I'm not saying we should not have doors that can be locked, I'm just saying I want to decide for myself.

Having driven a lot around Miami I know what dangerous areas look like !! (Though it isn't quite as bad as it was years ago.)

So far as Brighton is concerned, you need a Centurion tank really.

(And a cowcatcher to deal with mad cyclists who ignore red lights, pedestrian crossings, one way streets, no lamps at night..................)

Didn't realise I suggested we shouldn't have locking doors?

But for me I see no harm in the doors locking as I reach 5mph, saves me remembering to do it if I think the area looks a bit dodgy!

As for Brighton, cyclists there are nutters I agree - my brother is one of them, lost count of how many times he's hurt himself on the roads (he admits it is always his fault at least!).

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Didn't realise I suggested we shouldn't have locking doors?

But for me I see no harm in the doors locking as I reach 5mph, saves me remembering to do it if I think the area looks a bit dodgy!

 

I agree - our firm has lost far too many laptops due to theft at lights, in petrol stations etc.  Whilst you can manually lock the doors, you can pretty much guarantee the single time you forget is the one time you get robbed - 'tis the law of sod.

I also see enough people driving around in these basic cars that don't have their lights on when they're obviously required to think that auto lights are probably a good idea as there are obviously people out there incapable of operating the headlight switch.

This really annoys me as well. Beggars believe how many people drive around in the dark/driving rain/fog with their lights off!

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This really annoys me as well. Beggars believe how many people drive around in the dark/driving rain/fog with their lights off!

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They're either daft or think they're saving on their electricity bill or prolonging the life of their bulbs

I dont have a problem with new tech, I work in IT and whilst I hate to admit it or be stereotyped I am a bit of a geek with a penchant for tech.

That said and done I really only like it on cars when it works very well and makes itself useful regularly...things like auto lights, auto dipping rear view mirror, folding mirrors, TPMS.....they are all great and wouldnt be without them. There are some things that dont work so well....auto wipers with a bit of a mind of their own, same with high beam assist, voice control thats borderline unusable (and so utterly pointless) and an infotainment system that is v complex and has its share of bugs...definitely some of the things on the O3 I could live without. That said the auto high beam and rain sensors can be deactivated which is a nice choice to have....most of these things required VCDS before.

What you are all really saying is is it's less about the driving and more about the environment. Half this stuff is there so people don't have to think/worry about what they are actually doing i.e driving. If you were aware and not drunk, how can you not notice you have no lights on when its dark!!! The fact you guys are all here shows you do like cars etc and probably enjoy driving them. Most of this tech while useful is designed for the most part the average Joe who doesn't give a stuff about the driving experience and more the 'lets get where I'm going' with the least thought possible. ( I could be sexist here too actually).

The same reason driving standards, IMO, are worse than they have ever been.

Edited 16 January, 201511 yr by snala

Too much tech? Seriously?

Do you miss the days of only black and white tv's? Perhaps the wheel wasn't such a good invention after all.

Too much tech? Seriously?

Do you miss the days of only black and white tv's? Perhaps the wheel wasn't such a good invention after all.

No, of course I don't miss black and white TV, BUT when I flick through about 200 channels of freeview

I find about 190 of them are a waste of time and trouble (no thanks, I don't want to buy any zircon frying pans)

 

So I think all we are saying is that SOME of the piles of electronics are, for SOME of us, a waste of space,

especially when they start to remove useful items like spare wheels, as if a can of gunk is just as good - it isn't !!

I agree that some tech is a little pointless, some is very clever, some I couldn't live without.

I do think that the way VAG implement some of this new tech is still far far better than some manufacturers, particular Nissan and Toyota, and especially when it comes to user interfaces. My boss bought a 2nd hand A5, the battery went flat and he couldn't get it out of his garage because he couldn't get in (keyless entry and wrong spare provided) so couldn't release the electronic handbrake or open the bonnet to jump it - PITA!

Technology is great until it goes wrong. Then it costs a fortune to fix.

If you were aware and not drunk, how can you not notice you have no lights on when its dark!!!

 

The last car I saw with its lights off - on Wednesday night -- was slowly emerging from a multi-storey car park. Although the car was out in the open by that point, it was still in an area with overhead illumination. (I didn't wait to see whether the driver would put his lights once in the dark -- I expect he would have, but couldn't be sure -- but instead signalled that they were off and he corrected his error.)

I rate vehicle purpose highly when deciding tech. My octy is city based, or when out of town sticks to motorways so the technology makes daily and longer drives safer and more comfortable.

However I also like to visit more remote parts of Australia including desert tracks, and for that I take a modified 1998 Nissan Patrol where the technology is pretty much limited to the brain of the driver (Or lack of).
More recent Toyotas and Nissans (and Jeeps, landrovers et-al) have been crammed with tech and computerised drive lines etc, which is why I have stuck with the low tech 'truck' build of the 98 model. When the nearest help can be anything from 400-1000km away the last thing you need is tech gremlins.

So for me the tech has to match vehicle purpose and use.

Had an Octy III 4x4 SE TDI 150 with a number of options for six months until the very poor drivers ergonomics (for me anyway) forced it's sale. Due to the losses on the Octy from selling so soon I'm now in a Spaceback SE TSI 105, which I find has just about everything I like as standard, including cruise and sunset glass which I'd had to option on the Octy.

 

Don't find I'm missing any of the fancy infomat screens and also glad to be rid of the modern diesel regens of the DPF. About the only thing I miss were other options added to the previous car, such as headlight washers and heated screen, although the latter is not a Rapid option anyway.

 

 

TP

I think we are a bit spoilt with tech. My vrs is ready but waiting for the 1st march. My last golf edn 30 was high spec. The vrs has even more kit on it ( i want a bit mad on the options list) my old car had folding mirrors operated by the switch, the vrs will do it off the key. Little things like that make a difference to me.

On the flip side i own, run and show two mk3 ford escorts. Good old 1.6cvh, no powered steering. 0-60 in a week and so on. I don't use them all year round and do miss the retro charm. But do a summer show in one and drive back in 25 degree heat, hoping it won't overheat and have everything pass you on a boring motorway journey………

Believe me my vrs with 220ps on tap and ice cold aircon will make me appreciate advances in technology!

Horses for courses.

My own favourite car many years ago was a Superspeed Mk. 1 Escort, basically an RS1600 fitted with, amongst other things, a Capri GT 3 litre V6, by the Ford dealership owned by the family of racing team Superspeed (the Young brothers).

But probably today it would feel like driving an old truck...............

Theres still a massive following for old fords inc the superspeed you mentioned.

Tbh i have a love for a lot of marques. Always been a car fan as long as i can remember.

If i had the money i'd have a mk3 with all mod cons inc power steering and aircon etc

When was the last time that you operated something on your car without a computer being involved?

When was the last time that you operated something on your car without a computer being involved?

Today. After I had washed the car pumping up the tyres using my good old fashioned footpump. Followed by a final pressure check using my old manual guage measuring in good old British POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH. None of this BAR rubbish.

 

LoL

Theres still a massive following for old fords inc the superspeed you mentioned.

Tbh i have a love for a lot of marques. Always been a car fan as long as i can remember.

If i had the money i'd have a mk3 with all mod cons inc power steering and aircon etc

If I could have literally any car it would be the small Ferrari coupe, the 360M.

Not just because of performance or its name, but it is a work of art. I could just sit and look at it !!!

I've always like the small Ferraris since the days of the Dinos.

 

(There should be a law against having a Ferrari in any colour except Italian racing red.)

Saw a friend of mine reversing his Mk7 Golf into a parking bay the other night: he got out, went round the back, peered, seemed puzzled, got back in - and then out again. On enquiry, seems parking sensors were in continuous screech even though he had plenty of room between his bumper and a lampost - probably misled into "seeing" the kerb. Point is, when he tried to reverse further THE BRAKES CAME ON! So he couldn't even park his car without the permission of some half-witted computerised system pretending it was cleverer than him.

 

I'm waiting for the horn which links to satnav, speed of car and yaw sensors and tells us we can't sound a horn in a built-up area between the hours of ... unless it's to prevent a collision. So just maybe the horn is not yet worked through a computer. (Oh, please don't tell me I'm wrong!)

Saw a friend of mine reversing his Mk7 Golf into a parking bay the other night: he got out, went round the back, peered, seemed puzzled, got back in - and then out again. On enquiry, seems parking sensors were in continuous screech even though he had plenty of room between his bumper and a lampost - probably misled into "seeing" the kerb. Point is, when he tried to reverse further THE BRAKES CAME ON! So he couldn't even park his car without the permission of some half-witted computerised system pretending it was cleverer than him.

 

I'm waiting for the horn which links to satnav, speed of car and yaw sensors and tells us we can't sound a horn in a built-up area between the hours of ... unless it's to prevent a collision. So just maybe the horn is not yet worked through a computer. (Oh, please don't tell me I'm wrong!)

 

Wish my S1 had braked due to the sensors the other day when I reversed into a brick wall!

I'm waiting for the horn which links to satnav, speed of car and yaw sensors and tells us we can't sound a horn in a built-up area between the hours of ... unless it's to prevent a collision. So just maybe the horn is not yet worked through a computer. (Oh, please don't tell me I'm wrong!)

Well the nissan GTR knows when its on a track :-0

Edited 17 January, 201511 yr by Bindinbear

Wish my S1 had braked due to the sensors the other day when I reversed into a brick wall!

Yes, pray tell the forum how one managed to do that.

 

I suppose it would be made even worse had there been an audience, especially a learner driver         

Yes, pray tell the forum how one managed to do that.

 

I suppose it would be made even worse had there been an audience, especially a learner driver         

 

Shush you!!

Shush you!!

Maybe, gotta be worth some chicken nuggets