Why I don't like new car features

I'm all for new car features. Not all of them though. Some are downright necessary in my eyes (ABS), some are very useful (GPS, my sense of direction stinks), some I love (high quality sound systems), but most of todays new car tech is tech for the sake of tech.
Anton Yelchin died, it appears, because he didn't know that his Grand Cherokee was in Neutral, not Park. This brings up two stupid 'features' that are totally needless, don't make anything better, and in fact, make matters worse.
1 - That STUPID shifter!! It's not your typical shifter with 4 or more specific positions, or detents. It's basically a large, momentary-contact toggle switch. Why? Have people been confounded for 100 years because the basic PRNDL gate just couldn't be mastered without an I.Q. above 140? No. That shifter works great. Mercedes decided to put a dog-leg into the PRNDL, and it was ok. It still worked the same; Park is at the top, low is at the bottom. But the lame Chrysler shifter worked totally differently.
I was developing a training course for that trans when it came out. When I was told I needed to have a portion of the TECHNICAL TRAINING COURSE discuss how to operate the shifter (not how the shifter operates), I knew it was a fail.
2 - The other 'feature' that I hate in new cars, and contributed to his death? Push-button start. Why do we have this? You still have to push a button that is in the same place you'd normally put the key. The difference is, you don't have to have the key in your hand, and you don't have to twist your wrist. Again, how has this helped? You still have to keep track of a 'key' of sorts, and have it with you. You still have to reach to the right of, and behind the steering wheel to start and stop the car. The difference? If you have the car in Neutral, but don't realize it, you cannot get your keys out of the ignition. There's your clue that the car is not ready to be left unattended. But with the stupid push-button start, if the car is in Neutral and you hit the Start/Stop button, you'll get nothing. Maybe a message on the IP saying that the car is already started.
It's just stupid. These designers or engineers just don't think. It's like that old man that died in his corvette because the door wouldn't open by the interior handle.

NOW GET OFF MY LAWN!!

I'm not familiar with the new Jeep shifter, but I am with you %100 on the start push buttons. I hate them.

I don't like "features" that are not for me, the car owner.

Things like data recorders in the ECU that are clearly there for law enforcement and insurance company dispute resolution or even sending customer trend data back to the company unbeknownst to the actual owner. Things that turn themselves back on after every start like traction control that are maybe for some people but not for me. Things like a backup camera that can be damn useful on a tow vehicle or something with terrible rearward visibility as an option but we all have to buy and pay for even in our hatchbacks with good rear glass and mirrors.

Why the hate for push button start? Doc- you don't have to dig out a key, whether it be your pockets or a bag. That's kind of nice. You don't have anything hanging down out of the dash- and seeing how GM dealt with that, one less thing to fail.

Not sure what you mean that nothing happens in neutral- ours always turned on or off.

Best part is- you don't HAVE to buy it. Choices abound for cars without push button start.

Same for PRNDL options.

In reply to Huckleberry:

Every car has a blind spot- even Miatas. Rear cameras are really nice. I still don't get the hate for those.

I'm not familiar with the shifters in these Jeeps. Does the shifter have to be moved at all, or is it basically just a button that toggles?

If the shifter doesn't have to be physically moved into gear, and the key doesn't have to physically be insert/removed from a lock cylinder, it seems like it would be pretty easy to insert a safety that would default the transmission into "Park" anytime the key is outside of the vehicle and there's nobody pushing the brake pedal. I'm not a software expert, but code is usually cheaper than hardware, and it might be an improvement over the current situation even if it's just adding more electrical/programming complexity when the old mechanical style worked just fine.

I love push button start. In my company car I never even carry a key. I have it secreted inside the vehicle here it can be sensed for starting, but not the doors. I punch the code in the door and press the button.

PRNDL's Again, happy they are going away, it opens up more options for manual control over auto's.

Love rear view camera's. I makes backing up to my trailer easy and no need to get someone to site my hitch over the ball. I has made my parking skills lazy though.

Speed sensitive cruise control, bring it on for heavy traffic.

It's fun to blast a sub 2,000 go kart down a twisty road or track, but for the real world give me 10,000,000 airbags and every active safety feature in existence as I don't have the concentration or reflexes of Senna nor do I have 360 degree X-ray vision, plus I like to be comfortable.

This is my lawn, please join me on it, you're welcome here.

In reply to alfadriver:

people don't like the cameras because they are problem shifting. People were leaving their babies in the driveway and backing over them. Take better care of babies? No. Camera!
Also, I strongly suspect these in dash displays are going to reinforce tunnel vision for people backing out of driveways. You still need to actually turn your head and look both ways before blasting out of your driveway. The camera is not generally going to let you know you are about to back over a rapidly approaching jogger, or that Cadillac coming down the street.

That said, I do generally like them since they can make parallel parking a bulky vehicle easier. What I don't like is the fact that a lot of cars are integrating these big display screens with touchscreen controls for everything. I also don't like the fact that I have to stare at a warning to drive carefully for several seconds before being able to adjust the radio, etc.

In reply to STM317:

It's a berkeleying twist knob. I get the now part simplicity since all the mechanical bits are now electronic, but sheesh.

I get the push button start, which I actually favor, because you now no longer have someone with 30# of bullE36 M3 hanging off the ignition key standing at a service writers desk bitching for the third time why their lock cylinder is broken and how the writer is actually trying nicely to explain to the customer their ignorance is causing them the hardship.

I love the push button start in the BRZ. It also has the little sensor behind the door handle, so as soon as I touch it, it unlocks the door.

Put key in pocket, and I never have to fumble with getting it out again.

And actually if you hit the button with the car with the clutch out, it just turns on the Acc like a normal twist in a car with a key.

Ever used one, or just complaining?

WilD wrote: In reply to alfadriver: people don't like the cameras because they are problem shifting. People were leaving their babies in the driveway and backing over them. Take better care of babies? No. Camera!

An infinitesamly small # of babies got run over. I see the bigger issue, hence need is American's are crap at parking. 99.9% of the time people pull forward into parking spots and you even see the most stupid sign imaginable 'Do not back into parking spots' in a lot of places. It's much much safer and to my mind easier to back into a parking spot. Why? You pull past a spot and can see it's clear. You can then back in safely. When you go to pull out you are a) facing forward and b) closer to the end of the vehicle that is moving into the lane so it's easier to site other cars, people, children, dogs cats or hamster wheels that may be coming that you could hit. With the lazy way of just pulling in forward when you come to pull out you have terrible vision and site lines. You are swiviling your head like the exorcist to try and see left and right. YOu are also much further back relative to the end of the vehicle that is moving into the traffic lane which has the knock on effect that your downward vision is greatly reduced over the back of the vehicle. That's the main reason I see for needing back up cameras. Once I'm benevolent dictator to the universe pulling in forward will be prof of lack of driving skill and basis for on the spot loss of drivers licence.

Mu issue with PBS, and yes, driven many, many cars with PBS, is thatin this case, it could have contributed to the death.
In a PRNDL car if you put the trans in Neutral, you cannnot get your keys out of the ignition. In a PBS, if you have a confounding shifter, and it's in Neutral, when you hit the button the car shuts off and you walk away with it on Neutral.
And I think the complaint about backup cameras is that they are standard on just about every car and Huckleberry doesn't want to have to pay for it.
And yes, we have choices....for now. The day when we must buy a car with PBS, backup cameras, and automatic transmissions isn't too far away.

DrBoost wrote: Mu issue with PBS, and yes, driven many, many cars with PBS, is thatin this case, it could have contributed to the death. In a PRNDL car if you put the trans in Neutral, you cannnot get your keys out of the ignition. In a PBS, if you have a confounding shifter, and it's in Neutral, when you hit the button the car shuts off and you walk away with it on Neutral. And I think the complaint about backup cameras is that they are standard on just about every car and Huckleberry doesn't want to have to pay for it. And yes, we have choices....for now. The day when we must buy a car with PBS, backup cameras, and automatic transmissions isn't too far away.

Back up cameras are a legal issue that all cars must have. The others are customer driven items. The people buying cars want these features.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Which is why it is important to vote with our dollars. I bought a new car with an actual key and a manual transmission this year. All you other luddites need to step up and do your part too.

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to STM317: It's a berkeleying twist knob. I get the now part simplicity since all the mechanical bits are now electronic, but sheesh.

I thought so too initially, but I don't think it's the dial shifters that are covered by the recall. These seem more like a sequential manual shifter although underneath, the electronics are probably very similar to the dial:

https://consumerist.com/2016/06/20/what-you-should-know-about-the-confusing-gear-shift-in-jeep-dodge-chrysler-vehicles/

I didn't like the ford push button starter, mainly because i didn't like that the same button that engages the starter shuts it off. I was scared to press it to shut it off the first time because I was expecting the starter to try to engage.

I like the backup cameras.

You know that feeling when you try to use a hotel shower and the controls don't make any sense, I hate that feeling. For years almost all car controls were basically the same. You didn't the owners manual to tell you how to start a friends car or put it in gear. I like that.

In reply to alfadriver:

I do not hate the rear facing camera. I love it on my truck. I went out and bought it and installed it, in fact. I would want it on an Exige or a panel van but I do not want to pay for it unless I feel I need it. I have never owned a regular sedan that turning my head wasn't sufficient to see well. Probably because buying a car with terrible visibility isn't something I would do.

The bottom line here - I hate the word "MANDATORY" when it comes to things I have to pay for.

Yeah, don't get me started on the gubment forcing us to buy nannies. It used to be that proper driver education was mandatory. Now we buy backup cameras, smart cruise, blind spot detection, and so on.

THE LAWN!!! GIT!

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, don't get me started on the gubment forcing us to buy nannies. It used to be that proper driver education was mandatory. Now we buy backup cameras, smart cruise, blind spot detection, and so on. THE LAWN!!! GIT!

When the berkeley was proper driver education ever a thing in this country? My driving test was pulling out of the police station to the right, turn right, turn right, turn right and turn right back into the parking lot. My wife did drivers ed at high school and never had a driving test, they just gave her her licence (Michigan 1981)

In the UK I had to parallel park, do a three point turn, do a hill start with a manual clutch. Driving tests here are a joke. The good thing here is the graduated licences for young kids. That's a berkeleying brilliant idea.

By the way, I think I've purchased my last three pedal car. Even my Boxster only has two pedals and It doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I'll leave my GRM and Man cards at the door as I leave shall I

My biggest issue with new car tech is smartphone integration - sure, it can be cool and have some useful features, but once that tech is obsolete and the vehicle can no longer be upgraded to current phones its value will be greatly diminished to the general populace. In a few more years if we see that integration go even deeper, the vehicle its self may become barely functional to the average driver. Planned-obsolescence is bad enough as-is, do we need it in our vehicles too?

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

Not to hijack but the graduated license is also a joke. I've got a 16yr old with a permit. He could literally not do anything except practice parking really well, wait the time period and take the test. All of the other things he is supposed to be doing are not verified in any way except that I am his father and he will be able to control a car properly before I loan it to him as a matter of honor.

petegossett wrote: My biggest issue with new car tech is smartphone integration - sure, it can be cool and have some useful features, but once that tech is obsolete and the vehicle can no longer be upgraded to current phones its value will be greatly diminished to the general populace. In a few more years if we see that integration go even deeper, the vehicle its self may become barely functional to the average driver.

So they will depreciate faster? Sounds great to me

Adrian_Thompson wrote: By the way, I think I've purchased my last three pedal car. Even my Boxster only has two pedals and It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I'll leave my GRM and Man cards at the door as I leave shall I

I haven't gone quite as far as to make declarations like that because I enjoy an immersive drive - but as long as I can choose the gear myself and have it happen when I want without delay I'm fine with paddles or electric sequential levers.

The new Cayman with PDK or whatever it's called is damn good.

Sounds a lot like this thread I started a while ago:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/modern-car-controls-are-idiotic-and-i-hate-them/110716/page1/

I know where the push-button start came from at least. First, purpose-built race cars had push-button starters because they didn't have any kind of ignition key/security system, and it was an easy and convenient way to trigger the starter. Then supercars copied it to make the driver feel like they were in a race car. Then everyday cars copied that to make the driver feel like they were in a supercar. Smart!