So just took a hire car back, it had a speed limiter i could set, cruise control, umpteen different setings for the radio and sat nav,electric windows,mirrors,traction control,automatic air con,keyless start and opening of doors, just a plastic card,fancy interior light ideal for dogging sessions,various strange buttons to press could find out what they did,and lots more toys to play with.
As a cyclist im sharing the road with idiots who are going to play with all these things on the open road ,instead of in the safety of a forest car park.
Do motorists really need all this added tosh.
If it's got pump up tyres & see through glass I'm happy 😉
fancy interior light ideal for dogging sessions
Do tell more, try it out did ya's?
Even if you deny it, we won't believe you 😆
New car nightmare to many toys, fitted to the thing
Surely "spelling and grammar nightmare" would have been a better thread title..................
On opening the thread, I was expecting the OP to be asking for help with the Times Crossword and this was one of the cryptic clues.
Mind you, I agree with the sentiment of the OP(!)
Sat Nav = idiots not fumbling with maps, working out confusing directional signs instead of looking at the road.
Bluetooth for phone = idiots who would normally have the phone in their hand, now won't do.
Steering wheel controls = idiots not looking down at the stereo to change channels
Auto air con = idiots being less irritable because they are nice and cool
Fancy dogging lights = idiots being able to carry out their duties in said forestry car park, rather than getting noshed off at 90mph on the motorway
Win
How many of those things would you [i]actually [/i]play with on the road? Keyless start? Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph? I know I'm not.
It sounds like you are really struggling for something to moan about if that the best you can come up with.
[i] Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph? I know I'm not.
[/i]
Jeez, get with it Grandad.
I know what you mean OP
I was driving a car the other day and everytime I put my iPad on the iPad rest infront of me, the horn went off!!! What a silly feature!
Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph?
I do get urges sometimes. You know, to press the engine 'Start/Stop' button or the electronic handbrake whilst thundering down the motorway at 85mph, just to see what would happen....
You know, to press the engine 'Start/Stop' button or the electronic handbrake whilst thundering down the motorway at 85mph, just to see what would happen....
Nothing.
The electronic handbarake WILL work at 85. It has to as an emergency brake of last resort.
Nothing.
... and that was the last time we heard from Johndoe.
The electronic handbarake WILL work at 85. It has to as an emergency brake of last resort.
I've never tried at any speed, but I know mine still works if you're a bit eager on it and haven't fully stopped.
it even had tyre pressure displayed on the dash on starting the thing.If it's got pump up tyres
Bluetooth for phone = idiots who would normally have the phone in their hand, now won't do
i dont own or want a blue tooth phone , somebody rings when im driving it doesnt get answered, but goes to ansaphone, and how do you write adresses down or details of work at 60mph
My old car had no toys at all so when I wanted to distract myself at 100mph, all I could play with was the seat adjusters. Do you have any idea how boring that gets?
electric windows,mirrors,traction control,automatic air con,keyless start and opening of doors, just a plastic card,fancy interior light ideal for dogging sessions
not sure you'd be playing with any of these when driving, and electric mirrors and windows, no different than manual, only difference is it's quicker and safer, so that's a good thing, no? air con, would you prefer no air con, and to get heat stroke on a hot day?
Cougar - Moderator
Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph?
I used to in my 1982 Mk1 Fiesta. 1.1L - what a beast!
If you went through tunnels or lanes sided by high walls, swithched the ignition to position 1, pumped the accelerator then switched back to position 2, you'd get a significant bang and flames out of the back box.
The new fiesta advert annoys me, receive text without getting your phone out lovely. Then what are 90% of idiots going to do? Respond to it presumably - by getting their phone out and tip tapping away. Some stuff will help prevent driver distraction but I reckon most in the long run will be just the same or increase it.
Howabout a feature that switches off your mobile while the engine is running? That'd be a cool one.
<edit>
got any links for number of people in UK who have gotten heat stroke while sat in their aircon-less car?and to get heat stroke on a hot day?
and how do you write adresses down or details of work at 60mph
Pen
&
Paper
Or
Crayon on the windscreen.. 🙄
C'mon, use your imagination 😆
If you went through tunnels or lanes sided by high walls, swithched the ignition to position 1, pumped the accelerator then switched back to position 2, you'd get a significant bang and flames out of the back box.
[makes mental note of this information]
[i]you'd get a significant bang and flames out of the back box.
[/i]
Phnaar, phnaar!
Cougar - Moderator
Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph?
No, but the Touran switched it's own turbo off at that speed on motorway a couple of times in the last month... 😯
My old car had no toys at all so when I wanted to distract myself at 100mph, all I could play with was the seat adjusters.
hang a rubiks cube from the rear view mirror
air con, would you prefer no air con, and to get heat stroke on a hot day?
Ah yes, I have fond memories of the summer of 76, suffering from heatstroke in the back of my Dads MKIII cortina. If only I had thought to wind down the window (with the handle).
The electronic handbarake WILL work at 85. It has to as an emergency brake of last resort.
It will engage, but then releases immediately, so it slows you down slightly but won't stop you. It's the same mechanism that automatically disengages the brake when you move off after being stationary with the brake applied.
There's no way you could use it as an emergency brake.
Ah yes, I have fond memories of the summer of 76, suffering from heatstroke in the back of my Dads MKIII cortina. If only I had thought to wind down the window (with the handle).
were you stuck to the vinyl seats?
Are you in the habit of switching your engine off at 70mph?
I used to have a Mondeo that had this apparently as an automatic feature. Going along 70 + on the motorway all the lights and dials would come on and then the engine and electrics would cut out.
Was quite uneventuful really.
As a cyclist im sharing the road with idiots who are going to play with all these things on the open road ,instead of in the safety of a forest car park.
au contraire, are you the idiot for not knowing that most cars come with these things, and most people know when its safe to use them, and how they make you safer....if you can not do more than one thing at once, should you be riding a bike 😆
It will engage, but then releases immediately, so it slows you down slightly but won't stop you. It's the same mechanism that automatically disengages the brake when you move off after being stationary with the brake applied.There's no way you could use it as an emergency brake.
It will engage and will slow the car down to a stop, the way it works can differ between manufacturers (i.e. you may have to hold it on) but it MUST be able to work as an emergency brake, by law!
Again depending on car but it will engage the ABS system to stop the car.
It will engage, but then releases immediately, so it slows you down slightly but won't stop you. It's the same mechanism that automatically disengages the brake when you move off after being stationary with the brake applied.There's no way you could use it as an emergency brake
So no handbrake turns in snowy car parks in my new motor then? Am dissapoint 😥
Was talking to someone recently who was testing software for "infotainment" systems in new cars. It's terrifying, what's just around the corner.
i dont own or want a blue tooth phone
I think we get to the heart of the issue right here.
OP belongs in the early-90s and is unsettled by any technology newer than his trusty [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_3210 ]Nokia 3210[/url].
FWIW I agree that distractions are bad mkay, but I think TAFKASTR is right in that most of the gadgets you describe actually prevent drivers from being distracted.
As above, proper handbrake to make the most of slippery car parks in the winter....
and how do you write adresses down or details of work at 60mph
Just type them into the phone the same way you would when sending an email or txt at 60mph. 😉
I used to in my 1982 Mk1 Fiesta. 1.1L - what a beast!
My first car, that, only 1977 flavoured.
D0NK - MemberThe new fiesta advert annoys me, receive text without getting your phone out lovely. Then what are 90% of idiots going to do? Respond to it presumably - by getting their phone out and tip tapping away.
Nope you can talk back to it to reply...... its really rather clever 😀
My phone does that via even the most primitive bluetooth kits. It is indeed awesome. You don't have to do anything - just say reply, and dictate to it.
It will engage and will slow the car down to a stop, the way it works can differ between manufacturers (i.e. you may have to hold it on) but it MUST be able to work as an emergency brake, by law!
The park button on my Prius is just a button, but fortunately it does not ram the peg into the transmission when travelling at speed 🙂 The actual handbrake is a traditional one though albeit foot operated.
There are far too many [s]toys[/s] [s]gadgets[/s] distractions in some cars .
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OP's car sounds like a Citroen. Don't worry half the electronic toys would be broken or intermittent after a few weeks, such as "you have a flat front offside tyre" warning light & alarm when the tyre is perfectly inflated.
Even the most basic of cars can have distractions...
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it MUST be able to work as an emergency brake, by law!
Sorry, what law is this are you referring to?
I've just tried to look this up. The relevant regulation seems to be The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. It says,
Braking systems of certain vehicles first used on or after 1st April 198315. (1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), the braking system of every wheeled vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table which is first used on or after 1st April 1983 shall comply with the construction, fitting, and performance requirements specified in Annexes I, II and VII to Community Directive 79/489, and if relevant, Annexes III, IV, V, VI and VIII to that Directive, in relation to the category of vehicles specified in that item in column 3.
... which gives us Community Directive 79/489. I can find a bunch of amendments to this directive, but not the directive itself. The snippets I've found talk about rolling tests a mechanical parking brake should be subjected to, but I can't find anything relating to a modern electronic brake. So I've drawn a blank I'm afraid.
What've you got? You seem very certain.
Howabout a feature that switches off your mobile while the engine is running? That'd be a cool one.
Bit of a bugger if, like me, it's your only satnav device and music source. (Other than 6Music).
FunkyDunc - MemberI used to have a Mondeo that had this apparently as an automatic feature. Going along 70 + on the motorway all the lights and dials would come on and then the engine and electrics would cut out.
My Focus did that sometimes- genius, if it got a fault code from the crank sensor it killed the engine. And the power steering, and the brake servo. Not that stressful in a straight line, not ideal on a windy road.
One of the reasons I went to a small VW LUPO TDi was it had limited gadgets, so it has electric windows x 2, ABS and 2 airbags, no aircon no Bluetooth no sat nav, no cruise control..and so on...............
it is a hoot to drive, fine on the motorways and feels like I am driving it not some computer......I smile everytime I drive it and more so when parked at work in the midst of Range rovers BMW Audis and other wonderful computers...............
in all honesty no we do need 70% of the gadgets 30% of the safety features yes.
2 airbags
Yeah.. all those stupid airbags, what useless toys.. 😯
in all honesty no we do need 70% of the gadgets
No, of course not, but I like extras on cars.
Auto-sensing wipers - handy in drizzle of varying intensity
Electric mirrors - extremely handy, don't have to stop to adjust the nearside
Electric windows - can open the passenger side from the driver if you want to talk to someone
Satnav - don't have to stop to consult a map
Bluetooth - don't have to stop to answer the phone
Media centre - lots of choice in music, don't have to stop to change CDs, have all your CDs in the car as well as at home/work etc
Heated seats - warm
Aircon - obviously extremely useful in hot weather but also when it's damp and humid
I really have no idea why you people are complaining, unless it's a helpless feeling of being left behind as everything you once knew becomes irrelevant and you feel you can't grasp the new world?
