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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my car is too clever

99 replies

Summermeadowflowers · 13/09/2023 14:05

I don’t have to put my keys in the ignition which means I spend my life hunting for my keys. It beeps alarmingly at me when I’m parking it I’m close to another car which is unavoidable in most multi storey car parks. It locks all doors except for the drivers ones which means I get out to get children out then realise the doors are locked. AIBU to hate it and want a stupid car?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 17:05

GrandHighPoohbah · 13/09/2023 16:58

If I find myself in a tight parking spot in a car park, my car will, usefully but unnervingly, drive out by itself so I can then open the door to get in.

Honestly I I saw a car just drive off by itself in the car park I might have kittens!

Can someone invent a self cleaning car?

Oblomov23 · 13/09/2023 17:08

Most of the things you mentioned are now standard and a good idea, when you understand why. Most are easily adjusted too. My door lock, but there's a bottom on the door to unlock. You can switch parking sensors off on most cars, should you choose, although parking sensors are my favourite thing and I'll never buy another car without them.

Oblomov23 · 13/09/2023 17:08

Why did you buy it if you dislike all the new features?

Oblomov23 · 13/09/2023 17:10

@DiscoBeat You can easily turn all that off. Read the manual and it will tell you how to, or google.

DappledThings · 13/09/2023 17:11

Most of the things you mentioned are now standard

Why did you buy it if you dislike all the new features?

The statement answers the question below surely. As these "helpful" features become more standard they become harder to avoid.

FirstYouGetTheMoney · 13/09/2023 17:13

Oblomov23 · 13/09/2023 17:10

@DiscoBeat You can easily turn all that off. Read the manual and it will tell you how to, or google.

In our Yaris you have to turn it off every time you start the engine, there’s no option to have it default to off.

Minfilia · 13/09/2023 17:21

I just realised that mine regularly screams at me and brakes coming out of my drive - it really doesn’t like the wall to the side and thinks I’m going to crash into it, every time 🤣

DHs is genuinely insane too - you can put it into a mode on the motorway where it keeps a safe distance from the car in front and will overtake if the lane is clear 🤯 sounds bloody dangerous to me.

I also had a car that parallel parked itself - I used it once and then decided I’d rather do it myself because I didn’t trust it!

I do like my reversing camera though!

Dbank · 13/09/2023 17:35

I've got the curse of "lane assist" I've never needed it, and scares the krap out of me when it activates. You can disable it... but only till the next time you drive.

It also has "Self-parking" (AKA parking assist), which most of the time it's easier to do yourself, although in it's defence it did manage to park the car the other day in a spot that I would never attempted.

HelpMeGetThrough · 13/09/2023 17:39

You think you've got problems...

On top of all yours, Mine decides:

  • When to put the brakes on
  • When I need to change gear (ok, it's auto Grin)
  • how I should park it and offers to do it for me
  • when to put the headlights on
  • when to use the windscreen wipers
  • how loud I want the audio

But what it can't stop me doing?

Switching all that shit off.

KnickerlessParsons · 13/09/2023 17:55

You know you can change the settings in cars so they stop doing the things you don't like?!

Original poster
Summermeadowflowers · 13/09/2023 17:58

You can if you know how to! I can’t even work out how to reliably connect my phone - car is a PITA!

OP posts:
AlwaysTheBabysitter · 13/09/2023 18:00

I've finally 'upgraded' from a lovely old Toyota Starlet (1996! She had windy downy windows and no air con- the vents just blew out air that was the temperature of the engine no matter what you set it to. She even had a cassette tape slot! She had one key for the doors and a different one for the engine.) to a proper modern electric car with all these bells and whistles.

And I have to say, after a month of comparison, that as nice and convenient as some of the clever things are, I definitely have more fun and enjoyment driving my old girl. (So much so that I won't sell her and am keeping her as a joyful runaround!)

MereDintofPandiculation · 13/09/2023 18:03

Minfilia · 13/09/2023 14:18

You can usually turn the auto locking feature off, I’ve been able to do it on my last 3!

Maybe it’s just one you have to get used to, the benefits of car technology usually outweigh the pitfalls.

I’ve turned a few stupid features off on mine like “lane guidance” as it very helpfully tried to stop me moving across to avoid hazards a couple of times and I had to yeet the steering wheel to avoid it, I did raise it with the dealership as a safety issue or fault but apparently its working as intended and the car will only let you move across a line if you’re indicating at the time… which isn’t massively helpful on a single road with no other cars around and an unexpected hazard in front of you!

Try a minute “flick” to the steering wheel, rather than a smooth drift. It just wants to know you’re still awake.

Auto dip headlights are worth having.

Nat6999 · 13/09/2023 18:03

Wait until the driverless cars come in, I've seen someone on YouTube take a driverless car on an airport transfer in America, it was the weirdest thing I have ever seen

ntmdino · 13/09/2023 18:05

I've long considered that there's a gap in the EV market for a car that's the bare minimum - a big battery, a motor or two, perhaps regenerative braking, a controller for all of that, and air conditioning.

None of the fancy tech, just a basic (and preferably quite rapid) driving experience with no technological assistance, no phoning home for firmware updates and over-the-air features, and no touchscreens/HUDs...but made purely with quality and maintainability in mind.

I enjoy driving, and I'd love to be more eco-friendly, but I hate everything about modern cars.

picturethispatsy · 13/09/2023 18:08

YANBU!
Takes all the fun out of driving and is very annoying.
I want a car not a damn computer 😭
VW are the worst for this.

Ponderingwindow · 13/09/2023 18:08

I love my smart car. It nudges the car into the perfect lane position, will warn me if I’m not stopping fast enough and stop for me if I still don’t manage (this has only triggered once when a car in front of me stopped very quickly), warns me if changing lanes is a bad idea, tells me if there is a child in the backseat, tells me of my phone is in the charger, and texts me if I left the door unlocked or the car is otherwise unhappy. On long trips the cruise control auto adjusts so I don’t even have to turn it on and off when we encounter other cars. Oh and backup warnings too, plus 360 cameras, and the gps turns are displayed just outside the windshield so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road. I adore it.

since I added an electronic lock to my house, my keys never leave my bag. They are in the bottom where the weight is nicely centered and out of the way.

FirstYouGetTheMoney · 13/09/2023 18:10

KnickerlessParsons · 13/09/2023 17:55

You know you can change the settings in cars so they stop doing the things you don't like?!

Yes, by pressing the same button for five seconds every time the ignition is turned on. It’s annoying.

My sports car is happy to turn everything off, with a single press if one button.

oioicheeky · 13/09/2023 18:11

Summermeadowflowers · 13/09/2023 14:05

I don’t have to put my keys in the ignition which means I spend my life hunting for my keys. It beeps alarmingly at me when I’m parking it I’m close to another car which is unavoidable in most multi storey car parks. It locks all doors except for the drivers ones which means I get out to get children out then realise the doors are locked. AIBU to hate it and want a stupid car?

Oh yes, the key thing and the lock thing drive me mad, too!

I hate the fact I don't have to take my keys out my bag because it means I can never find them when I want to lock it. With my old car, you take key out ignition, get out, lock car, put key in bag. But now, unless I spend time rummaging out, I quite often just go inside leaving it unlocked and usually remember just as I'm dropping off to sleep and have to then go and find it and point it out window to lock...Envy

I also have the worst of both worlds - it doesn't alert me when a child has turned on an interior light....the first I know about that is when I can't even get in the car because the battery has been drained so much the electric key doesn't work Confused

HelpMeGetThrough · 13/09/2023 18:17

Mine gives me a score out of 100, on how well it thought I drove and areas for improvement and how.

Patronising little bastard!!

FloweryWowery · 13/09/2023 18:28

Ponderingwindow · 13/09/2023 18:08

I love my smart car. It nudges the car into the perfect lane position, will warn me if I’m not stopping fast enough and stop for me if I still don’t manage (this has only triggered once when a car in front of me stopped very quickly), warns me if changing lanes is a bad idea, tells me if there is a child in the backseat, tells me of my phone is in the charger, and texts me if I left the door unlocked or the car is otherwise unhappy. On long trips the cruise control auto adjusts so I don’t even have to turn it on and off when we encounter other cars. Oh and backup warnings too, plus 360 cameras, and the gps turns are displayed just outside the windshield so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road. I adore it.

since I added an electronic lock to my house, my keys never leave my bag. They are in the bottom where the weight is nicely centered and out of the way.

Do you need reminding whether or not there are children in the backseat 😁

DappledThings · 13/09/2023 18:33

KnickerlessParsons · 13/09/2023 17:55

You know you can change the settings in cars so they stop doing the things you don't like?!

I can't switch off the one thing I've found most annoying.

If anyone knows how you can switch off the automatic volume lowering when in reverse in a Kia Sportage I'll be delighted. Manual and online suggest not.

Exhausteddog · 13/09/2023 18:44

I know they are not in the least bit new but my old 16 year old car didn't have parking sensors. I've managed to reverse into my drive perfectly well in all that time using mirrors and my eyes! Now I have a diagram and a cacophony of peeping noises to allegedly help me. I find it quite off putting and distracting. I don't mind lane assist and I like auto-hold but I also don't like being told to change gear every 10 seconds!

80sMum · 14/09/2023 09:18

Ponderingwindow · 13/09/2023 18:08

I love my smart car. It nudges the car into the perfect lane position, will warn me if I’m not stopping fast enough and stop for me if I still don’t manage (this has only triggered once when a car in front of me stopped very quickly), warns me if changing lanes is a bad idea, tells me if there is a child in the backseat, tells me of my phone is in the charger, and texts me if I left the door unlocked or the car is otherwise unhappy. On long trips the cruise control auto adjusts so I don’t even have to turn it on and off when we encounter other cars. Oh and backup warnings too, plus 360 cameras, and the gps turns are displayed just outside the windshield so I don’t have to take my eyes off the road. I adore it.

since I added an electronic lock to my house, my keys never leave my bag. They are in the bottom where the weight is nicely centered and out of the way.

You're in danger of converting me! What make and model is your car?

SoupDragon · 14/09/2023 09:22

tells me if there is a child in the backseat

😂😂