New car rants

[DaveSims]

I've come to notice you can't buy a new plain car.  

Almost all new cars are filled with all kinds of complicated stuff that the driver no longer controls.  Headlights come on automatically, or sometimes are always on when driving.  Interior lights come on before you even open the door, then turn off after you leave.  Radios stay on after you turn the engine off, then shut off when you get out.

Whatever happened to the basic car.  One that the interior light only comes on when the door is open, or is switched on.  One that you have 100% control of the headlights.  

Ok I'm done ranting, I just don't understand why manufacturers find it necessary to complicate cars over such needless items.

[Craig.]

So they can up the price but hide the fact that its still a crap product with a few gadgets. While using those gadgets to confuse the customer so much that they are just happy to sign the paperwork.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

Much of that stuff is controlled through relays. Find those relays-problem solved.(or just wait for the fancy gizmo to go toes up)  ;D

[expat]

Much of that stuff is controlled through relays. Find those relays-problem solved.(or just wait for the fancy gizmo to go toes up)  ;D

They are all controlled by a bus bar that send a nice digital signal to a central PCB. When that goes tits up, to buy a new one is almost the cost of the car again. Fly by wire, now we have drive by wire.

Matt

[MWISimmer]

They're not all useless.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

They are all controlled by a bus bar that send a nice digital signal to a central PCB. When that goes tits up, to buy a new one is almost the cost of the car again........
Matt

Not in my many experiences.  ;) Example: Daytime driving lamps are controlled through a relay. When the ignition side of the relay is energized the lamps are turned on. Removal of said relay kills daytime lamps but leaves normal lamp modes operational.

[Triple_7]

Part of it is so that every time something little goes wrong you have to take it back to the dealer to get it fixed...just more money in their pockets :-/  New vehicals have became so complicated that its hard to even do routine maintenance on them.  My friend just bought an 04 Silverado, nice truck but way to many computerized things and sensors.  Part of it makes an engine thats normaly quite spacious become so compact that you need very small hands or special tools to even work on them.

I'm looking for a new truck...but new to me is going to be nothing past a 99 Silverado or Sierra.  I like to be able to work on my own vehical insted of having to take it to a shop everytime it needs a simple tuneup.  Newest thing I've owned was a 92 F150.  So much easier to do major repairs on then the new trucks that you have to have some computer reset everytime you change a part  Who really needs sensors to tell them everytime something little goes out.  To many times its the sensor malfunctioning insted of the problem it tells you.

Theres new cars that can litteraly parallel park themselves...honestly...if you cant parallel park then you probably shouldnt be on the road  Plus...what if that little self parking feature goes haywire...hope you have REALLY good insurence

Basically...dont give me anything newer then a 99 and ill be happy.  I'de rather put 500,000+ miles on something old and fix it when need be then get a newer vehical I cant even work on myself.  Sales people hate me when they cant talk me into their new line of crap

[Mushroom_Farmer]

I have a nice hand held IBM-based computer.

[Ivan]

[quote]I've come to notice you can't buy a new plain car.

[TSC.]

The ones that make me laugh are the 'hugely expensive to replace' wing mirrors with indicators built in (eg: Mercedes) - it's like somebody at the manufacturer said 'Whats likely to be broken off REALLY easily?'

'Wing mirrors you say? - lets stuff 'em full of expensive things that look useful'

No thanks, I've got 6 indicators on my car, I don't need anymore putting where people can knock them off whilst driving past me.



TSC.

[MWISimmer]

..I've got 6 indicators on my car..

One for left, one for right, and one each for forward, backwards, up and down..  ;D  ;)

[Craig.]

The first two I can understand, but I have two middle fingers for all other directions.

[beaky]

They are all controlled by a bus bar that send a nice digital signal to a central PCB. When that goes tits up, to buy a new one is almost the cost of the car again........
Matt

Not in my many experiences.  ;) Example: Daytime driving lamps are controlled through a relay. When the ignition side of the relay is energized the lamps are turned on. Removal of said relay kills daytime lamps but leaves normal lamp modes operational.

The daytime-running-light circuit on my '96 Tracker has a switch built into the handbrake mechanism for some reason...easy to undo, although I have to restore it for inspections.

[elite marksman]

The automatic headlights on my '00 Grand Am are tied into the handbrake too. If I turn the car on at night, the lights stay off, but as soon as I drop the brake handle, they come on. Not sure why they would do that, I would prefer to have the lights come on immediately so I can have light while I arrange whatever I need to put in my car before I move.

[ATI_7500]

In my dad's Passat, the lights go on as soon as he unlocks the doors via the remote control.

Talk about details...the automatic hand brake is nice 'though. Kicks in when standing and kicks out as soon as the car starts moving.