Luddites unite!

[Deleted member 6183]

Hope I die before I get old.

 

[GLK]

I only recently discovered that, I have an automatic rear wiper activation on reverse, if the front wipers are on auto ... Well, I didn't actually discovered it myself, ha ha (thanks David!).

I do like the gadgets, but have to say - it was rather annoying having the car brake by itself, going down the ramps of a multistorey (in a courtesy GLA recently) - I'm quite capable of handling the car myself, thank you.

 

[jamesfuller]

I 'have' to drive a modern car, with everything in it, and while it doesn't bother me as such i don't use half of it.

When i'm not on business, I drive a very basic 4x4 with no electronics, hardly any electrics in fact.

I certainly prefer the simple clutter free dash in my old 4x4, combined with other factors like large upright screen thin pillars and low door sills, mean I enjoy a great panoramic view.

The above is why I also love the W126 and other classic mercedes. Luxury, not gimmicky.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Well, sod the lot of you. I love the modern era. Love gadgets. The more the merrier. Keep um coming I say. :bannana:

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Stop the world, I'm getting off.

 

[markjay]

Stop the world, I'm getting off.

Yes we have the technology to stop the world, but as a Luddite you don't get to us it - so you're stuck with the rest of us.

 

[grober]

Hope I die before I get old.

You might be surprised how rapidly many people change their minds about that particular sentiment when faced with the prospect of an early demise.

 

[Mikeyboy4]

I used to think that about heated seats, cruise control, Satnav, Aircon... Until I was able to afford a car with all these things... Game changer. I used to turn my nose up at automatic cars and diesel was for farmers... These days it's all changed... Now it's about how the car makes you feel. I play with all the gadgets all the time because it feels ace. I also have a Google home and hue lights [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23] Light switches are for losers... I'm 48 going on 18... I love the gadgets, long may they continue to provide me with "those" feelings. Orange, blue or white Ambient lighting anyone? [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

 

[garycat]

The more worrying thing is that these "gadgets" will eventually become part of the MOT. Even now, stuff like headlamp washers for HID lights are tested and your car will fail if they do not work, despite the fact you can take a wet rag to them once a week and make them as clean as a jet spray. If the jet washer breaks it can be several hundred quid to get it fixed; a significant %age of the value of an older car.

So, when auto wipers or auto adaptive lights eventually get added to the MOT, its no use saying "but I don't use them". You will have to fork out £2K for a new ECU + fitting on your car worth £2.5K.

 

[219]

I only recently discovered that, I have an automatic rear wiper activation on reverse, if the front wipers are on auto ... Well, I didn't actually discovered it myself, ha ha (thanks David!).

I do like the gadgets, but have to say - it was rather annoying having the car brake by itself, going down the ramps of a multistorey (in a courtesy GLA recently) - I'm quite capable of handling the car myself, thank you.

The rear wiper on my W123 estate came on if the car was put into reverse and the front wipers were on , so some features aren't all that new .

 

[219]

Dual mass flywheel, never knew I had one of those, now I'm worried in case it fails.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

...and so it did in my manual W124 .

 

[219]

I used to think that about heated seats, cruise control, Satnav, Aircon... Until I was able to afford a car with all these things... Game changer. I used to turn my nose up at automatic cars and diesel was for farmers... These days it's all changed...

Yes , diesel is for trucks , trains and taxis

I've had all those things on past cars , variously working or not , and don't miss them from current cars not so equipped .

 

[Mactech]

I have a 20 year old Land Rover. It is just one step up from a horse and cart.
It doesn't even have a radio. I really enjoy driving it ....locally
I also have a Mercedes GLE with probably more information available to me that than the NASA moon mission astronauts....and I still want more! As an engineer I don't think it is possible to have to much information. One really needs to know when it is in 9th gear.... I really enjoy driving it
I also have a number of 2 wheel modes of transport. My current favourite has no gear or clutch lever but whole raft of ways of changing gear.
I love riding it
I wonder in which camp I should be

 

[Petrol Pete]

You only have to look at the big colour ads for little cars in the daily newspapers to see the way things are.

Most of the ad concentrates on the WiFi connectivity/GPS/FaceTwitter interface and low monthly payment.....long before it mentions the oily bits.

Sign of the times.

I won't bore you telling of the two (late) twenty something 'men' I helped in a car park recently.

The flat tyre on their MINI was their own personal hell. Not a FUC%ING clue what to do !!

 

[Londonscottish]

Have been enjoying the cooled seats on the blast down to Bordeaux. And the Climate acontrol. And the 7G, Airmatic, MMI, Lane Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Distronic, auto wipers, variable ratio steering etc. I've been driving to the south of France on and off for 33 years and the current tech-laden 212 absolutely nails it.

Although the 388bhp V8 helps. Some things never change. LOL.

 

[John]

I like some of those features.

Auto-dimming mirrors, decent sound system and one-touch windows suit me out of that lot.

Saves you having to consider or do things that the car can do for you.

My 35 profile rear tyres aren't really noticeable on air.

Means you can carry on your train of thought without interruption, whilst you waft along.

 

[190]

I know when to turn on my wipers and my lights.
I do not understand why mirrors need to auto dip and despite having them, do not understand the need for electrically moved seats. Dual mass flywheels do not improve a motor car, nor do 35 section tyres on British roads. Even the "convenience" of one touch windows is not of any real advantage and cooled seats with built in massage? Touch screen systems that require you to be a programmer in order to go out and buy a pint of milk? Am I now under trained to use a blxxdy motor car, a machine I could operate at eight years old?
If I am, Why? In what way does it benefit the road user to deskill the life saving aspects of lookout and control in favour of reskilling to use the 650Watt stereo now available in Ford Fiestas?
(To the ghosts of Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen: how could your company have sunk so low?)

I have some sympathy for this. A lot of the gadgets are unnecessary and even if nice to have they are a liability unless 100% reliable. And of course they are not.

Touch screens and i drive type controls are a distraction and potentially dangerous. How they are permitted under type approval baffles me. Drivers are not allowed to watch telly while driving but it's OK to take your eyes off the road to play with a touch screen.

Electric seats I set up once and have never used them again. Dragging around extra weight.

My particular pet hate is the automatic courtesy lighting where if the screen sensor thinks it's dark it turns on the side lights and fog lights when you turn the ignition off and then doesn't even start to time out until all the doors and boot are shut, meanwhile running the battery down. The real problem is it's activated in broad daylight when I park in my well lit garage and worse still I'm not permitted to turn the feature off. Not wishing to be defeated by a dumb machine I have to resort to turning the engine off and coasting into the garage - just crazy.

 

[tron]

Means you can carry on your train of thought without interruption, whilst you waft along.

Means that you don't have to concentrate on your driving.

 

[MancMike]

What you need Tron is a Dacia Sandero. You won't be bothered by all the gizmos then.

 

[John]

Means you can carry on your train of thought without interruption, whilst you waft along.

Means that you don't have to concentrate on your driving.

You can try that but you will either end up off road or embedded in another 3rd party object...