It turns out that more technology in cars isn’t necessarily something customers want, and it’s not really improving their driving experience. We know my thoughts on the matter, but I’ll do my best to stay impartial on this latest survey from JD Power that shows most customers don’t appreciate technology in cars unless they can see a clear benefit to them.

JD Power’s 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study evaluated over 81,000 drivers’ experience with “advanced vehicle technologies” in 2024 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, It turned out to be a pretty mixed bag when it came to what people liked using. There are a number of tech features that customers like using because they feels that it answers their needs, but at the same time there is a whole lot that don’t get used very often or are continually annoying, according to the survey.

  • @PrettyFlyForAFatGuy@feddit.uk
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    11 months ago

    I wish my stereo system in my RX 450h were easily swappable. i haven’t had a swappable stereo in a car since my 2005 suzuki wagon

    • @rekorse@lemmy.world
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      311 months ago

      I have one in my 2017 Mitsubishi mirage! Its a manual too! I love it, looks like its from the 90s.

      • Joelk111
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        11 months ago

        I’d genuinely buy one of those, but they’re just too expensive still. I’ll just buy a car from the 90s for a fraction of the price.

  • @IamSparticles@lemmy.zip
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    511 months ago

    I think I got my car at the right time… it has Android Auto and a few automated features that I really appreciate, like auto headlights, pushbutton start, and adaptive cruise control. I can control some functions via an app on my phone, like remote unlock and remote start, which has come in very handy on several occasions. But it still has physical controls for all the commonly used and critical functions. It doesn’t have a huge glass panel taking up most of the dashboard.

    The one and only feature that really truly annoys me sometimes is the reverse automatic braking. It uses sensors on the back of the car, and if I have my hitch-mount bike rack in place it freaks out. I can disable it, but only until the next time I start the car, and every time I have to hold down a software button on the touch screen for 3 seconds. While I’m trying to back up. There should really be a physical toggle button for that.

  • @chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
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    1211 months ago

    A backup camera and an Android Auto/Apple CarPlay head unit radio that sounds decent. That’s all I want in a car for “tech” that isn’t a safety feature. Everything else can go.

    • enkers
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      11 months ago

      Yeah, when I drive other people’s newer cars, the only thing I miss going back to my early 2000s model is the backup camera.

      I’ve got a magnetic clip for my phone on the dash, and a 3rd party Bluetooth > FM converter and it makes for a perfect gps and audio solution.

  • Midnight Wolf
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    411 months ago

    People who suck at tech are upset that they are being proven to suck at tech

    ftfy

  • @barsquid@lemmy.world
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    8111 months ago

    We need some serious federal regulation against bullshit in vehicles.

    Every function that is normal to use while in motion needs a physical button.

    Absolutely no fucking spyware reporting back to the manufacturer.

    • @skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      411 months ago

      Most of the bullshit exists because of federal regulations requirements that they ran away with. Even backup cameras (which are arguably useful) because of shape/size/economy restrictions causing rear windows to be less easy to see out of.

      • @Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Backup camera was mandated because of stronger pillar requirements to increase protection in rollovers, which was mandated because of an increase in rollover crashes, which was caused by an increase in SUV and Truck sales, which was caused by an increase in consumer demand for trucks and SUVs, which was caused by an increase in marketing for Trucks and SUVs which was caused by decrease in (relative) profit margin on sedans/coupes/wagons which was caused by the light truck loophole in CAFE standards, which was put in by manufacturers in the first place.

        So I blame the corporations, their lobbyists, and the payroll politicians for it.

        Backup cams are great though, quit complaining.

    • @tal@lemmy.today
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      11 months ago

      I don’t want to ban it. Some people apparently want it (well, or at least the price reduction that comes with the auto companies having a new revenue source). I’m hesitant to try to impose my preferences on them.

      I just want an option to pay regular price for a car myself and not have everything I do be data-mined. If it costs $N to pay your costs and make your profit, just charge me $N. I just want to be the customer in the relationship, not the product.

      They operated just fine like that for decades. I don’t see a need for that to change.

      • JustEnoughDucks
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        211 months ago

        It’s funny, because there actually is 0 price reduction in most cases.

        It is literally even more expensive cars and the corporations double dipping to make extra profit.

        Except for maybe some lesser-known Chinese brands that I have no point of reference for, I don’t believe there is a single corporation that has made their “smart” cars with tracking on-par or cheaper than their counterparts.

      • @draughtcyclist@lemmy.world
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        2511 months ago

        If the backdoor exists, it will be abused.

        Also, that relies wholely on trusting the manufacturers to not mine your data when they have the ability to collect it.

        • @tal@lemmy.today
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          311 months ago

          If the way you want the market to work is “everyone does things the way I want” rather than “let everyone choose what they want”, the chance that the single route that is taken is not what you want is considerably greater.

          Choice is good.

          • @9bananas@lemmy.world
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            111 months ago

            you don’t have a choice when it comes to data collection:

            if it’s allowed literally every manufacturer WILL do it!

            see: the exact situation we’re currently in!!

            so, no, you don’t have a choice (other than buying an older model).

            this isn’t how “the market” does anything.

            there’s no downside to outlawing spyware in cars.

            and it hasn’t made anything cheaper, what the hell kind of cope is that??

  • @Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    No one hates the tech in their cars, ABS is universally loved. What people hate is tech working not in tandem but against them

  • @BarbecueCowboy@lemmy.world
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    111 months ago

    Mine has a clock and an FM radio but mostly just loads Android Auto, it also has a physical volume knob.

    Any attempts I’ve seen to deviate in any way from this solution have resulted in a worse experience.

  • Scott
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    10911 months ago

    Peak technology enjoyment in a car includes

    • multiple zone ac
    • heated/ventilated seats
    • real buttons and not FUCKING CAPACITIVE TOUCH
    • android auto/apple car play
    • @tal@lemmy.today
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      11 months ago

      I’d rather just have a standard size bank up front, like, 3DIN, and choose my own “car computer”. Have security locking support, guarantee certain power supply, impact, and temperature conditions. And then open up the “car console” market.

      And let me be able to upgrade it five or ten years down the road.

      If they want to provide a standard first-party center panel offering, fine. But computers and phones have a shorter life than do cars, and I don’t want to be locked into ancient or badly-chosen controls and computers. This “car is a big cell phone” thing is just godawful from a consumer standpoint.

    • @Zahille7@lemmy.world
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      2311 months ago

      I’ve been driving spoiled with Lane Keep Assist. I’d like to continue to keep that as a thing in all cars.

      Also, I used a Ford Escape as a rental this weekend, and holy shit I hate having to wait for the startup animation to complete so I can finally mess with the A/C and have it going on full blast after sitting in the hot sun all day. My Santa Cruz has actual buttons for all the climate control stuff and I had no idea I’d miss it so much until now.

      • @skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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        1211 months ago

        Lane keep assist is annoying AF when you live in a place where you’re required by law to cross the double yellow when going around bicycles. You get in a steering wheel fight with the car until you find the menu to temporarily disable it. After next stop-start cycle mid-errand, it’s on again by default thanks to US law.

      • @SSJMarx@lemm.ee
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        411 months ago

        lane keeping and radar cruise control are pretty great driving aids, I gotta admit.

        • @Pavidus@lemmy.world
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          211 months ago

          I’m fine with adaptive cruise, however, I would also like to be able to turn it off quickly and easily if the situation calls for it.

          • @vithigar@lemmy.ca
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            1011 months ago

            Tapping the brakes has immediately turned off cruise control in every vehicle I’ve ever driven.

            • @Pavidus@lemmy.world
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              311 months ago

              I was referring specifically to the adaptive part, and going back to dumb cruise. I wasn’t clear, my apologies.

              • @vithigar@lemmy.ca
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                311 months ago

                Can you explain a scenario where that would be necessary? Given that adaptive cruise slows you down below your target speed to follow traffic all I can see that doing is either nothing on an open road, or accelerating you into the vehicle in front of you.

            • @Pavidus@lemmy.world
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              311 months ago

              I replied to another comment on this as well. I wasn’t very clear with what I meant, my apologies. I was referring to turning the adaptive part off, and going back to just regular old cruise control.

      • dream_weasel
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        111 months ago

        I have to say I prefer launching climate control from my phone before I ever get in the car. And also I’d rather have the cabin try to keep a temperature automatically instead of forcing me to dick with the temp of the blowing air.

    • @Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4211 months ago

      There’s some other minor tech that’s fairly nice that I haven’t seen in cheaper cars. Lights under the door to light up the ground on dark nights for when you’re getting out. Just solid utilitarian tech right there.

      • @MeatsOfRage@lemmy.world
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        1011 months ago

        My single piece of favorite car tech is the cruise control that follows the cars ahead of you and brakes when necessary. I barely use my feet for driving anymore.

        • @papabobolious@feddit.nu
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          411 months ago

          I am entirely the opposite. I think cruise just makes driving less engaging and more boring.

          Ideally I want everything to be manual, I even control every individual wiper swipe a lot of times if I am just driving along on a highway. Less boring, more engaging. Means I am more attentative on the road.

          I do however understand I am a minority.

            • @papabobolious@feddit.nu
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              311 months ago

              I don’t know what is considered a long trip for you but to me it’s 6 hours plus, which I deal with no problems. I just think it makes driving more boring when there’s less stuff to be in control of.

              I live far away from my family and my wifes family so we drive a lot of 6-12 hour drives and I always drive the full stint. Doesn’t bother me but I am not everyone.

    • @GroundedGator@lemmy.world
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      1211 months ago

      How about the unnecessary tech that just shouldn’t be allowed.

      • Doors that are not primarily manual to open or unlock.
      • Touchscreen of any type. I’m okay with capacitive touch buttons but they should be in a fixed location and physically distinguishable from other surfaces.
      • Electronic e-brake
      • Replacement of any of the main driving functions with anything that is not physical and tactile (turn signals, windshield wipers, headlights)

      At least in the US I feel like technology has leapfrogged regulation.

      • @buzz86us@lemmy.world
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        411 months ago

        Electronic doors can just fuck right off… Just another thing to break… I’d even go so far to say motorized windows these are great until the motor dies and you can’t shut the window.

        • @9bananas@lemmy.world
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          111 months ago

          I’ve seen waaay more manual handles break than electric windows…but that might be somewhat biased by the sheer age of most of the cars with manual windows…still, rarely ever even heard of an electric one breaking…is that common where you live?

      • @vithigar@lemmy.ca
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        911 months ago

        Touchscreen of any type

        I think a touchscreen is fine as long as real buttons exist for things a driver might want to manipulate while driving. My Outlander has a fairly large touchscreen that offers media and navigation control, but everything else (climate, drive modes, cruise control/drive assists, windows, locks, etc) is real buttons and dials, and there are also an extra set of basic media controls on physical buttons as well (volume, next/prev track, tuning).

        I’m quite happy with that. And the passenger still gets all the touchscreen bells and whistles if they want to explore the map or set up playlists or whatever.

      • Boomer Humor Doomergod
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        11 months ago

        Electronic e-brake

        I hate electronic e-brakes. How am I supposed to impress women with handbrake turns without a hand brake?

        • @9bananas@lemmy.world
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          111 months ago

          i absolutely love it when it’s paired with manual transmission and an auto-break function:

          when you stop, for example at a red light, and press the break while standing still for a bit, it goes into auto-break mode.

          when you then release the clutch while in gear (neutral gets ignored), it automatically releases the hand break, so you can perform a hand break assisted start from standstill without having to touch the actual hand break!

          this is excellent when you’ve stopped at an incline, and generally really useful!

          but i get the skepticism…i was extremely skeptical at first too, but you get used to it quickly and then it feels weird when it’s missing or turned off in another car… there’s just no reason not to use this feature it’s simply great!

        • @GroundedGator@lemmy.world
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          111 months ago

          I just use it for parking. And I like having a physical parking brake. I don’t trust the function of it when it’s just a button.

      • @tal@lemmy.today
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        11 months ago

        I’d say that that kind of imposes a size restriction, but honestly, the crossovers that everyone seems to buy are about the same size as those these days anyway.

      • Scott
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        311 months ago

        Can’t say that I would buy a minivan, because I hate them.

        But my car (Hyundai Azera) has all physical AC buttons and it’s great. But it shows the temp on the touchscreen which is unfortunately kinda fundamental to this car from what I’ve found.

        One of the reasons I mentioned android auto, I just have a AAwireless adapter right now, had a Motorola M1 which died. But that is basically all I need other than a charger which I have a 100w type c for that.

        Sorry kinda rambled for a bit

    • @Asidonhopo@lemmy.world
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      611 months ago

      My current ride is peak technology imho:

      • Crank windows
      • Cold, manually adjustable seats
      • 5 speed transmission
      • Knobs and levers, minimal buttons
      • MSRP under $10k–
    • @Steve@communick.news
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      11 months ago

      After having used both Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
      I really prefer having a good phone mount, that puts my phone in a glance-able place near the wheel.
      That, and quality Bluetooth Audio.

    • @SuperSpruce@lemmy.zip
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      1411 months ago

      Nobody is mentioning heads-up displays? That’s peak tech. The info is right there without having to move your eyes off the road.

      • @9bananas@lemmy.world
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        211 months ago

        because barely anyone even knows about HUDs, since there are barely any vehicles in the “won’t cost you both kidneys” price segment with HUDs in them…

        …but yes, they really should be in every car. it’s just a no-brainer for safety, for the exact reason you said: simply having your speed right in your field of view alone is worth it!

  • @RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    4411 months ago

    I don’t hate tech in my car.

    I hate unnecessary, poorly designed tech in my car.

    Current tech design unnecessarily complicates and obscures what should be simple and easily accessible functions. That’s more than just irritating, it’s dangerous.

      • dream_weasel
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        211 months ago

        I guess I’ll be alone in saying I don’t want a bmw cockpit with a button for every feature of the vehicle.

        I like the rocking, turning console selection wheel Audi does, and I like the two wheels that also click forward and back on the steering wheel that Tesla does (and also gear stalks with buttons on the end). The only other thing that should maybe be a knob or button is climate temp or blower speed, but that is nicer when it’s adaptive like a thermostat.

        Minimal interface for me please, just don’t force me to touch navigate the touch screen while I’m driving.

      • @NormalPerson@lemmy.world
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        611 months ago

        Yeah, let me keep my eyes on the road. I’m not a huge fan of mini coops, but the dash setup of the ones I’ve driven are my favorite. They’ve got unique toggles and knobs, made it easy for me to memorize functions without having to give it any thought

  • @MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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    3511 months ago

    As a driver, all I really want is good music, good navigation, and easy access to all my controls.

    I don’t want to have to go into submenus to change my temp settings, or open the trunk.

    IMO, a vehicle should be a fairly simple tool to operate. All of the nuances with driving should be how you use those controls to get to where you’re going. Even with the (frankly, impressive) self driving tech we currently have, I still don’t think it’s ready to replace a driver at the wheel; bluntly, that’s the only tech I really want in a car.

    Automatic options for fairly standard functions, such as turning on your headlights at night, shutting off the highbeams when there’s oncoming vehicles, and even automatic windshield wipers, can make things easier. Which I appreciate. I can override all of these systems, which is good. The advent of climate controls rather than “how hot” and “how cold” you want your blower to be and at what speed, is also nice. Even driving assist, like automatic lane keeping and adaptive cruise control is a nice-to-have. But these are all augmentations of systems and they’re pretty transparent to the driver. If you don’t want to use them, you can easily ignore or override the systems and do it yourself.

    What I don’t appreciate is all the infotainment garbage. I can literally play games on the touch screen of my partners 2019 accord. I tried it out and bluntly, it’s not comfortable, it only works when the car isn’t moving, and I’m not going to sit in my car to play games. That’s dumb. I kind of get it for EVs for when they’re charging, but honestly, I can have a better experience on my phone/tablet.

    I don’t need weather, I don’t need a touch screen, and I don’t need whatever garbage GPS system you were paid to sell with the car.

    Give me Android auto/some carplay, with maybe FM as a backup in case of emergency, and I’m good. My phone already has data, my car doesn’t need LTE. Give me buttons to press for all climate and driving functions and I’m a happy person.

    I don’t want to navigate some menu to try to turn on my defogger. Fuck off.

    Driving tech should be transparent to anyone who doesn’t give a shit, and just wants to drive down the road.

    • @skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      My phone already has data, my car doesn’t need LTE.

      Actually that’s one arena of technology that should have taken a different course. Auto manufacturers should have an upgradable modem module that you can swap out with the latest “G” (as the modules are already self-contained) and the car should have antennae that cover as wide swath of the RF spectrum as possible. Cars are Faraday Cages. Cellular reception on a tiny little rectangle phone in your center console won’t ever be as good as a dedicated modem and antenna. Also, the car’s dedicated modem can transmit at higher power levels (up to 3 watts, vs a couple hundred milliwatts) so you’ll get cellular reception in places your phone will just say no service. It also moves the higher-powered RF outside the car with the Faraday Cage shielding the human, for those that are concerned about such things. (Also, also, phones have to limit their total RF output to the sum of the current transmission rate of the radios, so when you’re doing Bluetooth + cellular, the cellular modem won’t be allowed to transmit at its maximum power level, further reducing range.)

      Bonus points, there has literally been a Bluetooth SIM profile in existence for decades, although very few car modem have ever been designed to support it. This means, if this was implemented as standard, when the phone pairs with the car, the car inherits the cellular account of the phone while the car is turned on. So you’re not paying for two cell bills, you get better reception, same phone number, better data speeds, better voice calling, etc. The phone also has supremely better battery life because it doesn’t have to be constantly screaming at cell towers.

      Of course, automakers and cell carriers would never implement these things that already exist because they’d eat into their precious profit margins.

      • @Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
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        1511 months ago

        Personally, I don’t want my car to have any connectivity options because car makers have already proven they are just going to abuse it to sell your data.

      • @MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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        511 months ago

        At most, they’re very bad Faraday cages.

        The vast majority of LTE bands are below 2600mhz, around 10 cm wavelength, which usually doesn’t have any issue penetrating glass, and suffers very little degradation from the metal in the body of the car.

        Aluminum materials, which are not uncommon for body panels, and other automotive components due to its light weight and relatively low cost, is non-ferrous and won’t impact signal strength any more than glass will…

        The Iron/steel in the vehicle, usually in the frame/engine, are the primary issues with regards to signal blocking. That’s what microwaves make their Faraday cage from for good reason.

        Many wireless providers also have sub 1ghz channels which are harder to block, they’re generally slower for bandwidth, but that’s another matter entirely.

        Most of the dashboard is made of plastics and other non-ferrous materials, but it’s littered with devices, supports, and wires that can impact signal integrity. These are usually fairly sparce and don’t generate a lot of interference. Since the dashboard is directly adjacent to the windshield and driver/passenger windows, signal is more or less unimpeded in the desirable directions (horizontal, mainly). Unless you’re putting your phone on the floor of your vehicle, you’re generally okay for signal, as it passes through the majority of the dashboard, around components in the dashboard, and through the glass relatively unimpeded.

        The exception to this is that some manufacturers seem to think it’s a good idea to put materials in their safety glass that impede RF. God knows why. It might be a biproduct of a coating that is there for a different reason, but it’s not great. That’s when you need a fairly simple LTE repeater.

        Which brings me to my point. You can forego the complex and unsupported LTE SIM over Bluetooth stuff by simply putting a relatively low power LTE repeater from a good signal location, such as the roof of the vehicle, to a bad signal location, such as the middle of the cabin it can literally be built into the overhead cabin light. Resolving the issues you’ve stated, without providing any data access to the vehicle itself. Such an add-on would be a small increase in cost, as such units can retail anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, but as that cost would replace the built in modem most people never wanted to begin with, the addition may actually make the whole car cheaper… With little more than Apple carplay/Android auto, to replace all the functionality they’ll lose by removing the cars data connection.

        It’s a very silly and pointless argument overall, because vehicle manufacturers will not be removing the LTE modems from their vehicles, since that allows them to remotely gather your data, which they can sell. That increases profits and that’s what they care about. So they’re never going to listen to us regardless… As long as someone is buying their wiretap vehicles and basically handing them free money in the form of your personal data, they’re going to keep doing it.

    • @tal@lemmy.today
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      411 months ago

      That is going to break at some point.

      I mean, I get the sentiment, but that is just not going to be a realistic long-term solution for “people are not happy with changes in newer vehicles”.

    • cum
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      311 months ago

      I feel the same with my '02 Subaru Outback and I’m still under 200k!

      • @matilija@lemmy.world
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        211 months ago

        I used to have one of those and loved it but 3 head gasket replacements was too many and it was time to move on. Good luck with yours!

        • cum
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          111 months ago

          How many miles were you at? I’ve only had to replace them once. Had the car for about 6 years now and got it for a flat $5k in great condition. The thing still runs as great as the day I got it. Although I did upgrade it with a new stereo but I keep the stock speakers, which are actually amazing and on par with anything modern imo. Though the stereo install was messy and botched because the person had no idea what they were doing (me). I need to do some small little cosmetic fixes on it though, but it’s mostly small wear and tear stuff from use over the years.

          • @matilija@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            I had a model year 2002 as well, and it went through head gaskets pretty reliably every 30-35k miles. The failure mode wasn’t catastrophic damage every time, but it wasn’t pretty. I think exhaust gases would start getting into the coolant especially when the engine got hot, so I’d be maybe going uphill and notice the temperature spiking. Then I could pull off to the side of the freeway and wait for 30 minutes, start out again and drive home slowly.

            Subaru admitted a gasket design fault for something like model years 1998 through 2000, but claimed for a while that everything was fine in 2001 and 2002, jerking me around and generally being awful.

            It’s too bad. It was my second car and I was excited for the reputation of reliability and capability of Subaru, but it left such a sour taste in my mouth that I’ll never buy one again.

  • Transporter Room 3
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    11 months ago

    The only tech I want:

    AC

    Heated seats

    Bluetooth/am/fm/aux sound system with good high and low ranges, but honestly as long as I have a diagram of what wires go where I can install my own like I did on my last two.

    A backup camera for those times when I need to line up my trailer hitch but don’t have a partner to guide me.

    Beyond that?

    Meh.

    • cum
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      111 months ago

      GPS is really the only extra thing I think is crucial but yeah

    • @Emerald@lemmy.world
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      111 months ago

      good high and low ranges

      Honestly I never understood why people care much about the quality of their car audio system. If you’re driving then you aren’t paying much attention to the music anyways

      • Transporter Room 3
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        111 months ago

        Well, when you drive almost 100 miles to get to work, it’s nice to have an hour and a half of good quality music instead of silence or low-fidelity tinny shit.

        Also the passengers in my vehicle appreciate music since they don’t have to focus on anything else.

        Plus, you know… All the times I’ve been in my car without driving somewhere…

  • @Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I recently had to drive my parents’ new Volva XC40 and that thing is one of the most overengineered vehicles I’ve ever ridden in.

    • The lane assist is kinda great while driving because if you drift a little it helps keep you in your lane. But I found myself literal fighting against the wheel whenever I was genuinely changing lanes, on a lane-ending merge, but more importantly trying to not get sideswiped when a semi drifts into my lane.

    • Instead of traditional shifter, or even shift buttons like my '14 MKZ, this thing has a 3-position shifter knob to go between R-N-D, a separate long-press button to simply put it into park (and by long press, I genuinely have to verify on the dash it’s is park because I almost jump a parking block more than once since I didn’t press long/hard enough) and a separate little knob in the center console whose sole purpose is to turn the car on and off.

    • The electric child-lock is a nice little button mixed in with the window controls on the driver door arm rest…which both myself and my parents have accidentally engaged on a number of occasions by resting our arms on the arm rest.

    Aside from that, even in my car I outright HATE the auto environmental controls where you have to set an internal temperature and when the temp reaches that it changes the air to maintain. So if it’s a blazing GA summer, and i set the thermo at 69 (nice) once the internal temp reaches 69 it starts blasting not-cold air.

    While the lane assist and adaptive cruise control can help a little on those long trips, I genuinely dislike them because I believe it actively encourages the driver to not pay attention to driving.

    • @tal@lemmy.today
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      211 months ago

      The lane assist is kinda great while driving because if you drift a little it helps keep you in your lane. But I found myself literal fighting against the wheel whenever I was genuinely changing lanes, on a lane-ending merge, but more importantly trying to not get sideswiped when a semi drifts into my lane.

      Hmm. Do they have a thumb button or something you can hold down to quickly and easily override it?