Quote:
Originally Posted by Top_Ghia
My 5 years as a service advisor in a multi franchise dealer was very interesting.
My advice would be to never buy the first of an all new model.
One particular new model had the habit of jamming the brakes on while cruising at 100km/h for no apparent reason. This wasn’t from one particular car or customer but a common complaint a few years back. You NEVER get the full story from any manufacturer, but these systems received updates and the issue just seemed to fade away.
I also had a couple of customers who claimed lane keep systems directly resulted in collisions. One customer claimed her car suddenly steered into roadside barriers.
There is no doubt to me that not all these systems are created equal. Some brand obviously spend the time on real world testing and nail the calibration. Others rush these systems to market before they are ready.
It’s also obvious these systems are improving. The calibrations are improving. The operation of the systems is improving.
However I don’t agree with the increasing implementation of more and more systems.
They are now a distraction and have gone too far. I believe some of these systems will cause fatalities as drivers are looking at the dash wondering what that beep was for, instead of concentrating on what is going on around them.
It’s now the boy that cried wolf.
The latest cars are by far the worst as far as distraction goes. They beep every time there is a change of speed limit. They beep if you exceed the speed limit by 2km/h. They beep if you drive over a line. They beep, they beep, they beep.
I’m now a car salesman. The most common question on a test drive is now “what was that beep for?”
I never “set up” the car and turn these systems off for a test drive. I do my best to answer questions about these systems and be as honest as I can. I’d rather not sell a car than have someone unhappy with their purchase. If someone doesn’t buy a car from me because of a feature I have explained, then I have done my job. I live in fear a customer will not love their new car.
The biggest reason for complaints with new car purchases now is definitely ADAS.
Manufacturers are listening and often updates will come in the form of buttons or settings to turn these systems off.
There are some cars I simply wouldn’t buy because of the over implementation or over sensitivity of these systems.
I’m not against technology and absolutely love when new models are released. But the term “drivers car” seems to have disappeared from the market.
I believe there should be an awareness campaign about exactly what ANCAP is, what they do, and how they are funded. They are not a regulatory body. They don’t make legislation. I believe they keep adding more and more systems to their “mandatory” lists to try and stay relevant and keep the government funding pouring in.
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Great post, hope we get to meet someone like you in our new car buying quest.