Oh, it has on-board Alexa - navigation, radio, Prime Music...
The real problem is that it has no manual - it's all electronic and an abysmal format
The real problem is that it has no manual - it's all electronic and an abysmal format
Modern car technology
- Thread starter slowworm
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I have mixed thoughts about the "assist" functions and electric gadgets.
In some conditions they cope pretty well and are useful..... but not in anything like all conditions. They also vary consideably between manufacturers.
There's 2 vehicles I drive regularly- a Ford Focus and a work Toyota Hilux. Both around the same age- 2020ish. Both Euro 6 diesels, both second hand. The Hilux is a high mileage ex fleet vehicle, and funnily anough the most worn button is the "on/off" button for the stop-start function. When I saw that on the test drive, I realised that the previous user (was issued to 1 person, not a pool vehicle) had, like me, turned off the stop-start whenever they used the vehicle.
The "assist" functions, although in principle the same, behave quite differently betwene the vehicles. The Focus is more accurate picking up speed restrictions, but struggles to recognise the "national speed limit applies" on the Smart m-way overhead gantries at the end of a restricted section. The Hiliux is much poorer at picking up speed restriction signs, is fine with the overhead gantry national speed restriction signs, but struggles with those NSL signs on a yellow background at the end of roadworks. The lane assist is useful on the Focus, sensible tolerances and only rarely sees lines on the road as lane markings, it will try to correct but not too much.... but the "collision assist" warning is very random (false alarms the only time it has been set off). The Hilux lane assist is too sensitive- you cannot drive through a set of roadworks narrow lanes without it constantly beeping (but it does not correct)- so it's always turned off. I like the head up display on the Focus, I htikn that's a really good thing as I can see key info without looking away from the road.
Both my vehicles have mechanical knobs and switches for things like heating, demist etc. The screen is only for radio/navigation (and in the Focus, some "atmosphere" settings)- and even then they have extra mechanical switches an dsteerign wheel switches for nav and volume etc. I specifically wouldn't have a touchscreen only vehicle without knobs and switches.
The Focus has an electric handbrake and auto-hold modes/hill start assist, the Hilux is a traditional mechanical one with no roll-back assist. I prefer a mechancal handbrake but can live with either, however the electric handbrakes clearly have an disadvantage if the car won't power up e.g. after a flood.
What is clear is that both vehicles are probably about 75% to 80% accurate on the sensors- in different ways though. There's a LONG way to go before self-driving cars- even in perfect weather conditions on non-busy motorways with no roadworks.
GC
In some conditions they cope pretty well and are useful..... but not in anything like all conditions. They also vary consideably between manufacturers.
There's 2 vehicles I drive regularly- a Ford Focus and a work Toyota Hilux. Both around the same age- 2020ish. Both Euro 6 diesels, both second hand. The Hilux is a high mileage ex fleet vehicle, and funnily anough the most worn button is the "on/off" button for the stop-start function. When I saw that on the test drive, I realised that the previous user (was issued to 1 person, not a pool vehicle) had, like me, turned off the stop-start whenever they used the vehicle.
The "assist" functions, although in principle the same, behave quite differently betwene the vehicles. The Focus is more accurate picking up speed restrictions, but struggles to recognise the "national speed limit applies" on the Smart m-way overhead gantries at the end of a restricted section. The Hiliux is much poorer at picking up speed restriction signs, is fine with the overhead gantry national speed restriction signs, but struggles with those NSL signs on a yellow background at the end of roadworks. The lane assist is useful on the Focus, sensible tolerances and only rarely sees lines on the road as lane markings, it will try to correct but not too much.... but the "collision assist" warning is very random (false alarms the only time it has been set off). The Hilux lane assist is too sensitive- you cannot drive through a set of roadworks narrow lanes without it constantly beeping (but it does not correct)- so it's always turned off. I like the head up display on the Focus, I htikn that's a really good thing as I can see key info without looking away from the road.
Both my vehicles have mechanical knobs and switches for things like heating, demist etc. The screen is only for radio/navigation (and in the Focus, some "atmosphere" settings)- and even then they have extra mechanical switches an dsteerign wheel switches for nav and volume etc. I specifically wouldn't have a touchscreen only vehicle without knobs and switches.
The Focus has an electric handbrake and auto-hold modes/hill start assist, the Hilux is a traditional mechanical one with no roll-back assist. I prefer a mechancal handbrake but can live with either, however the electric handbrakes clearly have an disadvantage if the car won't power up e.g. after a flood.
What is clear is that both vehicles are probably about 75% to 80% accurate on the sensors- in different ways though. There's a LONG way to go before self-driving cars- even in perfect weather conditions on non-busy motorways with no roadworks.
GC
I didn't know people used the old satnavs these days. We bought one then got given a better one then nobody knows where they went but we stopped using them as Google maps on our phones, a cable for power and a suitable stand was so much better anyway.
Now we're two cars into built in satnav via phone connection to car display.
I can’t remember the details but self driving cars become legal next year in taxi etc guises, and then more classes of road vehicle in 2037. It makes me, as a biker, very nervous !
Oh I did something voice activated on one of our cars a few months ago. I think on the Skoda we have but it could have also been the pug we got rid of (seriously the 208 is too small for me. It's days were doomed with us after I realised that to drive it I have to almost lie back and have no seat space behind me,).Discovered something today - I can tell the computer to turn the fan up and down and turn the temperature up and down; it's voice activated!!
I do think the voice actuation thing on the Skoda relies on Google on the connected phone though. It's not independent voice control I think, could be wrong.
Think of the poor cyclists! Now we've got driverless cars to hurl abuse at us. First time I hear a robotic voice from a driverless car take more time than the delay they thought I caused them but didn't to wind the window down to tell me to get off the roads you freeloader or get a bloody car (other similarity creativity less comments may apply too) I will do as I normally do. Give a really pleasant looking but knowing smile and carry on as I was doing. Drivers hate it when their abuse doesn't hit you at all. I think it winds them up a bit. Mind you, it helps when I'm a defensive commuter on my bicycle (using full name as I assume @bobnewboy meant biker to mean motorcyclist not bicyclist, a distinction that is needed for clarity). Oh and nearly 2m tall and about 100kg too. Not sure how that will play on a robot car though. I hope they haven't modelled their driving style on the average UK driver. If so I'm buying a helicopter to get to work.
Indeed I do mean motorcyclists. There have already been quite a few accidents, some fatal, in the States where a motorcycle with twin rear bulbs/lights has been mistaken for a distant car by some autonomous vehicles.
Always having been one that repaired my own cars I am at a loss with modern stuff to think perhaps my knowledge ended with the demise of carburettors, to think I prefer them as they were simple and I could fix them when they went wrong to have more confidence in them.
I have never driven a car in which the steering wheel opposes my decision. This says something about my transport budget!
Can this be switched off?
I was taught to move left into the crest of a left hand curve and right towards the line on the crest of a right hand curve. This at the same time as “slow in, accelerate out” whereby the accelerator applied retarding and power without affecting speed.
In the days of cross ply tyres and rear wheel drive this approach reduced lateral pressures on the tyres on bends.
It’s a habit that I have never lost.
Sooner or later the second hand car that I buy will have the technology you are describing here and I want to know how to remove it.
Can this be switched off?
I was taught to move left into the crest of a left hand curve and right towards the line on the crest of a right hand curve. This at the same time as “slow in, accelerate out” whereby the accelerator applied retarding and power without affecting speed.
In the days of cross ply tyres and rear wheel drive this approach reduced lateral pressures on the tyres on bends.
It’s a habit that I have never lost.
Sooner or later the second hand car that I buy will have the technology you are describing here and I want to know how to remove it.
OK, so it's slightly different for public road driving and track driving. On a public road, on a left hand bend, you stay towards the centre of the road until you can see the bend is clear (such as for pedestrians, cyclists, and horses) before taking the apex through the bend. If you take the apex before you have clear sight you may have to take avoiding action. For a right hand bend, you stay close to the inside until you can see the exit of the bend is clear then take the apex - even crossing to the other side of the road if it is safe to do so.
Motorcyclists that take right hand bends on the apex leaning over into the other lane frustrate me intensely - even as a motorcyclist
Motorcyclists that take right hand bends on the apex leaning over into the other lane frustrate me intensely - even as a motorcyclist
I’ll stick to what I was taught and take the straightest line. I “square off” long bends. It has served me well for all the changes that have happened over half a century.
I certainly won’t have the car making my decisions for me. Warnings are OK. Taking action isn’t.
pee ess.
Other drivers behaviour does not frustrate me. They are simply the normal obstacles of every day driving just like a pot hole, pile of cow ship or a wide load.
pee pee ess.
The only time that I ever sound my horn is a “bip” to say ‘bye after a visit to family. It is never a road going admonition.
I certainly won’t have the car making my decisions for me. Warnings are OK. Taking action isn’t.
pee ess.
Other drivers behaviour does not frustrate me. They are simply the normal obstacles of every day driving just like a pot hole, pile of cow ship or a wide load.
pee pee ess.
The only time that I ever sound my horn is a “bip” to say ‘bye after a visit to family. It is never a road going admonition.
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I drive an 05 Toyota Hiace, its 20 years old a d currently at just over a quarter of a million miles on the clock.
Although I habitually wear a seatbelt it wouldn't even chime at me if I didn't and I actually waited longer so I could get one without electric windows as I can't be done with needing the ignition switch on so I can raise or lower my windows when I'm sitting in the van eating my sarnies.
I have GPS on my phone so don't need it fitted at the factory.
I do like the idea of electric vehicles, just not so much with all the tat that comes with modern cars.
Although I habitually wear a seatbelt it wouldn't even chime at me if I didn't and I actually waited longer so I could get one without electric windows as I can't be done with needing the ignition switch on so I can raise or lower my windows when I'm sitting in the van eating my sarnies.
I have GPS on my phone so don't need it fitted at the factory.
I do like the idea of electric vehicles, just not so much with all the tat that comes with modern cars.
You have to be careful with this one- stats get messed about with. As I understand it, most drink/drug driver accidents are lumped into 'speeding' as the cause.
If you have ever had to visit a client in the arch end of a Salford Industrial park or find a factory somewhere under Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham then you know why I need a Sat-Nav.
My old Garmin changes as you approach a major junction and shows you a vertical picture of your way through: which lanes to be in and which road signs you should be seeing.
It’s also a LOT louder than my phone and I’m deaf.
My old Garmin changes as you approach a major junction and shows you a vertical picture of your way through: which lanes to be in and which road signs you should be seeing.
It’s also a LOT louder than my phone and I’m deaf.
I studied traditional chart-based marine navigation just over a dozen years ago at university- although electronic chartplotters were commonplace, it was still a requirement then to regularly plot your course on paper as a backup.
Fast forward and now the UK Hydrographic Office no longer produces paper charts... I find it a bit worrying, yet more total dependance on electronics/satellites
I use a TomTom satnav. I'm pretty deaf, but it's clear and I can keep my eyes on the road. The phone is tinny.
I used it more when I worked. It got me to primary schools in the back end of nowhere on single track roads, and safely home again. It navigated me all the way down south, through the utter misery of midland motorways and umpteen lanes, and it did it clearly. It got me to archaeology sites that didn't even have roads, and when roads were blocked, it found other routes.
I admit, there are times that that wee voice saying, "Turn around when possible", rather fills me with despair though
especially when I'm obviously in some farmer's yard and wondering how the hang I did it this time 
My sons use their phones, I'm not keen, I want satnav to keep updating.
I used it more when I worked. It got me to primary schools in the back end of nowhere on single track roads, and safely home again. It navigated me all the way down south, through the utter misery of midland motorways and umpteen lanes, and it did it clearly. It got me to archaeology sites that didn't even have roads, and when roads were blocked, it found other routes.
I admit, there are times that that wee voice saying, "Turn around when possible", rather fills me with despair though
especially when I'm obviously in some farmer's yard and wondering how the hang I did it this time My sons use their phones, I'm not keen, I want satnav to keep updating.
