without

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: rjundi
I think a life saver is vehicle stability control. Watching (older) cars fly off the road with black ice the other morning it would have given the drivers a fighting chance. No driver can do what stability control can. I know my car's system was working as my indicator was flashing but car kept tracking perfectly straight and I was able to slow down. I was not ditch fodder.


Agreed. I'm not that competent of a driver, and stability control has saved my tail on a few occasions. It quite noticeably cuts down on overcorrection since it's actively juggling which brakes to hit and how hard to hit them to control yaw. Of course, it only works as intended when the tires have good grip.


Excellent point.

If there's no traction then no ABS or ESP can save you...


Yes but ESP gives you a chance......I am surprised running around well worn Michelin's(3/32's) how well my Acura MDX with SH-AWD (extension of ESP) can keep the vehicle on track and moving(mostly). Looking forward to new tires but not the $1000 outlay.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
5. Lane Departure warning : "IIHS finds it causes more accidents"


Haven't driven a car with this so no real comment on how good or bad it is. In theory I don't think it is a bad idea if it works properly.

Originally Posted By: blackman777
4. Self Parking : "You can't handle a car at 2 miles/hour? Why are you driving?"


Having seen a self parking vehicle in action and seeing so many brain dead folks that can not parallel park to save their lives I disagree. Great feature so the rest of us don't have to sit for 20 minutes while someone goes in and out back and forth trying to fit their little Prius into a space an 18 wheeler could fit in. Drives me nuts. IF you can't PP don't keep trying on busy streets. Park Assist would be a real aid to those folks and as said those of us stuck waiting while they screw around trying.

Originally Posted By: blackman777
3. Sports & Stocks : "Waste"


Not sure I get what they mean? Trim level or something?

Originally Posted By: blackman777
2. Navigation : "Not as good as what's on your phone. For free."


Absolutely, 100%, completely DISAGREE! The Nav system in my Jeep is amazing( aftermarket one from an Authorized Chrysler radio maker that uses the OEM head unit with different Nav software ). It is the most accurate GPS I have ever used plus it has all kinds of extras as part of it that I find very useful. What hurts many vehicle Nav systems is the software they use. That is why they may not be as accurate as other GPS units. The OEM Nav software that would have come with my Jeep model isn't as accurate as the one I use because the radio maker that built my head unit used a better Nav software.

Mine literally has you arriving at your destination as it is saying you have arrived. Not 1/4 mile before or after. Accurate to the smallest degree. It shows you the lanes to be in well in advance with an actual picture so you see where to be on a nice sized screen. Has TTS. Everything comes over the vehicle's speakers as it automatically mutes the radio so you don't miss anything. Has many options that are very useful too as I said. I just love it. It is so much better than any stand alone GPS or phone app and it is always there ready to use. I don't have to have extra devices or fiddle with my cell phone.

I will never buy a car again without Nav. Just love it. Newer vehicles, like the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, have a display in the instrument cluster now that will show the Nav info so you don't even have to turn your head; just glance down as if checking your speed. GREAT idea. Wish mine had that.

Originally Posted By: blackman777
1. Media hard drive : "You don't need yet another MP3 collection to waste time managing. Again: Your phone is better."


I would disagree with this simply because if the person doesn't want to load their phone up they can load it on the radio. I don't use either for music( that is what a radio is for )but I don't agree that the media hard drive is a waste.

This CNET article reminds me a lot of car "ragazines" that like to tell readers what they should and should like. It is nothing more than an opinion.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: gofast182
Originally Posted By: dparm
Lately CNET has been turning out a lot of [censored] articles like that one. Their car reviews are pretty pathetic and I think they're struggling to stay relevant. I don't really consider them a go-to source for vehicle news.

Anyway, I think they're overgeneralizing with the navigation thing. Yes, smartphones will have more current maps with extra features, but half of that problem stems from the fact that owners never bother updating the maps in their car. Also, the integration with the rest of the vehicle is what makes built-in nav so great: it can display things in a HUD, instrument cluster, read them aloud, tell you where to stop for gas, etc. It also doesn't require a data connection and won't drain the phone's battery.

Absolutely. We'll be doing the maps in the MDX next year because while they are somewhat outdated the location and SIZE of the screen, lack of cables (to keep a phone battery from draining instantly), the fact that it will work in the middle of nowhere, and the audio volume ducking for nav. instructions are all better than any phone. I think many don't realize it can be done or are intimidated by it. My wife, with zero help from me, downloaded and updated the Gracenote CD Database in the MDX already, no biggie.


My radio's Nav system is all contained on and runs off an SD card that goes in behind the screen. Updating the maps and POI's is very easy. I just download the most current map and POI files to my computer, insert the SD card into the reader, replace the old map and POI files with the new ones, and then it goes back into the radio and done. Maps and POI's all updated. Takes maybe 10 minutes start to finish. I can easily update them before a trip or any time as needed. Maps come out 4 times a year so it is as up to date as you could really want.

Some of the older car Nav systems used a CD to update them and it didn't always go well. Plus, they would not offer updates very often either( years between them ). That has gotten much better in recent years.

Also, the point dparm made is one I wanted to make too but forgot in my short story above.

Using a cell for GPS requires data usage that a vehicle system doesn't. Data usage isn't cheap. I don't want to waste it on a Nav app. Especially if it is a long trip.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

From this article:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48906


2014 Ford Fusion with the 1.5L EcoBoost - 23/36 mpgUS city/highway goes to 25/37 mpgUS city/highway with Auto Start-Stop.

On Thursday, Ford announced that it will be making available Auto Start-Stop on 70 percent of its North American vehicle lineup by 2017.

While Auto Start-Stop helps reduce fuel consumption, it does not provide an 8.7 percent benefit in the city and especially not a 2.8 percent benefit on the highway as the above portrays. Making Auto Start-Stop available is part of the solution but it will never provide the benefit that Ford’s Fuel Economy Certifications are indicating.



I have the stop/start on the our Prii. Works just fine for those that are not slaves to the past or Walter Mitty race car drivers.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
I happily give-up the convenience of built-in nab screen for an extra 2000 dollars in my pocket. That's 80 less hours I have to spend at work


That is your right. Just as it is my right to feel the cost of a Nav head unit is well worth it. And they aren't always that much these days either.

For instance, in the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee they offer an 8.4A Nav Ready HU in the Latitude as an option for $695. This is the standard HU in the Limited and Trailhawk models. It requires an upgrade at the dealer for the Nav part to work( approx. $500 ). In the Limited and Trailhawk models You can get the 8.4N Nav HU for $795. Note - The 8.4N Nav HU has features not available on the 8.4A Nav Ready HU even after the upgrade to activate Nav such as HD radio.

So it is not close to $2000 for Nav in a new Cherokee. It is a $500 upgrade for the base 8.4A or a $795 option to step up to the 8.4N if you have a Limited or Trailhawk. If you have a Latitude you have to upgrade to the 8.4A HU option plus visit the dealer for the Nav upgrade but even then it is just $1195. FWIW the Nav HU I added to my Jeep( uses OEM HU with aftermarket software )was $1199 and that included a 3 year extended RRR warranty. The Hu was just $995( new ).

"Some" vehicles may have a $2000+ Nav system but not all of them and the option to add Nav is getting cheaper as time goes on.

 

[blackman777]

In the case of the Versa Sedan and Fiesta Sedan I was considering (base models) the additional cost of moving to a Nav-capable model is approximately $12,000 to $18,000 (versa) and $14,000 to $17,000 (fiesta).

So the Nav model is at least $3000 more over the base model. In other words 120 hours extra time at work to pay the upgrade. I'll just buy the base model & use my iPhone for navigation.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w

I was under the impression that some problematic DI systems do indeed have gasoline mist reaching the backs of the valves, but not in any meaningful amount for the detergents to dissolve carbon deposits.


Since the injector is IN the cylinder, this can't happen unless it is done how Ford does it, by using cam timing and reversion to basically wash the air/fuel mixture that was just created over the intake valve before closing it.


Quote:
I've also heard that several DI systems were designed to prevent the oily/gunky stuff from forming at the valve stem. If it forms inside the cylinder, it'll just get vaporized.


Correct, that'd be Ford's system. And Toyota's system with the upstream injector benefits from the back of the valve actually seeing fuel. Build-up in the cylinder isn't an issue with DI, it is build-up on the back of the intake valve, which is composed of vaporized crankcase gases/oil mist.

Quote:
And I'm not that well-versed on why valve buildup is that bad, but a quick check seems to pin it on compression leakage when the valves don't seat perfectly.


It affects flow through the runner. Reduced flow means less power. Sealing issues are also possible.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
In the case of the Versa Sedan and Fiesta Sedan I was considering (base models) the additional cost of moving to a Nav-capable model is approximately $12,000 to $18,000 (versa) and $14,000 to $17,000 (fiesta).

So the Nav model is at least $3000 more over the base model. In other words 120 hours extra time at work to pay the upgrade. I'll just buy the base model & use my iPhone for navigation.

Your logic is seriously flawed. Your figures are about changing trim levels and not the cost of Nav. You are getting extra features for the money going up in trim. It isn't "just" Nav related. Nav costs what it costs when it is available.

Very few if any car mfg's offer Nav in base models because the person who would buy a base model doesn't want any extras so there is no need to offer Nav there. You usually have to get at least a mid grade model which IMO makes sense.

If the only reason you would go up in trim levels, period, is for Nav then your argument would apply. However, I can't imagine anyone wanting a base model with as few features as possible AND wanting Nav. It just doesn't make sense. Most people would want the extra features that come with the higher trim levels and don't consider the cost of said trim level as part of their Nav cost.

Get what you want/use what you want no one is saying otherwise. It would be nice though if your comments didn't change to try and win a point( 1st it was Nav costs $2000 and when I show that isn't right now we are talking about trim levels and $3000+ ).

 

[blackman777]

How come diesel Direct injectors never had these problems?

And no my Nav logic is not flawed. If I want Nav, then other sh.t is irrelevant to me (I don't want XM radio or auto-trans). The fact is: I had to spend at least $3000 more than I originally budgeted, just to have a danm map screen. So I will say "no" to that B S.

LOL

 

[supton]

Seems like diesel engines spin a bit more on shutdown, plus they are running super lean at idle. Very little to get up into the intake valve region. Finally most are turbo'd these days and thus won't notice a small loss in airflow.

My guess.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
How come diesel Direct injectors never had these problems?

And no my Nav logic is not flawed. If I want Nav, then other sh.t is irrelevant to me (I don't want XM radio or auto-trans). The fact is: I had to spend at least $3000 more than I originally budgeted, just to have a danm map screen. So I will say "no" to that B S.

LOL


Some diesels do but it's mostly due to EGR utilization (excessive idling, city driving etc) however.

As for start stop tech it's horrible in the summer because you loose a lot of cooling while sitting at the light. I understand many new BMW owners are having the dealerships program it out.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
How come diesel Direct injectors never had these problems?

And no my Nav logic is not flawed. If I want Nav, then other sh.t is irrelevant to me (I don't want XM radio or auto-trans). The fact is: I had to spend at least $3000 more than I originally budgeted, just to have a danm map screen. So I will say "no" to that B S.

LOL


Whatever man. You just love to be argumentative and stir things up. You get an A++ in trolling class.

 

[blackman777]

I'm amazed BMW loses cooling during autostop. All the way back in 2004 Honda solved that problem by making the A/C electric so it would keep running. I can't believe a luxury didn't think to copy what teeny-tiny Honda did a decade ago.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
I'm amazed BMW loses cooling during autostop. All the way back in 2004 Honda solved that problem by making the A/C electric so it would keep running. I can't believe a luxury didn't think to copy what teeny-tiny Honda did a decade ago.


Troll troll troll your boat......

BMW Electric air conditioning

Quote:
Park air conditioning.

Climate protection with climate control: thanks to an electric air-conditioning compressor, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has park air conditioning to cool down the vehicle before you even enter. It consumes no fuel and can be conveniently activated at any time by remote control using the car key.

 

[blackman777]

Okay Overinsulting (1) stop calling me a-hole and (2) why did this guy say this???
Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
As for start stop tech it's horrible in the summer because you loose a lot of cooling while sitting at the light. I understand many new BMW owners are having the dealerships program it out.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
Okay Overinsulting (1) stop calling me a-hole and (2) why did this guy say this???
Originally Posted By: BMWTurboDzl
As for start stop tech it's horrible in the summer because you loose a lot of cooling while sitting at the light. I understand many new BMW owners are having the dealerships program it out.


A troll isn't an a-hole. A troll is somebody who posts things designed to bait others into a certain type of discussion. Trolls have agendas.

Perhaps he's referring to loss of airflow over the condenser making the A/C less effective? BMW likes mechanical fans on their engines (at least they did, not sure on the current cars), so if that's something they've carried over perhaps A/C performance suffers when the engine shuts off

I'm basing that on the fact that he said "you lose a lot of cooling" not "you lose air conditioning" or "you lose all cooling".

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL


Troll troll troll your boat......


Hahahahaha

 

[blackman777]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
A troll isn't an a-hole. A troll is somebody who posts things designed to bait others into a certain type of discussion. Trolls have agendas.


My only agenda is I like to talk to people.
That doesn't make me deserving of being called "troll" or "_____" or any other name.

Leave that junk to the teeny-boppers and KKKs. I usually celebrate the new year by erasing my ignore list, like a clean slate, because everybody deserves a new year erasure of past mistakes. But this Jan 1 I might leave Overkill there.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

A troll isn't an a-hole. A troll is somebody who posts things designed to bait others into a certain type of discussion. Trolls have agendas.


Ignore is your friend. It might be time for another ignore list tweaking in the spirit of the holiday season.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: blackman777
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
A troll isn't an a-hole. A troll is somebody who posts things designed to bait others into a certain type of discussion. Trolls have agendas.


My only agenda is I like to talk to people.
That doesn't make me deserving of being called "troll" or "_____" or any other name.

Leave that junk to the teeny-boppers and KKKs. I usually celebrate the new year by erasing my ignore list, like a clean slate, because everybody deserves a new year erasure of past mistakes. But this Jan 1 I might leave Overkill there.


Leaving me on there implies I was already there. If I was already there, you wouldn't be replying to my post. Also your statement makes no sense given that under your current alias, you've been here less than a year. This coming new years would be your first chance to exercise this practice you call "regular".

Also, the KKK? Are you for real? This is the kind of thing a trolls posts. Something inflammatory designed to extract a certain reaction from the people that read it. Ahhh, the comedic irony of a troll posting a troll post about not being a troll. Perhaps you need to go back to troll school and brush up on your technique?