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Huh, maybe the people I know are the exception, but everyone I know gripes constantly "ugh, I wish my car didn't have all this electronic crap, I just want the

Huh, maybe the people I know are the exception, but everyone I know gripes constantly "ugh, I wish my car didn't have all this electronic crap, I just want the analog stuff and no computer." The exception for at least a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. ETA: I guess it could be debated as well whether the "auto brake" type features would be desirable by that group. My personal opinion is no, but I think other threads have indicated I may be in the minority.

bentcorner 4y ago
> a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. I rented a uhaul last year and it was mostly analog, with not a screen anywhere on the dash. The backup camera was ingeniously placed under the glass of the rear-view mirror. Most of the gauges were "digital-lite" (lots of lcd/led segmented displays). I'd say if there was a car version with the same interior I would have been quite happy to drive it.
- buran77 4y ago
  I'd say people who object to high-tech-ifying the car aren't against high-tech as much as against bad tech and poor implementation. For example a screen in the car doesn't have to be bad tech. But if the screen is where all the controls of the car are located then it probably is. Internet connectivity doesn't have to be bad tech. But if it allows access to the most critical parts of the car it probably is. Then there are things that aren't bad until you realize they're probably abused by the manufacturer. Your internet connectivity meant to allow you to locate your car in the parking lot is great and might be harmless until the manufacturer starts selling that data to pad the profits. Sometimes all the high tech in the car might be super useful, super secure, super private, and still be bad because in a few years it makes the car prohibitively expensive or outright impossible to maintain and repair.
vlunkr 4y ago
The rear camera and bluetooth phone connectivity are very popular.
- judge2020 4y ago
  Backup cameras have been mandated in the US by NHTSA since 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_camera#Mandates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_camera#Mandates
- shortstuffsushi 4y ago
  I would be ok with bluetooth, I think this can be done while maintaining a "dumb" interface though. I'm not much for the backup cam, but there are implementations of it that are also not too over the top.
DogOnTheWeb 4y ago
Apple claimed during WWDC ‘22 that 79% of U.S. buyers would only buy a car if it was “CarPlay-capable”. Biased source, sure, but the data indicates most consumers value music, maps, and voice assistant in their cars and the manufacturers are responding with about 98% of new cars supporting them.
- rxyz 4y ago
  People want carplay, but also buttons and knobs for AC, seats, volume. Car manufacturers dont want to pay for both screens and buttons so they push everything into screens.
- di456 4y ago
  I'm in the 21%. I prefer my phone in a dash mount for navigation. I don't need or want an expensive, outdated head unit that costs an arm and a leg to replace. Give me Bluetooth and analog knobs and I'm happy.
  - Nursie 4y ago
    Why would you replace it? So long as your phone can take over the screen, that’s where your updates come from.
    - di456 4y ago
      They break just like why other car part. The replacement cost of a fancy, proprietary head unit is in the $US thousands. I'd rather save thousands on the car price up front with a basic head unit that is affordable to replace.
  - yellowapple 4y ago
    I don't even need Bluetooth at this point. Give me audio and charging over my phone's Type-C port and I'm set.
  - koolba 4y ago
    > Give me Bluetooth and analog knobs and I'm happy. Preach it brother! Throw in an analog dial for the A/C fan too!
overgrownzygote 4y ago
Is it the (lack of) reliability of electronic systems that people don't like? As a fairly anxious driver, I rather like the extra peace of mind that comes from having automatic braking, blind spot indicators, and cameras. ACC and lane centering are also quite convenient for long drives, and I do rather like CarPlay. Maybe I'm the problem?
- ilyt 4y ago
  It's the implementation. In many cars stuff like automatic braking is kinda unreliable and twichy, can trigger by just someone changing lane in front of you (or so I've heard from colleague that have it). Personally I'm in for anything passive (cameras, sensors) as long as it is not intrusive, acc and lane centering is kinda.... I'm already driving and have hands and feet on controls, I don't need that automated in the first place. I am 100% or 0% on any "driving automation" or self driving. Either work as automated taxi, let me enter the address and let me read book in peace on back seat, or let me drive the car without bothering me. So I drive 15yo civic type R lmao.
  - infotogivenm 4y ago
    > acc and lane centering is kinda.... I'm already driving and have hands and feet on controls, I don't need that automated in the first place. Anecdotally: I and a number of friends have held this same opinion for years, but recently it has changed. Not because of lane marker following, but because of this situation: “idiot in front of me slammed on their brakes at the last second while I was scanning left or right”; the system kicked in and legitimately prevented an accident. If there was some way to just enable that feature I’d be pretty happy.
    - lelanthran 4y ago
      > “idiot in front of me slammed on their brakes at the last second while I was scanning left or right”; the system kicked in and legitimately prevented an accident. How many accidents have you had of that type in the past, say, 300000km of driving? Because you say it legitimately prevented an accident, but this is a routine thing that happens (drivers slam on brakes at the last second) and if you aren't routinely driving into the rear of cars who brake at the last minute, then ... no, the accident wouldn't have happened anyway.
yazzku 4y ago
You're not alone. The electronic crap is always the first thing to break in any car, and this is a common sentiment from my experience too.
7speter 4y ago
Ive seen that the autobrake stuff can be glitchy and cause all sorts of (absolutely justified) steering wheel grabbing on the highway, so it would just be better if people… focused on the road while driving. Also, if anything happens to the car, even a minor fender bender, the cost to realign any of those sensors are ultra high, and gets passed along to everyone in a given are via increasing insurance premiums.

bentcorner 4y ago

> a portion of that group would be the rear camera, which I believe is now mandated by law, but... the rest of it could be left dumb and I think most people (I know) would be as happy, if not happier. I rented a uhaul last year and it was mostly analog, with not a screen anywhere on the dash. The backup camera was ingeniously placed under the glass of the rear-view mirror. Most of the gauges were "digital-lite" (lots of lcd/led segmented displays). I'd say if there was a car version with the same interior I would have been quite happy to drive it.

buran77 4y ago
I'd say people who object to high-tech-ifying the car aren't against high-tech as much as against bad tech and poor implementation. For example a screen in the car doesn't have to be bad tech. But if the screen is where all the controls of the car are located then it probably is. Internet connectivity doesn't have to be bad tech. But if it allows access to the most critical parts of the car it probably is. Then there are things that aren't bad until you realize they're probably abused by the manufacturer. Your internet connectivity meant to allow you to locate your car in the parking lot is great and might be harmless until the manufacturer starts selling that data to pad the profits. Sometimes all the high tech in the car might be super useful, super secure, super private, and still be bad because in a few years it makes the car prohibitively expensive or outright impossible to maintain and repair.

vlunkr 4y ago

The rear camera and bluetooth phone connectivity are very popular.

judge2020 4y ago
Backup cameras have been mandated in the US by NHTSA since 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_camera#Mandates https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backup_camera#Mandates
shortstuffsushi 4y ago
I would be ok with bluetooth, I think this can be done while maintaining a "dumb" interface though. I'm not much for the backup cam, but there are implementations of it that are also not too over the top.

DogOnTheWeb 4y ago

Apple claimed during WWDC ‘22 that 79% of U.S. buyers would only buy a car if it was “CarPlay-capable”. Biased source, sure, but the data indicates most consumers value music, maps, and voice assistant in their cars and the manufacturers are responding with about 98% of new cars supporting them.

rxyz 4y ago
People want carplay, but also buttons and knobs for AC, seats, volume. Car manufacturers dont want to pay for both screens and buttons so they push everything into screens.
di456 4y ago
I'm in the 21%. I prefer my phone in a dash mount for navigation. I don't need or want an expensive, outdated head unit that costs an arm and a leg to replace. Give me Bluetooth and analog knobs and I'm happy.
- Nursie 4y ago
  Why would you replace it? So long as your phone can take over the screen, that’s where your updates come from.
  - di456 4y ago
    They break just like why other car part. The replacement cost of a fancy, proprietary head unit is in the $US thousands. I'd rather save thousands on the car price up front with a basic head unit that is affordable to replace.
- yellowapple 4y ago
  I don't even need Bluetooth at this point. Give me audio and charging over my phone's Type-C port and I'm set.
- koolba 4y ago
  > Give me Bluetooth and analog knobs and I'm happy. Preach it brother! Throw in an analog dial for the A/C fan too!

overgrownzygote 4y ago

Is it the (lack of) reliability of electronic systems that people don't like? As a fairly anxious driver, I rather like the extra peace of mind that comes from having automatic braking, blind spot indicators, and cameras. ACC and lane centering are also quite convenient for long drives, and I do rather like CarPlay. Maybe I'm the problem?

ilyt 4y ago
It's the implementation. In many cars stuff like automatic braking is kinda unreliable and twichy, can trigger by just someone changing lane in front of you (or so I've heard from colleague that have it). Personally I'm in for anything passive (cameras, sensors) as long as it is not intrusive, acc and lane centering is kinda.... I'm already driving and have hands and feet on controls, I don't need that automated in the first place. I am 100% or 0% on any "driving automation" or self driving. Either work as automated taxi, let me enter the address and let me read book in peace on back seat, or let me drive the car without bothering me. So I drive 15yo civic type R lmao.
- infotogivenm 4y ago
  > acc and lane centering is kinda.... I'm already driving and have hands and feet on controls, I don't need that automated in the first place. Anecdotally: I and a number of friends have held this same opinion for years, but recently it has changed. Not because of lane marker following, but because of this situation: “idiot in front of me slammed on their brakes at the last second while I was scanning left or right”; the system kicked in and legitimately prevented an accident. If there was some way to just enable that feature I’d be pretty happy.
  - lelanthran 4y ago
    > “idiot in front of me slammed on their brakes at the last second while I was scanning left or right”; the system kicked in and legitimately prevented an accident. How many accidents have you had of that type in the past, say, 300000km of driving? Because you say it legitimately prevented an accident, but this is a routine thing that happens (drivers slam on brakes at the last second) and if you aren't routinely driving into the rear of cars who brake at the last minute, then ... no, the accident wouldn't have happened anyway.

yazzku 4y ago

You're not alone. The electronic crap is always the first thing to break in any car, and this is a common sentiment from my experience too.

7speter 4y ago

Ive seen that the autobrake stuff can be glitchy and cause all sorts of (absolutely justified) steering wheel grabbing on the highway, so it would just be better if people… focused on the road while driving. Also, if anything happens to the car, even a minor fender bender, the cost to realign any of those sensors are ultra high, and gets passed along to everyone in a given are via increasing insurance premiums.