To hate modern cars?

[Sandflea9900]

Just got a new car after having our previous one for about 9 years. It’s a disaster. Too damn clever for its own good with automatic everything. The problem is that all these automatic features don’t work properly to the point where I think they’re actually making the car more dangerous. Examples:

a) Automatic headlines on, driving at night on the motorway, car changes from dipped headlights to full beam despite there being oncoming traffic on the other side of the motorway.

b) Driving along a residential road at the speed limit of 20mph, late at night. No other road users on the road, no pedestrians, cats etc. The anti collision system does an emergency stop for no reason.

c) Car randomly beeps warnings with no visual warning light/symbol/message so I have no idea what it’s warning me about. Car manual doesn’t explain.

AIBU to want to go back to a simpler car without all these magical gadgets? DH insists all cars are like this now. I know I can turn off automatic lights (and have done so) but I’m thinking I need to turn off all the other safety features if this is how the car is going to behave.

I think it sounds like some of you have shit cars where these features haven't been implemented properly.

I have the same drawback with the my 2012 Q3 - I was quoted £150 to update it... erm, it's just a software update to the existing SD card, would take two minutes! So I baulked at that and just suck it up now when a road has been built in the intervening time and my screen just makes it look as if I am driving off-road and into the fields/sea!! I use Google Maps on my phone as a back up, which works pretty well to be fair - apart from when I have to guess what Welsh word they are trying to pronounce. Apparently the new Heads of the Valleys leads to Martha Tidefull...

It's no coincidence that there seems to be so many car accidents just lately.
At least one a serious crash a day reported in my town.
I will only ever drive a car I have complete 100% control over. I don't trust these modern cars that seem to do all the driving for you.

I just looked up and saw that lane assist is mandatory in new cars here in Australia too, now. All I can say is that the powers that be obviously never drive in places with shitty roads full of potholes and huge manhole covers and rough repairs, because bloody lane assist would lose its freaking mind where I live. You constantly have to steer around those things and you are not supposed to indicate when doing that, or overtaking cyclists, or passing a car waiting to make a right-hand turn.

This is ridiculous, heated seats on subscription and upgraded entertainment is another one.
the wiring is there, the hardware is there.
why (if I’m the second owner) do I need to pay a subscription to turn it on.

Couple of hundred to insure, free tax, no mot (although you’d be mental not to), emission zone free.
theres alot to like about them

We've just got a Kia Sportage after having a Mercedes A Class. Both automatic but the difference is crazy.

We had to get a bigger car due to lack of space for DD, her pram, food shopping etc couldn't all fit in and we plan on having another baby in the next few years.

I love the heated seats and steering wheel, automatic full beam, Apple car play, lane assist etc. it's funny how we are all different.

Cars are too big today.
The size of some them is crazy..

My car is in its 20’s 😂
Held together by rust but it’s still going.

Oh yes! I’d forgotten about that.
££££ to access stuff that’s already built into the car.
Just madness.

Nope. Was going 20mph in a 20 zone on cruise control.

People need to start complaining to their MP about them. Until they work properly, they shouldn't be mandatory. I'm so scared of the auto brake (or whatever it's called) feature I am putting off replacing our very old and battered car. I've heard way too many stories like yours where it's the car has just done an emergency stop for no reason, one in the fast lane on the motorway. Terrifying! I can choose to drive carefully and defensively, I don't want my car doing random shit like this and putting me and my family at risk. I'm really surprised people are just accepting this!

I have 20 and 22 plate Hondas and I can’t say any of its tech bothers me. It’s straightforward and I’ve never felt safer in a car, tbh.

The is also my concern. People will naturally start relying on this stuff and become worse drivers as a result. What looks like to be happening alongside this is that the law will be that you are responsible for whatever the car does even if you're using automated driving. So where that's heading is fully automatic cars where the driver has to sit there watching what the car dues fully ready to step in at any time that it fucks up which is absolutely ridiculous and not how humans work at all. Humans need to be constantly abc repeatedly doing something to do that thing effectively. No-one is going to be able to maintain attention just sat there watching the car driving along and you're gonna de-skill really rapidly. It just seems ridiculous that we're just sleep walking into this.

I got a new car last year, it's not a particularly fancy one but it's so bossy
Bing - drive in the middle of the lane (I am)
Bing - drive on the left (yes definitely am)
If I don't go into 5th gear once I'm doing about 30 mph it nags me about that, as well.
And all the binging at different frequency/pitch for reversing into the drive. I thought parking sensors would make things easier but actually they make it way more stressful. I relied on my eyes and mirrors for 15 years and never hit anything, now it bings if I'm too close to a leaf.

I haven't connected my phone to it because that's one less set of noise/distraction.

The is a really interesting point. I’m told BA pilots have to land the plane manually rather than use autopilot by default in order to “keep their hand in”. Same logic.

Most landings are done manually. Auto land is generally only used where weather conditions require it.

I hate
1 that the keys don’t go in the ignition -so it’s possible to start getting out the car (if you’re distracted) with the engine running(causes loud beep), the keys can be in the drinks holder/in your pocket/ has fallen between the seats /even still in the house (but you won’t get far). Please can we use the key in the ignition again.

1. That the radio stays on when you turn off the ignition - soo when you turn off the engine, instead of having peace and quiet to collect up your things (find the bloody keys) before getting out you have LOUD music or podcast -as it needs to be loud to drown the engine noise- so you can’t think straight -also you miss a couple of minutes of your podcast as you are busy getting out and can’t do 3things at once.

ive a skoda -I’m secretly hoping someone will tell me there’s a way to solve 2

I have a solution to 1, but it's a controversial one. Get a diesel! You can't miss the noise of that thing chugging along if you forget to turn it off!

An old colleague of mine left his car running accidentally, got out and went out for the day, parked on the side of the road! Luckily it hadn't been nicked when he got back but the car was out of petrol with a dead battery too.

In terms of 2, my DH's car is a VW and runs on the same system as Skoda I think. It too drives me nuts that you have to both turn the system on when you get in and off when you get out. There could possibly be a setting in the menus, but I've never looked for it.

That has just reminded me of the most annoying thing about DH's car though. There's a light panel in the roof of the car that stays lit when you're driving, even at night.

But get in the car to drive somewhere and it doesn't bloody turn on! I put something in the rear footwell the other week and had to use a torch to find it because the internal lights didn't turn on, yet you drive in the dark with a light above your head. Why VW, why??

So v annoying!

Humans are generally better than tech. We should use tech to help us, not instead of us! Not true any longer.

Keys stay in my pocket all the time so I’m in no danger of losing them, locking them in the car etc, so I’m happy with push button ignition.

I’ve got a Honda, and my radio goes off when I switch the ignition off. So what you describe is a deliberate choice by Skoda.

An old colleague of mine left his car running accidentally, got out and went out for the day, parked on the side of the road! Mine bleeps if the drivers door is shut with the engine running and the key outside the car. You have to be quite deliberate to leave it running all day.

I love "keyless" cars.

My Ford keeps the radio running after you turn the engine off but it stops as soon as you open a door. Great for short stops when I'm waiting for DC at the station or something. It really shouldn't be so loud you can't think! Turn it down!

It was a while ago that he did it, so it's likely something that has improved with time gone by.

I have heard stories of people dropping their partner at the airport then getting stranded half way home because they've gone to fill up with fuel and their partner has left the keys in their pocket. Meanwhile, they get out the car to fill it up with fuel and the car locks behind them as the key isn't in the car, leaving them stranded.

Hence why your car bleeps too! Thankfully!

Same, mine is 15 and has delightful new tech such as a CD player and leccy windows (front only, mind you). Less tech = less to go wrong.