Cars becoming too 'user friendly' ?

[Huskoda]

Heel and toe might not work with DSG, but it certainly works fine in my manual Octavia.

I'm also a big fan of hill start assist. As someone said, it saves clutch wear. It should also not be confused with an electronic handbrake as it can be entirely unrelated. It just uses the ABS system and holds the real brakes on in both our cars.

Parking sensors, meh. I have working eyes. If a car is designed so it needs parking sensors, then I would consider it dangerous as you don't have enough visibility in it for normal driving. As to self parking, being able to do it yourself is still on our driving test for a reason.

I also always hold the clutch to start as it saves wear on the DMF and starter.

[trundlenut]

Heel and toe definitely didn't work on my mkI Octavia or our Leon. I'll try it on my mkII but I didn't think it did it either.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[MartynVRS]

I'm not doing it in a VAG car and the next car I get won't be VAG either. And you can heel and toe in VAG cars and left foot brake but the throttle has to be double tapped to get it back.

[Tramell]

The UK Government Scrappage scheme '2009' sadly had many r Reg and older perfectly good cars being scrapped to get someone £2000 towards some crap Hyundai i20 with a 7 year Warranty. or Aygo, C1, 107, etc

I would suggest that your use of the words "sadly" and "many" is misguided.  An alternative view would be that very fortunately, the UK Government Scrappage scheme got many unloved, unsafe, worthless heaps of junk off the road to be replaced by modern cars with a seven year warranty and many safety and convenience features at a £2,000 discount

[Ootohere]

'Sadly' is IMO.

Misguided quite possibly, but then i saw many of the cars that did get handed in.

Enough to bring tears to some Car enthusiasts.

 

Some or most of these cars that were purchased due to the Scrappage scheme have been safer for the drivers and other road users, from 2009-2013/14 and will go on a few more years being safe enough.

Some, actually 'many', are now advertised with asking prices around £3,000, and you can not get them off your hands for £2000.

Even ones with Original Manufacturers Warranties still running.

 

An expensive way for UK Tax payers to give an Up to the UK & Rest of the World car Industry and UK Motor Traders,

& yes 'lots' or even 'mostly'  Rubbish went off the road,

but again only IMO 'many' good cars did as well.

The rubbish in lots of cases should never have had a current MOT to be able to be included in the Scrappage Scheme.

It is a fact that the Current UK MOT system is still open to abuse & still allows a load of unsafe vehicles to remain on UK roads.

 

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/diesel-particulate-filters.html

Tough luck on those without a clue that took £2,000 and put it down on an over priced diesel to get fuel economy yet only wanted a City Car, now they are landed with this EU/UK con. Soon to be scrapped no doubt.

 

george

[wja96]

And you can heel and toe in VAG cars and left foot brake but the throttle has to be double tapped to get it back.

It shouldn't work. It's a safety feature implemented following a spate of "runaway" Diesel engine issues in the USA in the late 1990's.

When you depress the brake, the ECU cuts the throttle.

There may be some models that do allow it, but in general, you can't brake or declutch and accelerate at the same time.

http://www.sharkperformance.co.uk/blog/article.asp?id=123

[Tramell]

Tough luck on those without a clue that took £2,000 and put it down on an over priced diesel to get fuel economy yet only wanted a City Car, now they are landed with this EU/UK con. Soon to be scrapped no doubt.

As the AA say:

"If you are buying a new car and plan to use it mainly for town-based, stop/start driving it would be wise to avoid a diesel car fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) because of the possible hassle of incomplete 'DPF regeneration'."

I guess it would be too much to expect dealers to make the effort to ask details about the typical driving undertaken by prospective purchasers?

 

Funny how much difference there is between your average car salesman and someone selling boots, clothing, snowboards, etc. in Snow & Rock, Ellis Brigham or North Face?  I guess one group are enthusiasts and the other are sharks

 

I wonder whether a dealer might have a case to answer in civil law if they missold a car to someone from a legal background?

Edited 26 December, 2013 by Tramell

[StevesTruck]

 

Most people just want a box to get from A to B.
As comfortably and easily as possible.

Give most non-car people a 30 year old car with a manual choke, manual and no power steering and they'd be horrified.

 

I'm with you on that, people think my Polo's cool until they try and drive it. Manual choke, 4 gears, no PAS, no brake servo, no vented brakes, and no handling. I used to drive boring modern stuff for a living, and I'd have had the Polo over 9 out of 10 of them.

 

Don't get me started on those handbrake electric button things either!!!

Aaaaahhhhhh

 

Having witnessed a parked Insignia suddenly decide to run away, I'm inclined to agree!

 

All aside though, I do like cruise control, and it embarrasses me to admit, I like a good auto. Though in my opinion, there are very few good autos in modern cars. 

 

However, until I started plating, I'd driven **** cars my whole life, for example, I can get by fine with some of the worst clutches ever, or even no clutch at all if I have to, but I find cars with decent clutches hard to drive 

[sparks03]

Modern cars could probably last a long time. But who wants to pay £1500 for a DPF replacement on a car that's worth maybe £2000 or similar for a DMF. Or even run a car that needs £500 of sensors every year.

 

I think the days of million mile cars are behind us.

 

 

 Not so sure about that. The good thing about technology is that it becomes tried, tested and perfected. It may struggle when first launching but once it becomes perfected then there's no reason to believe the cars won't have long lives. The Mk4 Golf upon which my Octy is based is lightyears ahead of the Mk2 Golf I own. Its also done much more mileage and shows no signs of stopping with far more in the ways of sensors, functions and electronics. 

[sparks03]

 

 

 

 

I'm with you on that, people think my Polo's cool until they try and drive it. Manual choke, 4 gears, no PAS, no brake servo, no vented brakes, and no handling. I used to drive boring modern stuff for a living, and I'd have had the Polo over 9 out of 10 of them.

 

 

 Those little Polos are absolute heroes, gutted we had to let ours go. 

[Mr Ree]

Why is it seemingly just 'ole fashioned me' that doesn't really like the wireless in the Octy with its 'touchy screen bits' and dreadful faffing about to actually get a cd to install and play?

 

Now the one in the Fabia is a doddle to use with nice big buttons that you can actually use WITHOUT having to take your eyes off the road...same as the heater controls.

One shot CD on the Fabia too, push and play, bish bosh, job's a good un.

 

So, all you techno luvers, this is 'apparently' progress?  :think:

 

Can someone please try and explain to this alleged 'fossil' as to just HOW exactly this electrical wizardry actually constitutes 'user friendliness' please, as i seem to be missing a trick here...obviously.

Absolute crap in my eyes, or do I need to go to specsavers p'raps?

 

Yea yea yea, why didn't I buy a Morris Oxford...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  :think:

Edited 27 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[Ootohere]

Helpful on the recycling.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/end-of-life-vehicles

http://cartakeback.com

They just quoted me that i can get up to £145 for scrapping a £8,000 car!

 

Actual Offers received by email were from £60-140 if i delivered to a choice of 5 yards..

"Offer Based upon being complete, free from waste and no significant damage."

[sparks03]

Why is it seemingly just 'ole fashioned me' that doesn't really like the wireless in the Octy with its 'touchy screen bits' and dreadful faffing about to actually get a cd to install and play?

 

Now the one in the Fabia is a doddle to use with nice big buttons that you can actually use WITHOUT having to take your eyes off the road...same as the heater controls.

One shot CD on the Fabia too, push and play, bish bosh, job's a good un.

 

 

 

Who still uses CDs in cars?! Surely you're plugging your iPod in and enjoying music as you want it? 

[mondy1975]

It's amazing how everyday cars have changed in the nearly two decades that I've been driving.  My first car was a Ford Escort 1.3 Bonus which was quite new at the time.  It had a four speed gearbox, manual choke and didn't even possess a cigarette lighter - it just had a blanking plate where it would go on the better models.  Contrast that to the first car my MIssus had, a Suzuki Wagon R with power steering, electric windows, electric mirrors and remote control central locking.  She thought that it was basic; as I said to her, it took me four years to get a car with those features!

[Mr Ree]

Who still uses CDs in cars?! Surely you're plugging your iPod in and enjoying music as you want it? 

Woz one of them's? 

 

 

 

You think I'm just messin'?    

Edited 27 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[sparks03]

Woz one of them's? 

 

 

 

 

 A gadget that allows you more than 44 minutes respite from the dirge of radio one  

[Mr Ree]

 A gadget that allows you more than 44 minutes respite from the dirge of radio one

I was just messin'...sort of, as I have actually heard of them, but what the actual blazes you do with one is actually WAY WAY WAY beyond me, soz. 

 

I have recently discovered a slot thing in the bottom of the wireless, and I did actually wonder about pushing the memory card from my camera into to it to see what happens?

Is this p'raps not such a good idea though?  :think:

Edited 27 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[Mr Ree]

Climate dual control us a waste of time too btw.

 

Miss R was complaining that the interior was cold yesterday, so wicked her side up to 21c

I was absolutely baking, so dropped mine down to minimum.

 

Ended up being half hot half cold.

Absolutely useless.

 

That's 'user friendly' progress for you though I suppose.  :think:

Edited 27 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[Dr Zoidberg]

Out of interest, is there anything that you *do* approve of?

[Mr Ree]

Out of interest, is there anything that you *do* approve of?

Oh yes!

Loads. 

 

Merely pointing out one or two features that I find somewhat user UNfriendly and  irksome, that's all, seeing as that what this thread is all about iirc?  :think:

Hoping this is acceptable for you?

Edited 27 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[sparks03]

Mr Ree all you need is a Belkin adapter. Plug into cigarette lighter, tune your receiver to the same frequency as the little transmitter connected to your iPod (or other MP3 player) and there you have it.3200 songs worth of no need to listen to any sort of radio which is bliss. 

[Tramell]

It is most gratifying to see how many people are owning up here to having bought the wrong car.

 

Have a very Happy New Year . . . and . . . do try to take more care over your next transport purchase

[Mr Ree]

It is most gratifying to see how many people are owning up here to having bought the wrong car.

 

Have a very Happy New Year . . . and . . . do try to take more care over your next transport purchase

That may well be the case.

 

Pleased to say though.... (SO sorry to possibly disappoint and subdue  your gratification in this particular instance)...that  I bought the right car that just so happens to have been fitted with a crap and user unfriendly radio and heater control system.

 

(IMO IF that's ok with you and your followers...please?)

Beggars can't be choosers sometimes.

 

Do carry on now darlings, and stay safe out there with your swively winking foglights, overly bright DRL's, automatic headlights for the physically challenged who have to have the car decide for them when it's getting dark, and auto wipers for those that aren't quite sure if it's raining or not, and other such trendy unnecessary attached tat and nonsense. 

Edited 28 December, 2013 by Mr Ree

[grr666]

Now a self cleaning car I could get on board with...  

Or a self loading van.

Why doesn't someone invent that?

[silver1011]

Do carry on now darlings, and stay safe out there with your swively winking foglights, overly bright DRL's, automatic headlights for the physically challenged who have to have the car decide for them when it's getting dark, and auto wipers for those that aren't quite sure if it's raining or not, and other such trendy unnecessary attached tat and nonsense. 

 

Now, now, I had a warning from slider earlier, let's not make it personal! I'm not a fan of auto lights (too many people rely on them and drive in the rain and fog with no lights on), but the auto wipers are great, a true 'set and forget' feature.

 

I won't mention DRL's and cornering fogs, too many raw nerves out there!

 

I have recently discovered a slot thing in the bottom of the wireless, and I did actually wonder about pushing the memory card from my camera into to it to see what happens?

Is this p'raps not such a good idea though?  :think:

 

The memory card from your camera will fit (it's also called an SD card). You just need to replace the pictures with music!

 

Trust me, once you've tried the SD card compared with a CD you'll be converted.

 

Remember the move from cassette's to CD's!?

 

The Bolero in my Superb is the first car I've owned with a SD card slot and I now no longer use the CD changer. I have almost all of my music collection stored on it so can listen to any song I want without having to change several CD's.

 

Give it a try, I dare ya!