ACC

[Greybeard]

One of the 'Safety systems' on my new car, (Honda Jazz) is Adaptive Cruise Control, (ACC). When set, the system adjusts your speed automatically to maintain the distance to the vehicle in front, (up to the maximum speed that you have set)
I was driving on a motorway. I overtook some vehicles that were in the middle lane. After passing the slower cars I moved back into the middle lane. Suddenly my car braked itself hard; I was immediately slowed from 70mph to 55! I was really worried that someone might crash into me from behind. When I was able to think about what had happened I realised that the ACC sensors had seen a lorry in the slower lane, (in the UK that's to my left) and decided that I needed to slow right down to avoid a collision. 😳

[RDfella]

I hate most of these modern 'improvements' to cars, all controlled by a computer programmed by someone else. When I'm driving, I want to be in control. You can keep wipers and lights that come on automatically, as well as auto braking etc. In fact, such gimmicks would deter me from buying such a vehicle. If / when such devices cause a crash, does the driver have to attend court, or can he send in his ECU for trial?

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
I too hate most of these "safety" dodads. I recently bought a new (my very first new car) Ford Ranger cab chassis 3.2lt manual. It is the base model so doesn't have all the "features" but I have turned off all the ones I can. One thing I do like is the hill start, where the motor revs up as you let out the clutch from a stand still. I can turn off the "auto stop start" at traffic lights but I have to do it every time I start the car (it comes on every start).
Cheers

[Greybeard]

I'm told that all new vehicles, in Europe anyway, have to have all these 'Safety Features' to get approval.

[Minto]

GB all of the newer trucks that I drive at work have adaptive cruise control and it is a total pain in the rear, it means you have to pull out of lane way too early in order to overtake, quite often you loose all your revs on steep hills because you come into proximity with a slower vehicle in front. You can on ours adjust it to lessen the proximity or turn it off completely but I'm told that if you turn it off and are involved in an accident you're buggered legally.
The worst thing about it is when you're travelling on motorways at an acceptable distance from the vehicle in front (about 5 car lengths) other drivers see the gap and dive in, activating the ACC and the truck slams on the anchors and everyone behind you slams on theirs causing the concertina effect resulting in stationary traffic somewhere behind you.
Not the best of vehicular transport development.

[Joolstacho]

I'd just sell the thing and get a 'sane' car... something about 20 years old.
If you select right you'll get all the REAL advantages of a modern car (mine's a MY 2000 Saab 9-3) great dynamics and power but none of that over-the-top crap.

[Black Sheep]

Can't see any advantage of cruise control on UK roads. So many bikes have cruise control now. Perhaps fine for US Freeways. However, ABS has to be a good thing and I'm in favour of anti collision auto braking. So many distracted drivers drive at speed into the rear of stationary vehicles.
A lot of the gimmicks are to assist older drivers who struggle to look behind them (auto parking) or are just dozy - lane wander warnings, blind spot warnings.
It's all in the name of safety.
My 1951 Land Rover has none of these things, not even an interior light or door locks. However, this is a vehicle that you wouldn't want to drive above 45 mph for any length of time so rather less chance of high speed crashes.

[Greybeard]

GB all of the newer trucks that I drive at work have adaptive cruise control and it is a total pain in the rear, it means you have to pull out of lane way too early in order to overtake, quite often you loose all your revs on steep hills because you come into proximity with a slower vehicle in front. You can on ours adjust it to lessen the proximity or turn it off completely but I'm told that if you turn it off and are involved in an accident you're buggered legally.
The worst thing about it is when you're travelling on motorways at an acceptable distance from the vehicle in front (about 5 car lengths) other drivers see the gap and dive in, activating the ACC and the truck slams on the anchors and everyone behind you slams on theirs causing the concertina effect resulting in stationary traffic somewhere behind you.
Not the best of vehicular transport development.

Flippin heck, you don't need that! 😳

[Bsareg]

The thing I hate on modern car is push button for everything. Mine has 'climate control ', with digital readout so not only am I hammering at the buttons but also taking my eyes of the road to see what I've done. My old Consul had two levers that achieved the same result, hot and cold, demist or cabin.

[BagONails]

It all started to go wrong when they stopped putting lead in petrol and did away with chrome bumpers, quarterlight windows and white wall tyres!

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
While I agree with most of you about too much "tech", a couple of things I do like are
Automatic wipers, parking sensors/ reversing cameras and cruise control comes in handy when we travel by motorway to see family 190 miles away.
My hates are electronic hand brakes and keyless entry/ ignition

John

[Black Sheep]

It's the touch screen for everything that I consider dangerous. As mentioned above, you have to take your eyes off the road to adjust anything. Didn't have to do that with plain knobs and levers. No wonder lane drift warnings and auto braking have been introduced.

[RDfella]

Another thing - when these modern cars are over 10yrs old and parts are no longer available, how do you repair, for example, a digital dashboard? These electronics are invariably un-fixable. Not so with levers / knobs and analogue.
Modern to me usually means less user-friendly. Take my boat's autopilot: Had a Cetrek unit for 40 yrs. Got so it was becoming unreliable, so bought a modern Garmin unit. The Cetrek - I could adjust amount of rudder, standing helm, sensitivity etc simply by turning the appropriate knob. The Garmin? It's all computerised. There are only a few push buttons. There is no standing helm facility, and if I want to alter sensitivity, rudder etc I have to switch it off, go into administration and adjust figures. Takes about five minutes. Then after switching back on, if it's still not right, rinse and repeat. And as sea conditions are hardly ever the same for two journeys, it's a nightmare. Progress? Don't think so.

[Greybeard]

The thing I hate on modern car is push button for everything. Mine has 'climate control ', with digital readout so not only am I hammering at the buttons but also taking my eyes of the road to see what I've done. My old Consul had two levers that achieved the same result, hot and cold, demist or cabin.

👍
I also had a Ford Consul; a MK2 Highline when I was in my 20's. The car had a full width bench seat in the front. A column gear change meant three people could sit across the front seat. The car had three gears. First to move off, 3rd for cruising and everything else was in second; in town it was almost like driving an automatic.
What about the vacuum operated windscreen wipers that stopped if you put your foot right down? 😁

[Joolstacho]

Mate Fordy had one of those, and he used to polish the seat on the left hand side so that the babe he was carrying would slide over to him on hard left-handers.