It turns out that more technology in cars isn’t necessarily something customers want, and it’s not really improving their driving experience. We know my thoughts on the matter, but I’ll do my best to stay impartial on this latest survey from JD Power that shows most customers don’t appreciate technology in cars unless they can see a clear benefit to them.
JD Power’s 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study evaluated over 81,000 drivers’ experience with “advanced vehicle technologies” in 2024 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, It turned out to be a pretty mixed bag when it came to what people liked using. There are a number of tech features that customers like using because they feels that it answers their needs, but at the same time there is a whole lot that don’t get used very often or are continually annoying, according to the survey.
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I like the tech in my car, it has knobs and buttons. But then again it is from '91.
I drove a 2020 pickup while taking turns on a family trip. I jumped on the chance to get a 87 Chevy C10. Nothing I want, that I can’t get with a cellphone mount. The 2020 truck feels like I’m driving a lifeguard’s chair around.
Yeah I use a little FM transmitter tor audio, kinda tempted to use an old retro sterio kit I got at auction so that I can use a tape deck.
I may try to solder an AUX into the stock radio and hook a BT receiver into it. I do like a clean appearance and I don’t listen to the radio anyway.
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So what did they put there instead of the spedometer?
kagis
I guess this is the EX30. It looks like it doesn’t have a driver’s side display. Weird.
considers
I guess it saves some money, but yeah, that doesn’t seem like a reasonable tradeoff. There are displays that I want to have readily-accessible all the time.
And, I mean, what does an LCD screen cost? $100 or something? It can’t save all that much.
“Oh… well we actually didn’t FUCKING ASK YOU!”
-Automakers
I want fucking buttons!
Physical buttons are simply better.
It’s a nightmare and it’s probably going to get worse now that they are ditching Apple Carplay and Android Auto. https://www.motortrend.com/news/general-motors-removing-apple-carplay-android-auto-for-safety-tim-babbitt/
I totally get it. I wish some of it was modular. My screen is too big 90% of the time. I love it for a clear view of the backup camera. It’s nice for a clear view of the map if I’m out of town. Much better than trying to fumble with that on as phone like I did before.
But I don’t have to do that often. It’s not really in the way or anything but sometimes I just don’t wanna see pixels. I can adjust it, but it’s too much of a pain to mess with.
No one hates the tech in their cars, ABS is universally loved. What people hate is tech working not in tandem but against them
I’d argue that touchscreens in cars is pretty dumb for the most part. Detents and buttons are incredibly effective physical feedback systems that are being thrown away for them, sadly.
I still can’t believe they’re legal. Interacting with your phone while driving is against the law but for some reason when it’s a part of your dashboard it’s a-ok?
Honestly, I always thought that “hands-free” phone use isn’t really all that safe either - for some drivers, their brain being distracted by the call is what makes driving while “on the phone” dangerous. Heck, even having to pee really bad is worse than being tipsy.
It’s not about ABS, its about BS like an everything touchscreen, tracking, bullshit subscriptions and the like
i really need a car without this all shit. I just want to drive from point A to B. I don’t need any navi, big LCD screen, AC, parking automatic, speed control and all the electronic shit that I have now in my car.
Honestly, I think our regulations have gone a little too far. Requiring backup cameras and automatic braking systems sounds like a good idea, but now we can’t have a bare bones car.
Prices are up because there are so much additional shit they need to include. Personally, for a lot of my driving, all I want is a geo metro or similar shit box.
I mean, if I buy a two-seater convertible (if I can even find a new one) why does it need a backup camera? There isn’t even a back window!
Stuff like Bluetooth, backup cams, and a screen to put your navigation directions on are handy. But I don’t think my car needs a whole OS.
I was helping my mom shop for a new car, and we discovered she needed the requirement of “physical AC controls”.
Everything is all on the touch screen.
Well that’s ok, it was never for them.
/s
The only features I really want is ABS, Bluetooth and a physical interface. Everything else I would rather not pay for.
I live in Sweden so it’s not like I need AC, I don’t use cruise etc. and most other modern features mainly serve to annoy me.
ABS has been an EU legal requirement for at least ten years. It’s not generally marketed as a feature unless it’s part of a safety-stability system e.g. ESP and collision mitigation.
If these control systems are implemented skillfully you won’t know they are present on the vehicle. People think they understand how a car works right up to the point they have to make one and then go back to talking about bicycles.
If the DEFOG was 2 touchscreen menus deep how would you feel?
My car doesn’t have one so same diff I guess
You just stick your head out the side when the front window fogs up?
Well, I think you’ll need AC anyway, since it works as a heat pump to heat your car up in winter.
Only in electric vehicles. Gasoline and diesel engines generate a lot of waste heat, which is why they have radiators at the front of the engine compartment for water cooling. The cabin heater in most vehicles is an optional air path though a small heat exchanger on the radiator water loop, so it’s as efficient as possible. That’s also why the car has to be running for a few minutes before the heat starts working.
You do not need AC. We have two cars in the family and neither has AC.
“In my situation we don’t need AC, so neither does anyone else! My supporting argument is that we don’t have AC and live with it.”
Tell that to someone living in Phoenix.
I guess it depends on how far North you live. I’m a Swede too, and cars in summer with no A/C would be unbearable.
Wireless CarPlay.
I’m planning on having a “headless head unit” built for my next car so I can basically live off AUX port wired to speakers throughout the car, I hate wireless that much.
I don’t mind tech, i hate bad tech
Summary: Computerized touch screens and ‘smart’ features with poorly thought-out UI and UX are a solution in search of a problem.
Start with what directly benefits the user and driving experience.
Go from there.
Why can’t some manufacturers just have a phone cradle instead with the backup camera on a screen in the rear view mirror? I hate waiting for my car to boot up just to put on some music.
“What directly benefits the user?”
“Heated seats.”
“Okay, start charging a subscription fee for that.”
I know it’s not what you meant, but it’s what I immediately thought of.
I drive an Audi Q7 and every time I turn my headlights on, I get warnings about how my “Side Marker Lights” are malfunctioning.
First, no, they’re working fine.
Second, this seems to be super common on the Q7.
Third, the only “fix” is a $4,000 headlight assembly replacement.
Or, you know, connect an ODB-II device and disable the side marker lights.
