Remember when your car wasn’t also a PC?
Remember when car controls weren't complicated
Submitted 1 day ago by Mickey7@lemmy.world to [deleted]
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/b178667f-77a2-49d6-be1f-c9d8e486210a.png
Comments
hellfire103@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
avocado_toast35@lemmy.world 1 day ago
pepperidge farm remembers
A7thStone@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s all computer
mech@feddit.org 1 day ago
I’ll never buy a car with a touch screen, and luckily I don’t have to.
We (in Europe) are now at the high water mark for touch screens. The EURO NCAP have changed their rules so cars with complicated touch screen controls get a lower safety rating. ADAC have changed their rating system to penalize them, too.
Those are important measurements for normie car buyers, so manufacturers will adapt to them.
First manufacturers are already offering cars without screens again for 2026 (Dacia, Renault, Citroen, Fiat, Opel).Wilco@lemmy.zip 20 hours ago
Yea, the USA are being idiots about this (surprise). Its illegal to use a phone or tablet while driving … but cars have a tablet mounted on the dash. So weird.
redsand@infosec.pub 21 hours ago
Hopefully some car manufacturers join that list soon as opposed to Renault and Fiat Chrysler 🥲
shaggyb@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
If I’m being honest, that’s a relatively complex radio.
gorkur@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
Disagree, I would hate that center spedometer.
gorkur@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
Well, 0 to 100 kph is approximately 5 business days so you wouldn’t ever look at it anyway 😁
mr_might44@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I remember when my car didn’t have a giant ipad that tries to talk to me, miss it too.
RedMari@reddthat.com 1 day ago
How come AM button but no PM button
mech@feddit.org 1 day ago
In case that’s a serious question, the reverse is the FM button. (to switch between amplitude modulation and frequency modulation)
kn33@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Hmmm… Having physical buttons for car controls is good, but you’re not taking away my creature comforts. Adjusting the temperature and fan speed 20 times in a drive? Nah, give me a thermostat. Cold butt? I think not. Gloves? Nah, heat my steering wheel. And once you get off of car controls, touch screen is fine and I really like Android Auto.
I actually really like how my Bolt EV does it. The only thing that’s on screen that shouldn’t be is the seat heater controls.
greygore@lemmy.world 1 day ago
We have a fully loaded 2017 Bolt, all the features, nothing left out; there are three “placeholders” for buttons on the dash that have no function, but if you put the car into reverse before turning on the seat heaters you have to wait until you put it into drive before you can turn them on. This does not make sense to me.
RedMari@reddthat.com 1 day ago
Really hate that in mine. And having ac controls on touchscreen.
kn33@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Yeah, it doesn’t. I have mine set to auto so they’re on even if I forget but I agree.
A7thStone@lemmy.world 1 day ago
You actually like android auto? I find annoying the number of touches I need to go through to get to what I want. Unfortunately my car stereo is even worse about that if I don’t use android auto.
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
You know you can eliminate a bunch of the stuff, right?
In settings you can customize your screen. It’s incredibly stupid that “snacks” is even active as default.
Also, WAZE, now has verbal reports. So, you can just activate your steering wheel Mic button.
kn33@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I like it because I get all the same apps with all the same info I get on my phone, just on the car screen with voice controls
icelimit@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
I was thinking of getting a bolt for the longest time. How’s your experience with it?
kn33@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
I really like it. It’s zippy af. Not burning gas or having to go to a gas station is really nice. I just plug in when I get home and unplug when I leave.
I will say, though, it has a couple drawbacks. The “budget” nature really shows when you have to go more than like 300 miles (or 200 in the deep cold).
I had a buddy ask about it a while back so I’ll try to copy paste what I wrote.
Q: Hey, I had a quick question for you mr Chevy Bolt. I rented one of those cars while I was in cold state and I really liked it. Have you have to do any major repairs or fixes for that car, or do you have any gripes with the car since you’ve been driving with it for so long now as a daily driver?
A: The only real work I’ve done is winter tires in the winter and summer tires in the summer. I’m looking at getting a second set of rims so I can do it myself next time instead of having to get a shop swap the tires. Other than that, basically just wiper blades. I sometimes get false positives on the driver’s side blind spot detection which is annoying, but not a big deal. Some people online have said that it’s due to a shielding coming off the sensor causing the car to detect itself, basically, and if you get some adhesive foil you can fix it, but I haven’t been bothered enough by it to get into that yet.
A minor gripe I have is that the stock tires are what the EPA rated range is based on, but they’re also very hard rubber so when it gets cold they get even harder and that’s bad for grip. I talk about the acceleration later, but if you try to use that in the super cold, you end up burning out.
The only major issue I have is the fast charging speed, especially in cold weather. It’s not very fast to begin with compared to the competition, and there’s no mechanism offered up to have it condition the battery for charging while driving. What you end up with is a charging speed that’s slow compared to the competition at its best and is then slowed down further by being cold. It’ll work on warming up the battery as soon as it starts charging, but by the time it warms up enough to get up to full speed (if it ever does) it’s up to >50% charge, at which point the speed starts going down again. Under ideal circumstances, it’s okay, but once you get past the ideal it’s annoying.
Consider ideal/EPA rated conditions and a 300 mile trip. We’ll say the average driving speed of 60 mph, so you’re starting at 5 hours of driving. Highway EPA rating for a 2017 Bolt EV is 110 MPGe or 3.26 mi/kWh. If you’re going 300 miles, that’s 92 kWh of power. It has a 60 kWh battery, so that’s the whole battery and 32 kWh more. Say that the charging stops are spaced out so that you’re always charging when you’re under 50% and it’s a perfect 70°F so you’re always charging at 50 kW. That means you’re doing 32 KWh of charging at 50 kW, or 38 minutes of charging. So for your 300 mile trip @ 60 mph, you’re adding 13% to your time under ideal conditions. Now, if that can be spread out nicely and it’s an 8 minute stop every hour, it’s not so bad. But once you start getting into deep cold like 0°F and lower, it’s easily 2-3x that.
With all that, it’s still not so bad because even when it’s really cold and my range is down to 130 mi or whatever, it’s still enough that I can go everywhere I need in a day and plug in when I get home and be fine. It’s only the few times a year when I’m visiting my family in bordering state or whatever that it’s annoying. Even if I’m going to city 45 minutes away, it’s still plenty as long as I’m charged up.
Technologically, it’s the best car I’ve ever had. I love the rearview camera/mirror for it’s wide FOV compared to a traditional mirror. I love my auto high beams, my remote start (haven’t had that until this car), my heated seats/mirror/wheel. I love the 360 cams - it’s enabled me to back out of spots I would’ve never gotten out of before. The lane keep assist, even without the 3rd party enhancements I added, has already saved my ass when I fell asleep at the wheel once. I got a dongle that makes the android auto wireless, and later models have it built in. It’s so nice to have.
It’s a lot of fun to drive, too. 0-60 in ~7 seconds, and 0-30 in like 1 second. Zippy as fuck, small enough to maneuver in tight spaces while not feeling like you’re sitting on the ground.
So yeah, I really like it, and I wouldn’t change my decision to buy it. I just wish that faster charging EVs were cheap enough that I could justify upgrading. At this point, though, I don’t have to DCFC often enough for the prices to be even close to justifiable for it.
Some updates since I wrote that (December 2024). Prices have come down on used EVs, but I still have such a great rate on my current car loan that it’s not worth giving up. I have since done what I talked about and got a second set of wheels so swapping tires is easier. The blind spot thing is still annoying but it’s so infrequent I haven’t bothered. It might also have something to do with snow/ice buildup in the wheel well. Overall, still no regrets.
ChadGPT2@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I just wish modern cars would do what you want. I want to set a temperature and a fan speed. Modern cars have some kind of hidden function. that you can’t use.
Also touchscreens are pretty unsafe.
Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day ago
I have a '22 Bolt now and really miss the simplicity of my '10 Versa. HVAC should be done with tacticle knobs, not some tiny flaps.
stiffyGlitch@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
stiffyGlitch@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
dan69@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
And with software involved
darklamer@feddit.org 1 day ago
I don’t think I understand this. What does “Press Button & Turn” mean?
CADmonkey@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
It’s a parking brake/emergency brake/handbrake or whatever you’d call it. You pull it straight out of the dash to set it. To release it there is a small button on the back you have to hold, while turning the handle clockwise about 90° to release the brake.
This vehicle is newer than 1986. How do I know? Because dear old Dad had a 1986 Isuzu P’up, and it had a most similar parking brake, except it didn’t have the little button - you could just turn the handle. This is a problem when you leave your three year old in the truck unattended, and the three year old starts turning things. It’s even more fun when your other, older child (me) comes out to find your truck has rolled down the driveway into the car across the street.
Later vehicles added the safety button, making it “push button and turn”.
icelimit@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
I think it’s a weird choke but looks like an automatic?
mech@feddit.org 1 day ago
It’s the handbrake
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day ago
It always came with a cigarette lighter
runching@lemmy.world 1 day ago
you can turn off the passenger airbag if you don’t like them
Laser@feddit.org 1 day ago
I know you’re joking, but this is for when you have a reboarder type baby car seat in the passenger seat, in that case the airbag must be deactivated
Agent641@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
No airbag if you ain’t chipping in for gas!
anon_8675309@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Miss those days. Really just need Bluetooth to the radio as my only fancy option.
And heated seats.
But that’s all.
FireRetardant@lemmy.world 1 day ago
New cars gonna come with used zyns trays and air pod chargers instead of ashtrays and cigarette lighters.
Blaster_M@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
How fast do you want it, how hot do you want it, where do you want it
U7826391786239@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
is that a 04-05 toyota tacoma? lol looks just like mine, except the transmission
Concave1142@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I was just thinking that looked exactly like how I remember my 2004 Tacoma! It was the funky handbrake (I think?) on the right side that reminded me of it.
I miss that truck.
U7826391786239@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
great damn trucks. i love that it’s old enough to drink, but still more reliable than half the shit on the road made in the last 10 years
Zweiblum@feddit.org 16 hours ago
I realy did underestimate the average age on lemmy. This is some boomer stuff in this thread. Or am I just not in on the joke? Yes old cars are fun to toss around. But for daily use i will take the computer on wheels. One note: fuck SUVs.
Digit@lemmy.wtf 17 hours ago
Good design principles.
Needs simple, to not distract driver.
Road safety.
… Before the enshitification race to the bottom.
Vince@lemmy.world 1 day ago
3 cars ago, which is probably 15-20 years ago, I had a car with a climate control thing that I never had to touch. It was set to comfort or something, warms me up when it’s cold, cools me when it’s too warm, turns on AC or heater as needed. Even my friends brand new car can’t seem to do that.
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Yes, still driving a vehicle from that era.
standardUser@anarchist.nexus 1 day ago
Makes me miss the old 97 ranger. 5+OD speed. Loved that baby
CommissarVulpin@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I still daily drive an ‘09 Ranger with a manual. I’ve had multiple people come up and ask to buy it.
tehWrapper@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I drive a 2010 Ranger… it looks like this.
33550336@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Bro, still have such a car (BMW E46 pre-lift). I couldn’t live with a touchscreen in a car
cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
When I paid 11k CAD years and years ago for a diesel pickup that is just as capable as a 2026 model in terms of climbing hills, it’s hard to justify the 120k+ price tag.
kungen@feddit.nu 1 day ago
Hey grandpa, what does that “push button & turn” thingy do? Handbrake?
zewm@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Not sure if joking so I will answer genuinely.
It’s a hand brake. You pull it towards you to engage it. It made loud clicks noises all the way. Then you pull it a little toward you and turn it down, pushing it all the way back in to disengage it.
kungen@feddit.nu 1 day ago
I’ve just never seen one like that, it has always been on my right hand side in every car I’ve had.
icelimit@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
Isn’t there another handbrake in the engaged position covering the gear knob? (Which I’m guessing is automatic)
mech@feddit.org 1 day ago
Thanks for the explanation. I had the same question, been driving since the early 90s but I never saw a handbrake like that.
I thought it might be a choke and was confused seeing that in such a new car.
Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 day ago
In 2026 that’s way to much tech for me, if I need to drag out my OBD2 code reader it won’t be a car I’ll drive
WanderWisley@lemmy.world 17 hours ago
I remember being a freshman in high school (1999) and a friend of mine had an aftermarket pioneer stereo head unit in his car that had the fold up touchscreen and all it did was let you adjust the sound quality and it had a very 90’s screensaver mod with dolphins, fighter jets, and a volcano. I thought at the time that was the most technologically advanced thing to ever be capable, oh how times have changed…
kboos1@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I put an android auto radio in my 17yo truck and a 1500w inverter, only things I wish I had was heated seats, heated steering and 4x4.
I would love to get a new truck with these features but I’m concerned that getting those few things would mean having to deal with all of the bullshit of modern cars. Plus spending twice as much that essential just moves me from point A to point B.
mech@feddit.org 1 day ago
You could add heated seats and steering with third party addons. Much, much cheaper than buying a new truck. The 4x4, not so much.
kboos1@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
True and I’ve thought about it, but it’s nice when these things are built into the design of the vehicle and isn’t just tacked on. It gives a since that it’s meant to be there.
Zidane@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Yeah but it could move you from point A to B nicely
SparroHawc@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
The problem is that it’s fighting against gluing a giant iPad to the dash, which just hides all the complexity behind a pane of glass so that it -looks- simple when the car is off.
With this setup, once you learn how it works, you can do just about anything with only a cursory glance away from the road to double-check your proprioception.
hperrin@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Fuck, man. I want a tape deck in my car again. That thing was incredibly useful. Keep a tape in the car just in case, but otherwise it’s an aux plug.
icelimit@lemmy.ml 1 day ago
It has a tape and cd deck it seems. Car does everything.
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I could replace that stereo system with a Phillips head screwdriver
doug@lemmy.today 1 day ago
But will the screwdriver have the same sound?
Proprietary_Blend@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Superior