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I think this was true for a while in the mid 2000s when radio units were more or less commodotized, but these days the big center console touch screens are deep

I think this was true for a while in the mid 2000s when radio units were more or less commodotized, but these days the big center console touch screens are deeply integrated with the car. Even settings like engine timings (sport/eco modes), suspension, steering feedback, etc. are a page or two away from the FM radio. Some have HVAC on the same system. There's also integration with steering wheel buttons, and sometimes the instrument cluster is actually a second screen rendered by the radio unit and displays the radio station or driving directions, etc. The FM radio and GPS may be part of the same transceiver package as the GSM "connected car" radio, and the Bluetooth and OnStar/automatic 911 dialing systems may share the same microphone, all running through the radio unit. You can't just replace it and get identical/better functionality.

maxsilver 10y ago
> I think this was true for a while in the mid 2000s when radio units were more or less commoditized, but these days the big center console touch screens are deeply integrated with the car There's still dozens of brand-new cars that sell without a locked down center console. For example, you could buy an 100% electric brand new 2016 Nissan Leaf. It ships today with an infotainment center you can "just replace it and get identical/better functionality" anytime you'd like. Despite being upgradable, it still supports many modern features (such as GPS, Apple CarPlay, Rear-view backup camera, etc) At some point, people are making a choice. If you don't want to be stuck with an unmaintained computer in your car, buy any of the dozens of brand-new modern vehicles that let you freely upgrade whenever you like.
- __david__ 10y ago
  You're not wrong, but most people (even the tech minded) choose their new car by something other the center console features—there are many more important criteria to consider. In the 90s many people ended up with cassette players in their car when they would have preferred CD players. On my car I had to open up the radio and modify it by hand to accept aux input. Still, I wouldn't have chosen a different car. The other parts of of it are far more important, even if it does irk me that the center console isn't DIN compatible.

maxsilver 10y ago

> I think this was true for a while in the mid 2000s when radio units were more or less commoditized, but these days the big center console touch screens are deeply integrated with the car There's still dozens of brand-new cars that sell without a locked down center console. For example, you could buy an 100% electric brand new 2016 Nissan Leaf. It ships today with an infotainment center you can "just replace it and get identical/better functionality" anytime you'd like. Despite being upgradable, it still supports many modern features (such as GPS, Apple CarPlay, Rear-view backup camera, etc) At some point, people are making a choice. If you don't want to be stuck with an unmaintained computer in your car, buy any of the dozens of brand-new modern vehicles that let you freely upgrade whenever you like.

__david__ 10y ago
You're not wrong, but most people (even the tech minded) choose their new car by something other the center console features—there are many more important criteria to consider. In the 90s many people ended up with cassette players in their car when they would have preferred CD players. On my car I had to open up the radio and modify it by hand to accept aux input. Still, I wouldn't have chosen a different car. The other parts of of it are far more important, even if it does irk me that the center console isn't DIN compatible.