Car Chat

[MexicoCityM3]

https://mtowntour.bmwusa.com/

In case any of you is interested in test driving any of these: X3M, M340i, M5 Comp, M2 Comp, M850i

[AutobahnSHO]

guy at work has new Volvo small SUV thing. Very handsome red with big roof. Of course the other co-worker was admiring the ginormous screen.

Like seriously, is that what consists of car buying now? Forget the vehicle, just buy a screen with wheels?....

[Eye of the Tiger]

guy at work has new Volvo small SUV thing. Very handsome red with big roof. Of course the other co-worker was admiring the ginormous screen.

Like seriously, is that what consists of car buying now? Forget the vehicle, just buy a screen with wheels?....

Oh! The next big thing! Instead of rollin on DUBS, guys are gonna be putting big screens and movie projectors on their shit.

[12,000 RPM]

Performance adds capability.

Capability to what end? Any compact car can manage 80MPH or so at a grade. What more does one need?

Taking a uconnect display meant for a 6-8" screen and spacing everything out and leaving tons of empty space so it fits a gigantic screen does nothing... and then the morons couldn't be smart and use a dark or black background on the pages so instead they use a light gray which blinds you at night

These are all fair points, but would be equally bad on an equally huge horizontal screen, which would also be worse for navigation.

Truthfully, it's time for the monster HUD. To hell with windshield repair costs.

[Laconian]

guy at work has new Volvo small SUV thing. Very handsome red with big roof. Of course the other co-worker was admiring the ginormous screen.

Like seriously, is that what consists of car buying now? Forget the vehicle, just buy a screen with wheels?....

Yup, yup, yup! It's sad

[r0tor]

I sort of laugh at the reviews of Giulia that bitch about the screen glare... Wtf are they paying attention to the screen so much that it warrants bitches?  It basically is only used for radio, nav, and backup camera - and the radio station and nav directions are duplicated in the main gauge cluster plus redundant physical buttons for the radio

[CaminoRacer]

Yup, yup, yup! It's sad

Apple has destroyed rational consumer behavior (or what was left of it)

[2o6]

Idk why you guys hate screens so much. I love touch screens etc in modern cars.


I feel like this is a real generational gap thing; most people my age don't actually care that much mostly because we're used to processing things on social media and screens much quicker than older people. It PAINS me to see how SLOWLY many people interact with their smartphones and on social media.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

My uncle just got a new Ram truck... The screen in that thing is just so fucking obnoxious - especially at night.  Also it's about 90% worthless and completely unneeded.

Speak of the Devil........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I-T58QO43o

[BimmerM3]

Idk why you guys hate screens so much. I love touch screens etc in modern cars.


I feel like this is a real generational gap thing; most people my age don't actually care that much mostly because we're used to processing things on social media and screens much quicker than older people. It PAINS me to see how SLOWLY many people interact with their smartphones and on social media.

After spending a week with touch screen-only infotainment in the Jetta, I have determined that both a touch screen as well as physical controls are very clearly the ideal configuration. I found myself wishing for physical buttons for certain things (such as quickly switching between music and navigation on Android Auto), but other actions are more complicated and better suited for touch screen. It's not a big enough deal that it would be a primary factor in choosing a car though. And I have no issues at all with touch screen phones.

That said, most of the world has always cared about interior comfort over most other things in a car anyway, so I don't find it surprising that fancy infotainment has taken the lead there.

[r0tor]

Idk why you guys hate screens so much. I love touch screens etc in modern cars.


I feel like this is a real generational gap thing; most people my age don't actually care that much mostly because we're used to processing things on social media and screens much quicker than older people. It PAINS me to see how SLOWLY many people interact with their smartphones and on social media.

It pains me to watch people use social media

[r0tor]

After spending a week with touch screen-only infotainment in the Jetta, I have determined that both a touch screen as well as physical controls are very clearly the ideal configuration. I found myself wishing for physical buttons for certain things (such as quickly switching between music and navigation on Android Auto), but other actions are more complicated and better suited for touch screen. It's not a big enough deal that it would be a primary factor in choosing a car though. And I have no issues at all with touch screen phones.

That said, most of the world has always cared about interior comfort over most other things in a car anyway, so I don't find it surprising that fancy infotainment has taken the lead there.

Try to use a smartphone without looking at it

[MX793]

Try to use a smartphone without looking at it

I think using navigation or maps on the dash unit works better with some kind of touch interface.  Pinch to zoom and swiping to pan is just very intuitive.  However, this is not the sort of activity one should undertake while actually driving.  Rather, it's something you do before embarking or you pull over to do.

Most other controls (stereo, HVAC for systems that integrate that functionality into the display) that one might actually use while on the move should be handled with physical buttons and knobs.

[2o6]

Try to use a smartphone without looking at it

That's pretty easy. Even still, I don't know if anyone who uses the radio without glancing at it.

[FoMoJo]

Idk why you guys hate screens so much. I love touch screens etc in modern cars.


I feel like this is a real generational gap thing; most people my age don't actually care that much mostly because we're used to processing things on social media and screens much quicker than older people. It PAINS me to see how SLOWLY many people interact with their smartphones and on social media.

Exactly.  It takes me forever to create a text message.  I haven't even tried using my thumbs.  I can't even see the little keyboard if my thumbs are in the way.  I use my index finger and more often than not, get the wrong key; or two at once.  Miserable little pieces of annoyance.

On the other hand, I like the touch screen in my car; especially when putting in the nav info.  Got buttons and knobs as well for other stuff.

[FoMoJo]

That's pretty easy. Even still, I don't know if anyone who uses the radio without glancing at it.

I use the steering wheel buttons to control the radio.  Don't have to look at them.

[BimmerM3]

Try to use a smartphone without looking at it

Can you elaborate? I don't understand the point you're trying to make.

I think using navigation or maps on the dash unit works better with some kind of touch interface.  Pinch to zoom and swiping to pan is just very intuitive.  However, this is not the sort of activity one should undertake while actually driving.  Rather, it's something you do before embarking or you pull over to do.

Most other controls (stereo, HVAC for systems that integrate that functionality into the display) that one might actually use while on the move should be handled with physical buttons and knobs.

Volume and HVAC should 100% be physical controls.

As a specific example of something that I use while driving that is definitely better on a touchscreen: On Google Music through Android Auto, I like to thumbs up/thumbs down songs, which is a function specific to that app. It would be unreasonable to expect physical buttons for that specific purpose, and using a wheel to scroll through the various buttons on the screen would definitely require more time with my eyes off the road than quickly tapping two icons (though the interface could be improved so that it only requires one tap, which would be even better).

[BimmerM3]

That's pretty easy. Even still, I don't know if anyone who uses the radio without glancing at it.

I find that, with physical controls, it's a shorter glance. The glance gets you close, then you can feel the rest of the way there. With a touch screen you have to look the whole time. Again, it's not a big enough deal that I'd buy or not buy a car solely for that reason, but I do notice the difference.

[Soup DeVille]

That's pretty easy. Even still, I don't know if anyone who uses the radio without glancing at it.

Never used to, when it had buttons for presets.

[2o6]

Pictured: CarSPINNers adjusting their radios 

https://youtu.be/vjuQs5mEHmw?t=10

[Soup DeVille]

Fat? C'mon man, you're supposed to go for old and out of touch.

[Payman]

I like nav and backup camera, but actual tactile controls for everything else.

[r0tor]

Can you elaborate? I don't understand the point you're trying to make.

Volume and HVAC should 100% be physical controls.

As a specific example of something that I use while driving that is definitely better on a touchscreen: On Google Music through Android Auto, I like to thumbs up/thumbs down songs, which is a function specific to that app. It would be unreasonable to expect physical buttons for that specific purpose, and using a wheel to scroll through the various buttons on the screen would definitely require more time with my eyes off the road than quickly tapping two icons (though the interface could be improved so that it only requires one tap, which would be even better).

I can "thumbs up" songs through the infotainment knob with Android auto just fine... and without having to really look as the main focus of the app it play/pause and one click to the left is thumbs down and one to the right is thumbs up

[giant_mtb]

That Rich Rebuilds Tesla guy is the latest guest on the JRE podcast.

[giant_mtb]

I swear Doug DeMuro acts retarded on purpose just to piss me off. 

10:50. Yeah, Doug, the whole point of the "paper clip" symbol is because they want you to store paper clips there. 

https://youtu.be/4I-T58QO43o

[cawimmer430]

The 360° camera is practical in the car wash for finding the perfect central spot... 

[cawimmer430]

I swear Doug DeMuro acts retarded on purpose just to piss me off. 

10:50. Yeah, Doug, the whole point of the "paper clip" symbol is because they want you to store paper clips there. 

F*ck. That's gotta affect the Doug Score. 

[Laconian]

https://youtu.be/oPmNEgRLACY

[giant_mtb]

Driving my mom's Q5 downstate. Had the windows cracked. A message pops up on the screen between the speedo/tach:  Economy Tip: Air Resistance, Keep Windows Closed

[CaminoRacer]

Driving my mom's Q5 downstate. Had the windows cracked. A message pops up on the screen between the speedo/tach:  Economy Tip: Air Resistance, Keep Windows Closed