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Wish I could upvote you 1000 times - rented a car last week and couldn't figure out how to control the damn AC in it. Gear shift was a turning knob like I was t

Wish I could upvote you 1000 times - rented a car last week and couldn't figure out how to control the damn AC in it. Gear shift was a turning knob like I was tuning my radio, not to mention the iPad staring me in the face while I tried to drive. Like TVs, I think there is a decent sized market for "dumb cars" - will any company step up to make them though?

ricardobeat 4y ago
Those are user interface design failures, not a direct consequence of the switch to electronics & automation. There are modern cars that are very pleasant to use (Hyundai Ioniq / Kona are my favorites), while others that have the exact same feature set are terrible (BMW i3, Nissan Leaf).
- Hellbanevil 4y ago
isatty 4y ago
Let me guess, one of the new Ford SUVs? Happened to me too, wtf was ford thinking with the circular gear selector and AC controlled by a damn screen?
- HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
  I think it's mainly a discovery/RTFM kinda deal. My wife's 2014 Edge is in the shop and they gave us a 2022 Edge as a loaner. I had the same WTF at first. But it's pretty obvious where the gear selector is and how to use it. And there's a fan icon at the bottom of the screen that, surprise, surprise, is the A/C control. All in all, it's not hard to figure out. Granted there are some things that surprise me, like the "white line detector" that provides haptic feedback in the steering wheel like a rumble strip that somehow became enabled a couple days ago, but all that is because I haven't bothered to RTFM. After driving the car for a week, I have to admit that I like it. Could be tempted to buy it from the dealership if they'll give me a good enough deal, which isn't very likely these days :-(
  - forgingahead 4y ago
    Sure, but this is user-hostile. The entire expectation of the car rental process is that you get your keys, jump in the car, and drive off. If you have to read a manual, or sit there fiddling with knobs and buttons while it's freezing/steaming outside, then the process is broken.
    - HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
      > entire expectation of the car rental process is that you get your keys, jump in the car, and drive off. Which is exactly what I did. Figuring out the A/C was basically "it's hot in here, oh, there's a fan icon, press that." The other stuff I never bothered with because it simply wasn't worth learning for a car I only have for a few days.

ricardobeat 4y ago

Those are user interface design failures, not a direct consequence of the switch to electronics & automation. There are modern cars that are very pleasant to use (Hyundai Ioniq / Kona are my favorites), while others that have the exact same feature set are terrible (BMW i3, Nissan Leaf).

Hellbanevil 4y ago

isatty 4y ago

Let me guess, one of the new Ford SUVs? Happened to me too, wtf was ford thinking with the circular gear selector and AC controlled by a damn screen?

HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
I think it's mainly a discovery/RTFM kinda deal. My wife's 2014 Edge is in the shop and they gave us a 2022 Edge as a loaner. I had the same WTF at first. But it's pretty obvious where the gear selector is and how to use it. And there's a fan icon at the bottom of the screen that, surprise, surprise, is the A/C control. All in all, it's not hard to figure out. Granted there are some things that surprise me, like the "white line detector" that provides haptic feedback in the steering wheel like a rumble strip that somehow became enabled a couple days ago, but all that is because I haven't bothered to RTFM. After driving the car for a week, I have to admit that I like it. Could be tempted to buy it from the dealership if they'll give me a good enough deal, which isn't very likely these days :-(
- forgingahead 4y ago
  Sure, but this is user-hostile. The entire expectation of the car rental process is that you get your keys, jump in the car, and drive off. If you have to read a manual, or sit there fiddling with knobs and buttons while it's freezing/steaming outside, then the process is broken.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
    > entire expectation of the car rental process is that you get your keys, jump in the car, and drive off. Which is exactly what I did. Figuring out the A/C was basically "it's hot in here, oh, there's a fan icon, press that." The other stuff I never bothered with because it simply wasn't worth learning for a car I only have for a few days.