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I like how efficient Teslas are and their class-leading range but the idiotic proliferation of touchscreens in mission-critical applications (like dashboards an

by kunai 3y ago

I like how efficient Teslas are and their class-leading range but the idiotic proliferation of touchscreens in mission-critical applications (like dashboards and control panels) is largely their fault, and they show no signs of stopping it. The new Model 3 has touch turn signals and none of the cars have had physical gear selectors for a long time because Musk thinks that they're unnecessary (lol). Why? Just why? Keeps me from buying one. Swipe to go into reverse? Really? What's worse than that is that their fans ooh and ahh at this sort of cost-cutting nonsense because it "looks cool and futuristic" when it's far less functional (and frankly, more dangerous) than what it replaced. Apple already took their heel-turn with killing off the Touch Bar. Honda and VW both have scaled back touchscreen controls on their latest model vehicles. The F-35's touchscreen avionics have had problems and newer aircraft fielded (like the new F-15) tend to have more mechanical button backups while also retaining the advantages and flexibility of large flat-panel displays. Musk's companies are the odd ones out here in terms of going the opposite direction. It's long overdue for them to correct this.

adolph 3y ago
> none of the cars have had physical gear selectors what do you need a gear selector for? There is only one gear: “Single-speed fixed (9:1 ratio)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3
- kunai 3y ago
  "Gear selector" is an anachronism. Most modern gear selectors are entirely electronic on newer cars. What I'm talking about is a physical, permanent fixture that is used to change the car's transmission state into/from park, reverse, neutral, and forward (drive). You still will occasionally need to do this in an EV, for instance, in the case of an electrical failure and you need to push the vehicle out of the way of traffic. Or literally just backing out of your driveway. Seems sort of pedantic to say "what do you need a gear selector for," obviously I'm not talking about an H-pattern and a clutch.
  - adolph 3y ago
    In the case of electrical failure, wouldn't most newer cars fail to change modes even with a physical switch since the mode selector does not have a physical linkage? In the case of an EV with electrical failure, no change in mode would be needed to physically push the vehicle since there is not a transmission lockout, right?
- rootusrootus 3y ago
  That argument works pretty well for any automatic, not just the EVs that only have a single speed transmission. There are still four modes to select, even if there is only one forward speed.
rootusrootus 3y ago
> touch turn signals Agree 100%. This might very well mean that my current (which is my second) Model 3 is my last. The gear selector is annoying but it's possible I could overlook that detail if the rest of the car is executed flawlessly.

by kunai 3y ago

adolph 3y ago

> none of the cars have had physical gear selectors what do you need a gear selector for? There is only one gear: “Single-speed fixed (9:1 ratio)” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_3

kunai 3y ago
"Gear selector" is an anachronism. Most modern gear selectors are entirely electronic on newer cars. What I'm talking about is a physical, permanent fixture that is used to change the car's transmission state into/from park, reverse, neutral, and forward (drive). You still will occasionally need to do this in an EV, for instance, in the case of an electrical failure and you need to push the vehicle out of the way of traffic. Or literally just backing out of your driveway. Seems sort of pedantic to say "what do you need a gear selector for," obviously I'm not talking about an H-pattern and a clutch.
- adolph 3y ago
  In the case of electrical failure, wouldn't most newer cars fail to change modes even with a physical switch since the mode selector does not have a physical linkage? In the case of an EV with electrical failure, no change in mode would be needed to physically push the vehicle since there is not a transmission lockout, right?
rootusrootus 3y ago
That argument works pretty well for any automatic, not just the EVs that only have a single speed transmission. There are still four modes to select, even if there is only one forward speed.

rootusrootus 3y ago

> touch turn signals Agree 100%. This might very well mean that my current (which is my second) Model 3 is my last. The gear selector is annoying but it's possible I could overlook that detail if the rest of the car is executed flawlessly.