11 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

More than half of British drivers have no idea what many of the buttons and switches in their modern cars actually do, according to a survey.
More than 62 per cent have no idea what it means when a warning light or sound goes off in their vehicle.
A quarter are unable to find the fog lights button, reset the clock or locate the lever to open the bonnet.
When it comes to the tech and functionality of their cars 53 per cent of motorists are clueless, with more than one in ten confessing they're confused by almost all of them.
Richard Evans, head of technical services at WeBuyAnyCar, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 British motorists, said: 'With the rise of high-tech cars and electric vehicles, and the more complex functionality that comes with them, it's not a huge surprise to see that so many of us are daunted by all the different functions and modes available to us now.'
https://www.dailymai...es-cars-do.html

  Yes from me to all these below when I can't remember or be bothered to get the thick handbook out on my E90 BMW 320D:-

Have you had trouble resetting your clock - and as a result have driven round for ages with the wrong time displaying, like 24 per cent of people surveyed?
21 per cent have completely forgotten how to switch on cruise control.
19 per cent have been baffled by how to connect their phone to their car.
And 12 per cent have been forced to listen to a radio station they dislike - as they couldn't work out how to change it.
Plus I can never remember how to reset the low tyre pressure warning system via long winded menu selections without looking it up....

Edited by mab01uk, 18 May 2022 - 07:16 AM.

[MikeRotherham]

It's unlikely to ever get any better as well.

 

New cars don't come with handbooks, well my last three haven't, just a 'quick start guide'.

 

You are supposed to use the app on your 'phone.

[sonscar]

Better not buy a new car then as I do not have a phone.I have long held the view cars are designed as fashion trinkets with teen gamer designers each trying to outdo the other.I am a Luddite tho,Steve..

[stuart bowes]

wouldn't be surprised if they come now with a new menu option:

 

how loud do you want your exhaust pops and bangs to be

> none, like a normal person

   sounds like a mild tune

   a bit louder, I like the attention

   really loud because my penis is small

 

I'm a bit sad though so I like to go through all my settings and buttons when I first get a car just to see what it can do, I've always been a bit of a button-pusher it used to drive my parents nuts 

Edited by stuart bowes, 18 May 2022 - 09:05 AM.

[sonscar]

The only new vehicle experience I have is new vans when I was working.Firstly they were all clean and worked OK,at three years old they were grubby covered in stone chips,on their third set of tyres,discs and pads worn out.As newer models arrived you had to turn off the traction control every time you started it or risk death at junctions,and the hazard flashers blinked at you when you were enthusiastic on the brakes.Due to excessive limp homes caused by turning it off when it decided to regenerate something we were advised to drive for at least twenty minutes if the lamp lit.When you are measured for location and efficiency in real time that was not popular.Each to their own and some need keyless entry,electric tailgates,cameras everywhere,self starting auto this and that,but I hanker for a simpler time of looking through the screen,elbow burning in the sun,and rowing the gearlever without the distractions of digital screens and fifty warning lamps.
Ah!nostalgia ain't what it used to be.Old man signing off,Steve..

[xrocketengineer]

I betcha that on this side of the pond it would probably be 9 out of 10 drivers do not know what all the buttons do. The best theft deterrent is a car with stick shift, since nobody knows how to drive one.  

[mini-mad-mark]

I don't think this is restricted to all the "new" functions on modern cars,  I think there are plenty of drivers that aren't fully acquainted with the "standard" systems:

 

 

1) Lots that don't seem to know what the indicator switch is there for!

 

2) Plus some that don't understand when they should be pressing the brake pedal instead of the accelerator...........

[coopertaz]

new cars do have their place though, mainly after a 12 hour night shift in mid winter, driving mini years ago longed for heated seats, screen and not having engine screaming at you. now i do this for fun!

however, pointless collision assist that brakes for no reason and resets everytime you turn car off should be banned. mine braked when a bird flew infront of me on a busy A road

[bpirie1000]

More than 80%of drivers have no idea how to operate a manual winding window, or a choke cable, or jump start a car, or change a wheel.

But if your in the same room as them they will text you a smiley face a poo and a sun.....

Converse..............don't stare into a screen....

(Old man grumble over)

[Quinlan minor]

I got called out to move an Aston Martin DB4, a couple of years back.

It seemed that none of the local Plod knew how to release a "fly-off handbrake".

Since the average tea leaf isn't too bright either, it occurs to me that fitting one to your Mini might be an effective anti-theft device.

Edited by Quinlan minor, 20 May 2022 - 04:48 PM.

[Chris1275gt]

IMO most of the technology built into all modern cars is driven by the makers themselves it cuts out most of the home mechanics at a stroke and a lot of independent garages who would find it uneconomical to purchase the technology to fault find and forces people to take it to the main dealers who it seems think of a number for a set repair and then add 50% !

[bpirie1000]

IMO most of the technology built into all modern cars is driven by the makers themselves it cuts out most of the home mechanics at a stroke and a lot of independent garages who would find it uneconomical to purchase the technology to fault find and forces people to take it to the main dealers who it seems think of a number for a set repair and then add 50% !

They roll the dice. What ever numbers come out.. that is the price...