Do we need the gadgets

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

So do you need gadgets to enjoy driving.....? I and most of the people i know that love driving don't...

I just got home 90 mins ago after driving down from Airlie Beach with nothing more than the radio on, loved every minute of it......the CD player side of the unit crapped out two years ago, never did get it repaired....maybe i should so i can get the CD back that's still stuck inside.......

Nice drive good road.

Before I met my wife, she had no interest in cars, taking drives just for the sake of it. After I paid for a defensive driving course then an advanced driving course, she now loves it, so she's a convert. The vast majority of her family and friends aren't interested in cars or the driving experience. When they purchase a car, they comment how nice it looks and the features it has, not how well it handles, accelerates etc..

[flappist]

Do we need the gadgets?

Probably not, but there is a huge difference between NEED and WANT and if all that was available was things that were NEEDED rather than WANTED then there would be a lot of unhappy people.

For example.

We do not NEED:

200++kw private vehicles.
RWD vehicles
An Australian car industry
V8s
Turbo 6s
Manual transmissions
Vehicles capable of travelling faster than 130km/h
Vehicles older than about 10 years to be able to be registered and driven on the road.
More than one motor vehicle for private use.

We just WANT these things......

[Alan D Segal]

+1 to what flappist said. Plus, even if you personally don't want certain features in your new car, they have to make it appeal to as many people as possible. I personally don't want anything except a powerful engine, decent safety and comfort, and a good driving experience, but I'm not everybody. I came to that realisation a long time ago.

[ebv8]

my base model CL fiesta has everything i need, bluetooth and a decent stereo, i don't use anything else, don't keep my high heels in the shoe box, don't use the steering wheel controls as the actual stereo is only about 10cm further away and easy to use.
my 83 VH SL commodore has no options at all and i love driving it, the sound and power is enough to keep me happy.
options don't make me buy a car the drive itself makes me buy it.

[Maka]

Depends on the gadgets. For what i want in a car, any gadget that enhances safety & driver concentration is a good thing, any gadget that distracts a drivers focus on the road is counter productive & possibly negligent?

cheers, Maka

[Guzz226]

Originally Posted by Fireblade

I've had DVD screens in the front of my car and not used it while driving, just because its there doesn't mean you have to use it, common sense should prevail here.

Common sense is like deodorant - those that need it most, don't use it.

On the road, people die as a result, mostly others that are innocent.

SMSing whilst driving goes against common sense, but lts do it and many deaths have resulted.....

Food for thought.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Bluehoon

As a need, no. It's the same game as always.
They're useless, inpractical, idealogical gadgets preying to socially insecure and status clingers.
Only serve purpose to stroke ego and provide comfort in form of alledged social acceptance, superiority.

needs bump to this page...

[dallasv8]

give me a older car.
go,stop clutch and gearstick is all the distraction you had.stereo on the dash and if you were lucky, an aircon.

[Fireblade]

Originally Posted by Guzz226

Common sense is like deodorant - those that need it most, don't use it.

On the road, people die as a result, mostly others that are innocent.

SMSing whilst driving goes against common sense, but lts do it and many deaths have resulted.....

Food for thought.

Comments like these make me wonder why we get up in arms over the government telling us how we should live our lives, it seems maybe we can't make the right choices for ourselves.

[Jastel]

If we don't need gadgets why are we all sitting on computers/phones/tablets etc (all gadgets) whinging about them???

Give me a 2020 model car any day of the week.....

Wether I use all the gadgets is another story

[mik]

Some gadgets are probably a good thing, phone/bluetooth/gps , safety gizmos for those who need them , but I reckon in some cars there are way too many toys, and cars with touch screens that you need to take your eyes off the road more often to operate functions, but these days most people seem to shop with the pen and tick box rather than worry about how the vehicle drives.

[Boza]

I was thinking bout this last night couldn't bloody sleep.

The reason I was probably playing with all this stuff was it was my first drive n the car and being an enthusiast wanted to check it all out.

Do I need it no, I want good handling,performance,reliability and good driving position which I find ridiculously high in my ba

Most of these gadgets are for the techno freaks or facebook generation I can hardly work my iphone and laptop so I will not need this stuff in my car ever

My list of what I want in car as far as techno stuff goes is
Cruise control
bluetooth
keyless entry love it in the rain
power windows
heat and aircon
and somewhere to plug in my mp3 player
I can live without the rest although the more I drive the old ladys crv with reverse camera the more I want to fit one in my car

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Jastel

If we don't need gadgets why are we all sitting on computers/phones/tablets etc (all gadgets) whinging about them???

Give me a 2020 model car any day of the week.....

Wether I use all the gadgets is another story

Pointless comment if we are talking about gadgets in cars, i only have a laptop and i don't use that while driving.......

Edit: My Apologies, i see you are a Technical Contributor.....

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

So do you need gadgets to enjoy driving.....? I and most of the people i know that love driving don't...

You’ve got that right.

Take as look at the Lotus Exige for example. A car that can corner so hard it will give you a nose bleed. They are pretty basic inside as the cars are made for serious driving, along with some of the most expensive cars in the world, like the Enzo, F40 and the like.

When I’m finished my GT40, it probably won’t even have a stereo in it unless it can be totally concealed, not that you’d be that interested in listening to a stereo in one of those anyway.

I’m just not sure how I’ll cope without up to the minute Facebook updates, ABS, ESC, TC, VB, MSG, SRS airbags, blue tooth, rain sensing wipers, heated testicle warmers and an in dash coffee maker.

Can anyone tell me how to get Facebook updates, do I have to join first?

[chopstar87]

The features are probably more want then need..

personally i purchased a car based on features.. decent Stereo, heated seats front and rear, massive sunroof and nice smooth auto and everything else. things that assist with the car been a comfy, decent cruiser..

it really comes down to what you want out of your car.. some people would look at things like a V8 / Turbo 6 or even a just a N/A 6 as over kill for a car, some people don't need the power most of the time, but its good to have.. just like other features.

In car Internet can work.. for face book, not my thing, but in the states, it will display all the fuel prices in the area you are driving thru or live weather updates or movie times.. that stuff could be handy.

[Hawkeye84]

Having facebook and twitter in the car is quite ridiculous, but with regards to other gizmos and gadgets.......

1. Do we need them?
No

2. Do people expect for them to be there?
Yes, especially if the equivalent priced, cheaper and/or nastier cars have them

3. Do people feel ripped of/cheated if theyre not there?
Yes, especially if the equivalent priced, cheaper and/or nastier cars have them

For the enthusiasts and Ford lovers, having no gadgets in a Ford doesnt really matter (until question 3 sets in).
For the people who swing between brands, these gadgets will make or break the deal

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by frankie86

Give me an clapped out AU XL one tonner with wind up windows and original radio anyday over these new mobile disco's

Kind of goes against your sigline tho, doesn't it.

[mikeeman_ford]

I dont care too much for the gadgets, take it or leave it.

my biggest gripe, more than anything is electric adjustable seats. I refuse to look at a car with them for one reason.
my wife is short, i am tall, so when she has been in the car, i would have to hold the button/wait for the seat to go back for me to get in. Pain when it is raining or you are in a hurry. the old system works well.........pull the lever, slide...........all done

[redxm]

Aah Gadgets. Pondered That today as I was in my Landcruiser. The Headlights Are About The only tech In the Thing. No clock,power windows, central locking, power Mirrors, Cruise Or Auto hubs. And people still buy them

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by mikeeman_ford

I dont care too much for the gadgets, take it or leave it.

my biggest gripe, more than anything is electric adjustable seats. I refuse to look at a car with them for one reason.
my wife is short, i am tall, so when she has been in the car, i would have to hold the button/wait for the seat to go back for me to get in. Pain when it is raining or you are in a hurry. the old system works well.........pull the lever, slide...........all done

I think they are great, because I saved my seating positions and it always returns to my position automatically. If the missus wants hers she presses the '2' button and it automatically moves to her position. I hit '1' then it's back to mine. This is the seat, mirrors and radio station.

It's great because you only have to get the perfect position once and never have to stuff around trying to get it perfect again.

[Lotte]

There are several things I don't understand could possibly be wanted. Why do you want to update your facebook status on the fly (to possibly something that's completely wrong, I'm assuming it's voice recognition).
Nor dvd screens in the front, or, well, the back either. I mean, when the car is stopped, are you going to sit in your drivers seat and watch a dvd? Probably not. You'd probably be inside where it's warm.

I've got a work car at the moment as I'm out of the office, living the good life, it's got that automatic locking functionality that kicks in when you drive. My work mate got locked in the car when I parked and I was just wtf? It's been well over 24 hours, and I've just found the unlock button that's not the key remote. This same car doesn't have the functionality to lower the seat, so I've smashed my head into the roof (and subsequently my sunnies into my head) several times. If the car can lock me in, surely I can lower the seat to fit right?

Common sense should prevail with all these ging gang gooley gadgets, but then, by the same token, some common sense from the car companies as well perhaps?

[Guzz226]

Not sure enough about Holden to know how iw works but is anything that can distract a driver from driving a good idea?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1226668022491

Personally I would ban all mobiles as well as claytons indash car FB updates etc - too many people simply struggle to drive properly without the added distractions, never mind with them.

Surely an SMS or FB update is not worth someone's life?

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by Guzz226

Not sure enough about Holden to know how iw works but is anything that can distract a driver from driving a good idea?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1226668022491

Personally I would ban all mobiles as well as claytons indash car FB updates etc - too many people simply struggle to drive properly without the added distractions, never mind with them.

Surely an SMS or FB update is not worth someone's life?

If people can't keep their eyes on the road when driving, they shouldn't be on the road. It isn't he manufacturer's fault that the driver is distracted. The responsibility for that lies with the driver and the driver alone.

[burnz]

who needs gadgets?

Sent from my iPhone/android/black berry/holden/ford/kenworth using Tapatalk 2.0.1.0.12

[Gassy]

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

Should have bought the Focus could have all that PLUS the shoe compartment.

Haha - was that in the focus?