ITT: Useless "features" in cars.
My Audi has dynamic noise compensation which adjusts the volume based on the speed the vehicle is going so you don't have to turn it up on motorways.
In practice what you get is your volume constantly rising and falling every 5 seconds.
Oh and it can't be turned off.
voice commands. i fucking hate voice commands
T-tops
Oh wait no those are actually dope as fuck
>>14972428
>backup beeper sensor
> seat memory absed off key that reajdusts to a neutral position when the key is not in
> syth engine sound
> traction control buttons that reactivate when the car loses traction
>>14972428
I've had several cars with this (some BMWs), on which this shit worked perfectly awesome. It's a really nice feature I appreciate.
>>14972469
It's a pointless feature you should be able to turn off.
Why the fuck would I want my music to be quieter when I'm slowing down? I'm the one that set the volume I know how fucking loud I want it to be.
Seen a car where the headlights will actually move up or down depending if you're on a hill or not. Maybe not useless but sure as fuck gonna be expensive to fix when it breaks
>>14972469
My focus has this. I've never noticed it adversely, though I also don't really notice it at all. It can also be turned off (5 settings I think, from no change to major change based on speed).
Maybe OP needs to stop boyracing and his volume won't change so abruptly. Or Audi is shit. Pick two.
>>14972428
you can't turn it off? that's fucking bullshit that would make me crazy
i don't like the window controls on my turck.. sometimes it'll just have the window go all the way up or down even if i just want it half way or whatever
I fucking hate start-stop system, and that function in some newer cars that turns off the ignition after 30 seconds of not "using" the car.
Also automatic wipers and lights annoy me to no end. I want to be in control, and I don't want to delegate more than necessary.
>>14972484
For the cars I had, it didn't change anything until highway speeds and up. Or, at the very least, not in noticeable increments.
But, going on the Autobahn, it's pretty nice to have constantly same radio level, even at 250kph wind and tire noise. Possibly broken in your Audi, I wouldn't know.
>>14972493
Agreed on the expensive to fix, but living in a hilly area I can say that in the rain at night I'd wish other people would have these.
>car oncoming over hill
>crests hill
>1000 SUNS
>not even bright lights, just lights pointing at your eyeballs
>>14972493
Not really that expensive, unless it is the headlight motor that breaks. In which case it can cost in excess of 1000 dollars on some VW models.
However the system itself is fairly simple. Just a potentiometer connected to the backaxle to see where the car is on the ground.
The worst part is needing access to a diagnostic interface in order to properly set the lights in proper position. Like say after you took the headlight out and in.
>>14972428
Fuck this shit
>Turn volume down to talk to passenger
>Volume turns itself up again
>electric parkbrake automatically engages if you open up the door while having the car in D or R
>car refusing to go in ready or drive mode unless you have it in P first
The last one I assume is something with the gearbox to make it last longer or whatever, but the first one is just pure pain.
>>14972508
I recently bought a used car with automatic headlights. It has an annoying message that pops up on a display and makes three beeps telling you that you have the auto headlights feature turned off
I just activated the auto headlight to make it a bit less annoying.
>>14972484
Cause engine noise makes it harder to hear as you accelerate? Sure youve got it at a nice cruising volume but once you slow down without the wind and engine noise youl perceive it as way too loud and constantly be fuckin with the volume knob
I have it and i like it. Its subtle in my car at least
Corvettes have that same feature
It's not a big deal
>>14972458
>Traction control buttons that reactivate when the car loses traction
So what's the fucking point of turning the traction control off?
>>14972428
xbox-huge touchscreens shoehorned into the dash, often combined with half-assed navigation and 800x480 resolution
from when I was learning to drive
>dad's shitbox
>stall
>I can just turn the key and get moving
>driving instructors car
>stall
>gear stick needs to be in neutral
>clutch needs to be fully depressed
>need to twist the key all the way backwards
>wait like two seconds
>then all the way forwards
it was a huge pain in the arse on roads with a load of traffic
>>14972575
You can't. On some newer cars that is
>>14972562
>but once you slow down without the wind and engine noise youl perceive it as way too loud and constantly be fuckin with the volume knob
I don't I just leave it loud.
>>14972581
>He doesn't like touchscreens
>>14972611
Give me knobs and switches any day. Can't stand these things.
>>14972611
>posts the shittiest HUD possible to try and backup his argument
>>14972428
Pushbutton start
>>14972703
This. Even shitboxes have it standard now. Such a waste of money
>>14972428
Cars from 1979 and earlier are starting to be more and more attractive to me every day when I see all these 'features' shoved into your face. I'd like a computer-less car with all manual controls, please.
>>14972428
Keyless starts.
I cannot fucking even begin to think of the thought process behind this design.
>"Let's have a key. Imagine if you could just carry it around and when you get to the car, it unlocks the doors automatically and you can just get in and push a button to turn it on. BRILLIANT"
>"But, sir. Wouldn't that make cars susceptible to remote break-ins and expensive key replacement?"
>"WHO FUCKING CARES ITS THE CURRENT YEAR"
>>14972748
More and more manufacturers are playing with the idea of a completely keyless car. Your cellphone will serve as the key, through an app service or something similar.
>>14972753
>Phone dies before you reach your car, which has your phone charger inside.
>>14972753
Jesus fucking christ thats a horrible idea.
I like the idea of smartphones that we essentially have something that will equal the power of a laptop in about 5 years or so - we can directly carry our shit to work, all our files, access blah blah, communicate and learn with them.
But what in the name of christ is the point of having your credit card and car keys in your phone when there are so much fucking retards everywhere that believe iOS 7 gave them the ability to wirelessly charge their phones by sticking that shit into the goddamn microwave. Even I have lost my wallet at one point. Literally just grabbed something out of my pocket and it fell - accidents happen.
Imagine this scenario when phones are literally made of glass and say an iPhone drops and it's screen gets fucked up or battery stops working.
HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO START THE CAR, NEVER MIND FUCKING GETTING IN THE GODDAMN CAR
Innovating for innovations sake is pure fucking cancer.
>>14972611
Is that supposed to look nice?
>>14972428
Hey faggot - you can turn it off nigger
What model do you drive?
for example i am able to switch the GALA (Geschwindigkeitsabhängige Lautstärkeanpassung in german) off in my A4 B8 8k via the mmi.
You are just a faggot who isn't able to do it, so take your audi to the next dealership and let them do it for you faggotmaster
>>14972790
>Innovating for innovations sake is pure fucking cancer.
This sums up so much of what goes on today that it hurts. Fuck.
>>14972826
>Saying all that shit
>Doesn't know Bose systems don't have GALA
>>14972428
GERMAN """"""ENGINEERING""""""""""
>his car has "features"
>>14972611
Is that a literal fucking ipad
And touchscreens are beyond awful for radio functions, you should know this.
>>14972437
why? useful for phone calls and nav.
>"automatic" headlights that don't turn on in fog or rain
>automatic wipers that go fucking batshit insane when there's a drop of water on the windshield
How do the people who use these not have the mental capacity to flip a switch themselves?
>>14972493
>tfw I negotiated a contract for these sensors at my last job :^)
makin ur car more expensive one component at a time
>>14973461
>take me home
>going to home depot
>no, take me to my house
>taking you to the art house
>take me to my place of residence
>I'm sorry, I didn't understand that
Just pull over and punch it into google maps if you don't know where you're going.
>>14972761
>Cars now have an exterior USB jack with cable storage
Good god imagine the damage you could do
>>14973404
>Old truck with bench seat
>Some kind of cloth or towel across the whole seat
Yup, looks about right.
>>14972611
Touchscreens and touch sensitive buttons are completely fucking retarded while driving.
We have a 2014 Fusion that has Touch Sensitive HVAC controls. When going down the highway, especially in shitty conditions like heavy rain, it's a complete pain in the ass to have to take my eyes off the road to press some buttons that drop tactile feedback simply for the sake of being 'modern'.
I'm no luddite, but touch sensitive buttons really are shit in a motor vehicle.
>>14972882
Why is Bose such shit?
>>14973486
I'm surprised more cars don't allow you to control HVAC with the steering wheel and gauge console display yet.
>>14973559
How about the solution we figured out decades ago?
>>14973569
>having to take your hands off the wheel
>having to move your head away from center position
it's inferior. functional, but inferior. I like it, I'm used to it, but it's not an end all be all design.
>>14973559
In the Fusion you can, using the screens in the dash and the steering wheel controls, but they're very limited and not much better because you have to dig through menus, while driving, to actually get to those options.
As >>14973569 said. Just give me knobs or actual buttons. The touch sensitive buttons are there just to be 'modern'. They are in no way, shape or form, a functional, practical upgrade.
>>14973593
1 hand off the wheel at times is normal, it's called a manual transmission.
>having to move your head away from center
You shift focus anyway if you're looking at a temp setting with the system you're describing. Better to just have it be simple, easy to use even in winter with gloves, and able to be standardized on any car. 3-knob wins.
>>14973593
Since there are actual knobs you only need to take one hand off the wheel. You don't even need to take your eyes off the road if you've driven the car long enough because you've got the tactile feedback.
>>14972428
Even my parent's old astro had that, that's not new shit
Cars that do not have their light automatically turned on because 'muh emissions'
Touchscreen anything
Seat belt seat alarms that activate through weight. Nigga if I want to put my groceries there then let me for fuck's sake
Bluetooth radios without usb ports
Engines without dipsticks (thanks Scotty for pointing that out)
Stop/start engines. This shit is downright dangerous, what if you have to launch because something unexpected happens? And the extra wear on the starter and battery and engine is going to cost more than that extra 0,025 mpg
>>14973617
>1 hand off the wheel at times is normal, it's called a manual transmission.
>>14972611
>°C
>psi
Really?
>>14973446
>give touch screen
>give physical nobs
>have physical buttons for changing what knobs do
I do better?
>>14972428
Yes you can turn it of.
Yes , the sensitivity is customizable.
Yes, OP is a pissant shit dumb fuck pleb.
Audis aren't special snowflakes and they share the media parts as with pretty much everything else with VWs.
Yes, I'm sure of what I'm saying. Yes, the feature can be turned of and or dialed up or down.
OP is an idiot. To the square. For saying shit like this and for buying an Audi.
>>14972428
>Oh and it can't be turned off.
I have this in my car, but you can adjust how aggressive it is. I have it set perfectly so I don't even notice it happening, I just don't have to touch the volume.
Pontiac > Audi I guess
>>14972493
Many cars have it already, I have a VW and it has it. VW calls it AFS, is pretty neat. Where you notice it most isn't on the hills but on the bends. Driving a car with it and driving one without it is like day and night.
Totally worth.
7 years and counting and the system never gave me issues. Only thing I could see failing there would be the servos. Anything else is pretty much simple. Nothing that couldn't be fixed at home for a couple bucks.
>>14972748
I think Mazda does it half decent (at least in the CX5? Which I know of), in that you still have to push a small button on the door handle. Which you are touching anyway, but you can still leave the key(chain) in your pocket. So that's not an extra step. Kinda a lot like remote control.
>>14976107
Oh, the downside is, of course, in case of empty battery, there is no manual lock. Or I'm blind.
>>14976121
Most keyless entry cars have a cap on the doorhandle you have to pop off to get to the mechanical lock.
>>14972790
This
>>14972840
And thread.
Also, pls post these words to any thread with useless gimmics in cars and other tech.
>>14973473
>makin ur car more expensive one component at a time
Yeah, only if you are cucked by the industry to buy new cars. Everybody on /o/ should be able to avoid that.
>>14973655
>And the extra wear on the starter and battery and engine is going to cost more than that extra 0,025 mpg
If only the rest of the dumb consumer sheeps would have at least questioned this feature, nobody would buy it ever.
>inb4 but they make the starters very stronk
Shit still will fail faster than it should
Once drove with start stop, hated every moment of it. It was well adjusted and quick, but the feeling of not being in control of what my car does feels like the car industry is bending you over, every stop you make.
>>14972428
Every car since 2001 has that, no? Typical that Audi manages to make it shit, though.
>>14972593
Remove wheel speen sensors. Most cars will throw ECU/abs/check engine errors but drive fine. Leaving you to do hectic skids
my disgust can't be this fucking absolute
>piped-in engine sounds
>reverse lights coming on whenever you use the fob
>push-button start
>touchscreen control everything
>digital dashes
>Tesla
>any automated driving feature
>>14972428
>Oh and it can't be turned off.
Yes it can retard. RTFM
>>14972542
So when I open the door to check how far I am when I'm reversing in I'll have the parking brake turn on?
>>14972469
Second, BMWs do this nicely where you don't even notice it. The only way you notice it is when you drive a car that doesn't have it.
>>14973404
>future crime vehicle
The only ''features'' my car has is a radio cd mp3 player.
its a base model and i like it more.
My friend was driving his mom's prius while his car was in the shop, and the prius has a beeping sound when going in reverse.
Like seriously, what the fuck?
It was funny the first time, but got annoying pretty quick.
>>14972428
That's in my 2010 ford fusion lol. Except you can turn it off.
>USA DOES IT AGAIN
>>14972428
automatic headlights
I'm certain these cause people to not turn their headlights on in the rain, and to forget to turn them on at all when driving cars without the feature
why the fuck are they necessary anyway? how hard is it to flick a switch when you start driving
>>14976747
Piped-in engine sounds are alright in my book, since insulation has gotten so heavy.
CD changer in the trunk.
>>14976864
Why aren't lights on by default? There's no negatives whatsoever.
>>14976942
Burning out bulbs twice as fast.
>>14972484
It's one of the simplest things to turn off. Lrn2google
>>14976948
CHANCE increases, but that's it.
A bulb burns out when it burns out. Doesn't matter how long it runs.
>>14976939
It's more of an obsolete feature than a useless one. Before portable mp3 players it's what you had to do if you wanted a ton of music available in your car.
>>14972428
>My Audi has dynamic noise compensation which adjusts the volume based on the speed the vehicle is going so you don't have to turn it up on motorways.
>In practice what you get is your volume constantly rising and falling every 5 seconds.
>Oh and it can't be turned off.
My 95 Chevy Monte Carlo does that except it actually works. The volume doesn't rise or fall every 5 seconds. It can't be turned off either, but it has proven a useful feature on that car.
>yfw a luxury feature is more reliable on an American car than a German one
As to useless features. I hate how recent laws have forced all 2017 model year cars in America to have backup cameras. HAS to be standard equipment. I could get behind when they made traction control an ABS mandatory on all US market cars after 2012 (along with airbags that could be adjusted depending on the weight of the passenger), but just because politicians don't know how to park gigantic armored SUVs doesn't mean the rest of us can't. Instead of forcing "safety" features down our throats, why not revamp the entire driver education system?
>>14973655
Worst shit, but easy to get around. Turn aircon on but leave it at 0 or the temp on neutral.
>>14972748
what happens if
>driving wife's car
>key is in her handbag
>drop her off somewhere, she takes bag
>drive away
>turn off car and get out
>can't lock car
>can't turn car back on
Do you have to wait for your wife or something?
>>14977003
There's literally nothing wrong with mandating backup cameras, unless you mind a screen in your dashboard but that boils down to personal preference.
My manager has one in his Silverado and it was pretty neat. He said the problem with it is that you tend to stare at it, so if you don't look out the window it can be pretty easy to hit somebody. Just be careful, camera or no camera
>>14977343
>Encourages shitty touchscreens staying around forever
>encourages tiny windows
>nothing wrong with mandated backup cameras
Car design is never ever going to be unfucked.
>>14977003
>I hate how recent laws have forced all 2017 model year cars in America to have backup cameras.
Wasn't that because that dumb bitch who, instead of making sure where the kid is, since it wasn't in the car where it was supposed to be, ran over her own kid while getting out of the driveway?
>>14977343
I very much mind a screen in my dash.
The biggest worry for me though is that manufacturers will take this as an excuse to further neglect putting fucking windows in their cars.
>>14977124
The range is only a few feet. You'd be able to shout or honk at her to come back.
My '02 Malibu has the same feature and I can turn it off. Audi a shit
>>14972428
Features like that piss me off.
Not even /o/ related:
>have auto-brightness turned off for my phone
>open up camera app to take picture
>screen brightens
>open the gallery to check the picture I took
>screen dims beyond any visibility
>fuck it. Go back to home screen
>back to normal brightness
FUCK OFF LET ME CONTROL MY OWN SHIT
/o/ related:
The dashboard on my motorcycle is a POS. It has 3 screens: 1 for current speed and trip meter, 1 for average speed, and 1 for odometer. When I reset the trip meter sometimes I accidentally change to the average speed and don't notice it until I get moving because it says 0 anyway. It usually won't let me change screens while moving so after pounding on the buttons while riding for a minute I have to pull over just to press the button twice and switch it back to the speedometer.
>>14977003
The main problem I see is that politicians/manufacturers think technology can save the retarded. If someone isn't paying attention and doesn't care then no amount of technology will keep them from running over someone.
>>14976864
I wish all cars had them because people are too stupid to turn them on themselves until it gets pitch black. Having really sensitive light sensors (to turn it on in anything besides a sunny day) or always-on lights would be great.
>>14976948
Bulbs are incredibly cheap. Considering the visibility improvement in all lighting conditions that would be a worthy price to pay.
It's likely that road vibrations will fuck your lights before they break from being used too much.
>>14976989
i think the issue is more that the changer is in the trunk instead of indash... i have this in my jeep and its a pain having to stop to change cds... especially if the back i jammed full of camping gear or whatever
>>14972428
my 1997 vectra had that too
kinda useless because you can't hear the anemic engine
>>14972611
Worst interior I've seen today, thanks.
>carphones
>reverse cameras
>seatbelt beep reminders
>touchscreens
>pushbutton ignition
>automatic wipers
>>14977641
The ones I'm thinking of fit like 25-50 cds and you switch between them using the head unit. They are a pain to change but you don't need to do it that often.
>>14972508
>sitting next to cls 550 at light
>he's creeping up on the crosswalk so his car is constantly fucking firing up and stopping
>rev my engine
>his car starts up and his car lets him rev back like a cuck
>light turns green
>hook and take off on m/ts
>his car hesitates, starts, and then takes off
C U C K
U
C
K
>>14972428
My car has that too. It also starts beeping when I go upwards of 130km/h. Fortunately it can be turned off.
>>14972493
in australia they are required by law for anything that isnt a shit tier budget halogen light bulb reflector. they're called self leveling lights. the idea is that a standard reflector can only have 50w bulbs. projector and hid lights have cutoffs and self leveling so that you can exceed the old standard and have equivalent over 9000w bulbs without being a million suns 100% of the time to oncoming drivers.
>mfw people still manually over adjust them so that they point up in your face anyway because they read how to do it in car magazine
>>14972611
>all auxiliary gauges are small and not designed to be easy to read
Automatic transmission in vehicles that aren't for disabled drivers
>>14973473
>makin ur car more expensive one component at a time
>implying electronics are the bomb diggity
There's a reason why MotoGP bikes are whole number seconds faster than their electronic-less superbike counterparts.
>>14973446
>Android virtual buttons and status bar
Are you retarded?
>>14977700
reverse cameras are actually super important if you are stupid enough to buy a massive fake SUV land barge and have kids. many many kids are run over by their stupid parents.
>>14973559
>extra solenoids at twice the price
>instead of reliable over9000 years of operation pushrod valves
>>14972753
thank god for australian design rules that mandate a car must have a key and external door handles and a keyed ignition switch.
>tfw turbo timers are illegal because not allowed the engine to be on unless key is in the ignition.
>they ignore this and still let it happen
why?
>>14972508
you can thank jew yorks emissions laws that make it illegal for a car to idle for longer than 60 seconds.
>>14976951
It's nice not having them burn out every 2 months and having to replace them.
I had "always on" headlights in my car as a factory default. No joke, every 2 months I was replacing globes. Drove around for about 9 months until I said fuckit, asked the dealership to disable it.
It would have been a cunt if the headlights weren't easily accessible.
Also had people tell me fairly often during the day "Hurr your headlights are on"
>>14972575
Lots you can turn traction control off, but stability control is still on. If your lucky holding the button for 5-10 seconds will turn off both.
>>14977003
>It's fine to have all these other nanny state restrictions
>But when it's one I don't like it's not ok anymore
You're hoist by your own petard mate, the rear view cameras were there because scaremongers focused on car issues rather than the problems with the drivers.
you have back-up cameras because people got crutched on redundant safety features that don't do anything for someone with half a brain.
>>14977848
>It's nice not having them burn out every 2 months
Maybe you should invest more than 5c.
2 months... What the flying fuck do you use, a fucking candle?
I always drive with my lights on and haven't had to change a bulb since I started driving 10 years ago.
>>14977870
I would prefer ABS and traction control be optional, but I'm not opposed to them. 99% of cars I've seen at least have a button or something so you can turn off the traction control, so that's not a huge problem to begin with.
The reason I'm not against the passenger weight sensing airbags is that if you're alone in the vehicle, the passenger airbag won't go off. This makes it cheaper to repair if they ever do go off in a minor low speed (5-15mph) collision.
>>14977871
Was using Narva globes. Not cheap shit.
Plus all my driving was during the day.
I'd rarely jump in of a night only to realise a globe had fucking blown.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Narva-Headlight-Globe-Arctic-Blue-H4-12V-60-55W.aspx?pid=287161&menuFrom=1021668#Recommendations
>>14977893
>Not cheap shit.
Obviously doesn't mean jack. Jesus, what the hell. I'd wager something in your electrics was fucked, before blaming the bulb at this point.
As far as I know, I've only had Phillips bulbs in my cars. Wouldn't know for sure, for obvious reasons.
>>14977886
Nearly all cars where you can turn off traction control don't actually let you turn it off, especially not the newest ones.
It gets made less invasive but it'll still take over.
>>14977824
>reverse cameras are actually super important if you are stupid enough to buy a massive fake SUV land barge and have kids. many many kids are run over by their stupid parents.
Maybe instead of accepting shitty drivers and adding components for them we should teach better driving skills.
>>14977899
Might run Phillips next time, see how they go. Replaced them the other day, It's probably been a good 10-11 months since I last blew one.
>>14972703
wish cars could just use both a key or the button, my sho has the button and its neat but not needed
>>14977952
but that's hard anon. too hard. the car needs to do it for them because they paid $40 000 for some shitty barge. it should come with a 50$ camera kit. this is an old school reversing camera.
>>14973593
>>having to take your hands off the wheel
>>having to move your head away from center position
Doesn't matter in this world where every third dumbass is talking or texting on their phone.
>>14976860
you can turn it down to the lowest setting where it doesn't even do anything you fool, i did it in my 2010 sho
>>14972582
Oh my fucking god this. I had this on my GTi
Stall, have to come to complete top, have to have foot on brake and clutch, turn key all the way of off, and back on to start it again. You literally have to come to a complete stop to start the car again, the most unsafe safety feature I've ever had in any car.
>>14977416
It's only a few feet, but it has to compensate for connection hiccups, after the engine's started you can actually drive for a few minutes away from the key before it'll cut.
>drive a car
>arrive at destination
>turn engine off
>open doors
>car beeps
Why.jpg, I know my keys are in ignition, I put them in. It's not like I'm going to leave my car with keys still in, not locking the car.
>>14972753
Oh boy this sounds like such a great feature, it would make my life so much easier.
>not having to look for my keys in my pockets
I mean who cares that any of these things might happen:
>drop phone and it breaks
>not able to get back in car again
>someone steals your phone
>also has access to your car now
>can't call police since he stole your phone
>lose phone
>can't get into car anymore
>phone runs out of battery
>charger is in the car
>oh wait
>buying newer phone
>car opening app isn't supported with the current OS version
>have to buy new car or buy another phone just to use your car
>app gets hacked
>literally everyone with a phone could get into any car
No matter how likely or unlikely any of these situations are, it doesn't seem to be a good thing to risk compared to carrying a single key with you, which you put out of your pocket when getting into your car, and putting it back in your pocket when getting out of your car
>>14972882
Kek wat?
OP is talking about this function which is called GALA. He brags about it and want to turn it off -> He must have it you dumbcock
>>14973693
>Kemme read everything in PASCALS
