Be careful how you option that new car

Agent Orange

The b0y ninja
Keyless entry and push button start is a blessing, especially when you make alot of stop and gos. I drive a Prius Prime for my work vehicle and its such a huge upgrade from the POS 2004 Ranger I was driving before that. No power windows, no anti lock brakes, no seat warmers, terrible power steering, and feels like its the the truck from T2 when he's trying to go past 55. Not sure why I didnt make the change sooner.
 

AbsolutEnduser

Throttle Pusher
My Durango has heated seats front and rear. Awesome for Tahoe trips. Heated steering wheel is great too.

The rear heated seats were in a 2002 wagon..I'm sure your truck is fresh.

Forgot about the keyless thing. Don’t even have to take the fob out of my pocket, just walk up and pull the handle, then press a button to start, that shit is awesome.
- don’t have to touch my phone, car lists my contacts, tells me who’s calling
- plus noise canceling speakers make BT calls clear as a bell
- Built in garage door opener
- button for mirrors and seat go to whatever position I saved
- Tire pressure readout
- cross traffic alert is tits when backing out of a parking spot
- parking sensors
- AWD
- automatic wipers

sure I’m forgetting stuff

Screw those old no frills cars, you can have them

,

Some of these Look like they're a "necessary improvement" due to the increased size of the car...


Keyless entry and push button start is a blessing, especially when you make alot of stop and gos. I drive a Prius Prime for
Okay sure it's better if you do a lot of jump outs (I don't)

But it's also a security risk. Speaking of which like this guy who left his kids in the car , running the other week..and it got jacked. Or did he have keyless entry in his minivan..:( :thumbdown
 
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TheRobSJ

Großer Mechaniker
Forgot about the keyless thing. Don’t even have to take the fob out of my pocket, just walk up and pull the handle, then press a button to start, that shit is awesome.
- don’t have to touch my phone, car lists my contacts, tells me who’s calling
- plus noise canceling speakers make BT calls clear as a bell
- Built in garage door opener
- button for mirrors and seat go to whatever position I saved
- Tire pressure readout
- cross traffic alert is tits when backing out of a parking spot
- parking sensors
- AWD
- automatic wipers

sure I’m forgetting stuff

Screw those old no frills cars, you can have them

,

Lots of stuff. I could list so much, it’d take quite a bit. So I’ll just do one.

Heads up display. That’s a biggie for me. Mine show navigation directions and distance which is pretty awesome. And the newest one in the 2021 Mercedes S class now does augmented reality directions. I’m sure that last sentence just made some of these folks head just explode. Matter of fact, why don’t I just show you. The new S class is the very epitome of super expensive to repair tech in a car.


youtu.be/DCgy3askMcM
 

littlebeast

get it while it's easy
Lots of stuff. I could list so much, it’d take quite a bit. So I’ll just do one.

Heads up display. That’s a biggie for me. Mine show navigation directions and distance which is pretty awesome. And the newest one in the 2021 Mercedes S class now does augmented reality directions. I’m sure that last sentence just made some of these folks head just explode. Matter of fact, why don’t I just show you. The new S class is the very epitome of super expensive to repair tech in a car.


youtu.be/DCgy3askMcM

yeah - i had no idea how much i’d love the new tech until we bought our newest vehicle. i especially love the voice control. like, for literally everything. only funny bit is she occasionally talks to us when we don’t ask her (key word oddity). love her voice though, and there is something oddly comforting when she asks ‘how can i help you?’ she’s made some great restaurant recommendations in odd, seemingly deserted locations (and provides the nav :thumbup). one of which we’ve actually talked about taking a long road trip just to go back to lol.
 
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JesasaurusRex

Deleted User
Lots of stuff. I could list so much, it’d take quite a bit. So I’ll just do one.

Heads up display. That’s a biggie for me. Mine show navigation directions and distance which is pretty awesome. And the newest one in the 2021 Mercedes S class now does augmented reality directions. I’m sure that last sentence just made some of these folks head just explode. Matter of fact, why don’t I just show you. The new S class is the very epitome of super expensive to repair tech in a car.


youtu.be/DCgy3askMcM

That's pretty sweet
 

Enchanter

Ghost in The Machine
Staff member
Forgot about the keyless thing. Don’t even have to take the fob out of my pocket, just walk up and pull the handle, then press a button to start, that shit is awesome.
- don’t have to touch my phone, car lists my contacts, tells me who’s calling
- plus noise canceling speakers make BT calls clear as a bell
- Built in garage door opener
- button for mirrors and seat go to whatever position I saved
- Tire pressure readout
- cross traffic alert is tits when backing out of a parking spot
- parking sensors
- AWD
- automatic wipers

sure I’m forgetting stuff

Screw those old no frills cars, you can have them

My 2007 Chevy:
HUD for speed, tach, water and oil temp, oil pressure, radios station, song and artist, and navigation directions / distance, highbeam, turn signal, and warning 'lights'.
Headlights turn on when wipers are turned on.
When the 2nd FOB is used, not only do the seats and external mirrors adjust as most cars do, the brightness of the instruments adjusts, all of the settings of the infotainment systems changes too: color, favorites, sound (eq, volume, etc.), navigation settings, favorites, etc., A/C and heater settings.

My 2016 Cadillac:
Turns down the a/c fan when we use the phone.
Tilt's mirror(s) down when placing car in reverse.
When parking it vibrates the seat when it senses an obstacle (left side of seat for left obstacle, etc.)
Keeps the passenger door locked when approaching with the fob in pocket (selectible)
Auto highbeams.
Visual, audio, and actual time displayed for following distance.
Artist of specific song memory (if either of those are playing on XM, it will tell you and ask if you want to change the station).
Find a destination on your phone and send it to the car NAV before leaving, or while on the road.
Upload favorite locations into NAV from computer or phone.
Apple CarPlay (Waze, weather integration and more).
When low on charge or fuel it will automatically display a list of the closest gas stations. Same for police, fire, and hospital.
Auto heated seats and defroster based on temperature.
When descending a hill with cruise-control on, it will actually maintain the set speed. The gas engine cars I own will increase speed. One 'feature' tied to this is that is annoying as fuck is that the brake lights illuminate when this happens even at 25mph down the smallest of hills.

Speaking of which like this guy who left his kids in the car , running the other week..and it got jacked. Or did he have keyless entry in his minivan..:( :thumbdown

Dunno about that guys minivan, but our cars listed above will lock the doors if we leave the engines running and walk away more than 10-15ft.
 

Abacinator

Unholy Blasphemies
Lots of stuff. I could list so much, it’d take quite a bit. So I’ll just do one.

Heads up display. That’s a biggie for me. Mine show navigation directions and distance which is pretty awesome. And the newest one in the 2021 Mercedes S class now does augmented reality directions. I’m sure that last sentence just made some of these folks head just explode. Matter of fact, why don’t I just show you. The new S class is the very epitome of super expensive to repair tech in a car.


youtu.be/DCgy3askMcM

Mercedes has a storied history of using expensive tech in their flagship cars. Active Body Control, Distronic, massage seats, Just wait until they start putting the Hyperscreen in everything!
 

Killroy1999

Well-known member
I now have a 20+ year old hybrid. Its a classic hybrid:teeth-- Honda Insight.

I told myself that I would buy a new-used car when the car is 20 years and my good investments go long (less taxes).

Now, I'm looking at the 2017 Chevy Volt plug-it hybrid for ~ $14,000 private party or Carvana and by the time license, registration and taxes is added I don't feel great about spending the money. I'm that cheap, haha.
 
One thing to keep in mind - some of us are simply car enthusiasts.

I know everyone here is at least something of a motorcycle enthusiast but that love of a controlled series of explosions being translated into useful and wonderful noise can be intoxicating. For some people a motorcycle/car is just to get them from point A to point B. For others it is far more and an extension of our personality, tastes, etc. As a hobby it opens even more possibilities.
 

TheRobSJ

Großer Mechaniker
My 2007 Chevy:

When the 2nd FOB is used, not only do the seats and external mirrors adjust as most cars do, the brightness of the instruments adjusts, all of the settings of the infotainment systems changes too: color, favorites, sound (eq, volume, etc.), navigation settings, favorites, etc., A/C and heater settings.

You’re a very generous husband. The second fob for my “Chevy” sits in a drawer and has never been used. Fortunately the wife never wants to drive it. She says she’s scared of it. So the challenge of handing over control of it will never have to be accepted.
 

GAJ

Well-known member
Lots of stuff. I could list so much, it’d take quite a bit. So I’ll just do one.

Heads up display. That’s a biggie for me.

Indeed, that for sure was a "man that's kind of stupid" thing my wife's car has.

But I like it after actually using it.
 

TheRobSJ

Großer Mechaniker
One thing to keep in mind - some of us are simply car enthusiasts.

I know everyone here is at least something of a motorcycle enthusiast but that love of a controlled series of explosions being translated into useful and wonderful noise can be intoxicating. For some people a motorcycle/car is just to get them from point A to point B. For others it is far more and an extension of our personality, tastes, etc. As a hobby it opens even more possibilities.

For some of us, this is a job too. But I’m still an enthusiast first. So even if it wasn’t my job to know how to fix all of it, I’d still want to drive a car with all the bells and whistles.

That said, many technicians I work with drive older much more “analog” vehicles.
 

GAJ

Well-known member
One thing to keep in mind - some of us are simply car enthusiasts.

I know everyone here is at least something of a motorcycle enthusiast but that love of a controlled series of explosions being translated into useful and wonderful noise can be intoxicating. For some people a motorcycle/car is just to get them from point A to point B. For others it is far more and an extension of our personality, tastes, etc. As a hobby it opens even more possibilities.

Yeah, while I love all the tech on my wife's car the analog Miata is miles more fun to drive.

The thing I don't understand is that some owners change out the stock steering wheel in the early models like mine for one that looks cool but lacks an airbag.

That seems, um, pretty dumb.
 

mrzuzzo

Well-known member
The thing I don't understand is that some owners change out the stock steering wheel in the early models like mine for one that looks cool but lacks an airbag.

Low likelihood of injury if your car spends minutes accelerating just to get to the speed limit. Or maybe they hate their lives because they are embarrassed to be seen driving in that car :twofinger
 

GAJ

Well-known member
Low likelihood of injury if your car spends minutes accelerating just to get to the speed limit. Or maybe they hate their lives because they are embarrassed to be seen driving in that car :twofinger

:laughing

Years ago on Davis Lane, which is a short cut around Penngrove and the last 1/3 of a mile or so is arrow straight with fantastic visibility I was hauling butt and was preparing to slow for the left onto E Railroad Avenue when I "noticed" something under the shade of the tree that was once at that left turn.

It was a cop.

"You're the fastest one today, 92." :twofinger
 

GAJ

Well-known member
It was a common thing to do for old rice rockets. I used to see Momo steering wheels on old 90s CRXs and Civics.

Yes, I did that in my 280z but that had no airbag.

Removing the airbag for "fashion" seems flat out stupid for a street legal vehicle.
 

Kurosaki

Akai Suisei - 赤い彗星
I rented a small Kia something other other SUV for the day yesterday.

Yeah, still of the mind I don't care about new cars and their tech.
 
I like it up to a point. I don't like "touchscreen everything", gesture control, or feel like I need all the voice commands. But the things I DO like :

  • Keyless entry - fob stays in your pocket, push button start
  • Automatic windows / locks
  • Automatic volume control - music gets louder at speed to compensate for wind noise, automatically quiets again when you slow
  • Bluetooth audio - no need for an aux cable
  • Large, readable nav screen
  • Economy / performance monitors - sometimes it's fun to stomp it and watch your estimated MPG rating drop into the single digits, other times on long drives it's nice to see that "oh shit 50 miles DTE and I just passed a sign that said next gas station 37 miles...and I'm going uphill."
  • Heated seats, steering wheel
  • Ventilated seats
  • Remote start (in conjunction with the above 2, no more burning your ass on the seat / steering wheel or shivering and freezing as much while waiting for the car to warm up)
  • Automatic seats with 8/12/billion way adjustments to get comfortable
  • Garage door openers you can sync to just about any remote - your apartment complex, your parents' house, whatever
  • HUD - I've gotten a talking-to on the side of the road before for not seeing a speed limit sign where it dropped from 55 to 35 and a tree had overgrown the sign...but the new cars pick up the sign and flash it on the HUD along with your current speed. Can be handy for more than just the GPS directions...which are also great when better displayed on the HUD vs your phone screen / nav screen.
  • Automatic high beam dimmers, directional lights that turn with you. My high beams automatically dim if they detect oncoming traffic or traffic in front of me. People might get briefly flashed but they won't be blinded. As more cars get this feature, it means I won't be blinded as much either hopefully. Directional lights are great at night on curvy roads, giving you a half second extra visibility / warning for animals. I've hit deer before and had to swerve around others so I appreciate the slight edge.
  • Better noise dampening / insulation in general, acoustic glass on the windows, etc. People don't quite realize just how much droning noises / low, constant noise can wear your out / tax you mentally. Especially when you already have hearing issues / tinnitus. It's why some motorcyclists swear by wearing ear plugs when they ride.
  • Auto start / stop / cylinder deactivation / mild hybrid systems for fuel efficiency. 400 hp, 0-60 in 3.9s, AND I can get 30 mpg? Hell yeah.
  • More USB ports and wireless charging and such for devices - the fewer power outlet plugs and crap I have to keep around the better.
 
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