[raynipper]

Sometimes I wonder.
We have just bought a new car and although a cheap tin can it's got all the bells and whistles of Apollo Space Craft.
The images of the dash dials have more than a dozen each small warning lamps and icons. If one pops up you have to stop and wade through the 312 page handbook.
The 'Touch' screen is 8" and so many of the cars functions you need to wade through several menus to adjust or turn on/off, which for safety requires you to stop and park up just to turn the heating up or down or put the radio on your station.
Luckily the lights and wipers are auto so no need to grab the obvious stalk or switch but the cruise stalk is right next to the indicator stalk my wife keeps energising cruise and swears blind she never touched it.

And thats without the myriad of buttons and controls within the steering wheel.

Progress ....................................... NO.!!!

Ray.

 

[Relyat]

It's for those who don't understand how things work and have no idea how to undertake basic checks.

 

[erneboy]

What is the car Ray? If you don't mind my asking.

We're probably about to do likewise. I'd wanted a big comfortable car but since it's only ever going to be for running around locally, long journeys will be in the van, we think now maybe one of the new Hybrid Clio's because it has enough all electric range for our running around and between the local towns.

 

[raynipper]

I have been hankering for a VW T-Roc for 4 years but the price has just escalated to near €40k. for the 2L 150hp diesel ones.
So when my wife saw a pretty white and red Citroen C3 1.5 Blue HDI 100hp Shine, she kept on and on until I gave in. It is brand new with NO kms but a 2021 for €19k. Citroen Display model.
We got Citroen to put a tow bar on and thats it. But I keep telling my wife it's a tin can and in an accident we die. Unlike the VW we would walk.

But she likes it and it was cheap. But it is unbelievably complex and I do hate these screens.

Ray.

 

[barryd]

I am sure there is a market for someone producing a new 1990s Golf or similar with no bells and whistles and shed loads of gimmicks that will just fail at some point. Worse thing is if its a bell and whistle thats required to work for MOT and it fails it can be a nightmare. That spazy Hyundai i10 I have is pretty basic though but I wish I had realised it didnt have remote locking. Its a right PIA waiting for Mrs D to unload all the shopping while I Stand there waiting to turn the key.

The new bike has all sorts on it. A digital screen on the dash most of which Ive not figured out yet, three levels of traction control which I wish they had called safe, not so safe and Defcon 1. So far nothing has alerted me or lit up that might mean I am about to be killed to death. I should read the manual really.

Enjoy the new car Ray. When you figure out how it works

 

[raynipper]

It took me two days to find out a small red warning light was actually green telling me the 'proximity' warning light was activated.!

Ray.

 

[H1-GBV]

Unfortunately my “auto” headlights don’t react as quickly as I do (and certainly don’t anticipate blinding someone who I can see is about to come round the corner).

My auto wipers are wonderful except when they decide that it hasn’t rained (but I can’t see out of the window) AND when they don’t realise that it’s stopped raining so the rubber is dragging across, making an awful noise.

My roadsign camera is very useful but it frequently doesn’t spot that we’ve left the 40mph limit and it complains that I’m speeding until we reach the next restriction sign. I’m very concerned that this technology is going to be used to control new cars in the immediate future.

I leave the car in eco mode because when I switch to ev it tells me that I’m accelerating too hard and goes back to eco automatically. If I put it in sport mode then it is so responsive that I daren’t take my eyes off the road to change mode again.

I’ve owned the car for 2y now and I’m aware that there is a setting to unlock all the doors when I open the driver’s door but I can’t find it. The service garage offered to do it for me last year but I foolishly said I would do it myself.

This winter I realised that we didn’t need it’s all-wheel drive last year nor this because we have had so little snow and ice. However, we both love the feeling of security from a big, strong body and the comfort of heated leather seats with climate control. The 2.5litre petrol engine with automatic transmission is a pleasure to drive and returns 40mpg; not as good as our previous SEAT Toledo but we’re happy overall with our Toyota RAV4.

Gordon

 

[raynipper]

Absolutely Gordon. But I was overridden.

Ray.

 

[barryd]

Unfortunately my “auto” headlights don’t react as quickly as I do (and certainly don’t anticipate blinding someone who I can see is about to come round the corner).

My auto wipers are wonderful except when they decide that it hasn’t rained (but I can’t see out of the window) AND when they don’t realise that it’s stopped raining so the rubber is dragging across, making an awful noise.

My roadsign camera is very useful but it frequently doesn’t spot that we’ve left the 40mph limit and it complains that I’m speeding until we reach the next restriction sign. I’m very concerned that this technology is going to be used to control new cars in the immediate future.

I leave the car in eco mode because when I switch to ev it tells me that I’m accelerating too hard and goes back to eco automatically. If I put it in sport mode then it is so responsive that I daren’t take my eyes off the road to change mode again.

I’ve owned the car for 2y now and I’m aware that there is a setting to unlock all the doors when I open the driver’s door but I can’t find it. The service garage offered to do it for me last year but I foolishly said I would do it myself.

This winter I realised that we didn’t need it’s all-wheel drive last year nor this because we have had so little snow and ice. However, we both love the feeling of security from a big, strong body and the comfort of heated leather seats with climate control. The 2.5litre petrol engine with automatic transmission is a pleasure to drive and returns 40mpg; not as good as our previous SEAT Toledo but we’re happy overall with our Toyota RAV4.

Gordon

If my car started telling me I was accelerating too hard and altered itself I am afraid it would be getting the Basil treatment!

 

[raynipper]

Ha ha.
Just looked for the Add Blue product to make sure we now don't run out and it seems to be about £20 a gallon.
I then looked further and it seems to be 60% demineralised water? That seems a right con as demineralised or distilled water is only 50 cents a Litre.

Ray.

 

[Relyat]

Ha ha.
Just looked for the Add Blue product to make sure we now don't run out and it seems to be about £20 a gallon.
I then looked further and it seems to be 60% demineralised water? That seems a right con as demineralised or distilled water is only 50 cents a Litre.

Ray.

And pig's wee is free

 

[EJB]

I took the plunge 15 months ago and have nearly got used to the incredible number of fairy lights and icons.
Auto lights/wipers/gears are excellent and better than many I have used.
The way not to get confused and bothered by it all is to either drive with one eye closed or alternatively both eyes closed half the time.....works for me!

 

[raynipper]

And another thing.
Bloody touch screen turns off after a couple of minutes, so you can't use the radio, Sat Nav, phone, etc. without having the engine going. Bloody madness.


Ray.

 

[Glandwr]

Reminds me of the apocryphal tale of the elderly lady who bought a new car and kept taking it back to the garage swearing that it wasn't running properly.

In the end exasperated after the umpteenth time she took it back the mechanic decided to accompany on a drive and observe.

They both got in, she started it up, pulled out the choke and hung her handbag on it!

 

[raynipper]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh so old Dick.
But there are hundreds of owners out there asking the same question.

Ray.

 

[Webby1]

I knew when I saw the title @raynipper that it would be another one of your................."It's gone too far" threads.
Meanwhile you're sharing @Scotjimland desperation to be beamed up because English has been described as a colonial language.........clearly it is............. which is why half the world speak it...........or is it because they love Shakespeare so much.
I do agree many things in this modern new fangled world are a step too far and seem to be about we'll do it because we can.My camera has about 50 different settings for low light,fireworks,portraits etc................I always have it set on auto.
But this all gets mixed up with concern or is it fear about how other people live their lives and how they ask to be described.Or how language changes and grows..............usually without commotion.
That's unless the dinosaurs choose to object and stir the pot.

 

[raynipper]

So any answers to the questions Peter or are we going on another tac?

Ray.

 

[Glandwr]

Life used to be so certain. I'm in the market for a new car. I think of cars as consumerable with a limited life. In the 60s 70s I wouldn't seriously consider any car that had done 50-60K.

Today I am negotiating on one that has 150K on the clock. It's one owner and has been main dealer serviced. I am gambling on it doing at least 250K. Difficult to get your head around somethings these days when you are as old as I am.😀

 

[nicholsong]

Life used to be so certain. I'm in the market for a new car. I think of cars as consumerable with a limited life. In the 60s 70s I wouldn't seriously consider any car that had done 50-60K.

Today I am negotiating on one that has 150K on the clock. It's one owner and has been main dealer serviced. I am gambling on it doing at least 250K. Difficult to get your head around somethings these days when you are as old as I am.😀

Dick

We bought a Honda H-RV 7 years ago which is now 22 years old, 50,000km, and Basia reckons it will see her out after I have gone. It looks as good as new..

Even at that era it has electric windows, central locking and electric retractable mirrors. No satnav, which is on the phone which transfers to the MH.

Cost? £2,000

What is not to like?

 

[barryd]

Dick

We bought a Honda H-RV 7 years ago which is now 22 years old, 50,000km, and Basia reckons it will see her out after I have gone. It looks as good as new..

Even at that era it has electric windows, central locking and electric retractable mirrors. No satnav, which is on the phone which transfers to the MH.

Cost? £2,000

What is not to like?

LOL! Excellent Captain. I agree totally. All the mechanics I speak to say cars of that era were better than the new ones.