I'm surprised you didn't mention the daft nonsense of burying controls for the heater/aircon etc. deep inside of the infotainment system. There is nothing wrong or old fashioned about knobs, switches and dials. The only knobs in some car manufacturers these days can only be found in their head offices.
@@jackwhorton6826 I get your perspective but if the hardware is already installed, why force us to pay extra to “turn it on”? Seems a bit redundant to me. What else will manufacturers force us to pay extra for next? The ability to open your sunroof? 10$/month to adjust your seats? I see this as the beginning of something awful
The weight issue is totally bananas. We should be going the other way, using better materials to make things lighter, and being more efficient in design.
Regulations prioritize making cars good at crashing into things rather than making them less likely to crash. My car has been hit two times while stationary because the other person "couldn't see me" and decided they would drive blindly into me. In intersections I can't see anything around me because there's an SUV or full sized pickup that's never seen dirt blocking my view. I'm glad other people's need to feel "safe" in their massive vehicles with no visibility makes me less safe. My 4 door Volvo 240, which many people compare to a tank and think is heavy, is smaller than modern mini coopers, has way better visibility than any modern car I've driven, incredibly safe for it's time period, and handles very responsively with suspension mods and weight reduction. The materials, the tech, the driver assists, and the regulatory design make every modern car feel like a cheap appliance that forgot how to be a car. Every one of them feels geriatric with no steering or brake feel and creaky plastic being the only thing you hear in the cabin. I feel that modern cars almost entice you to fall asleep at the wheel with the lack of feedback or sound. Good thing manufacturers forgot how to make comfortable seats or we might have an epidemic on our hands
TRUTH. It’s an arms race to feel safer and more luxurious. The collective good, which could easily be had with todays advancements, lighter materials, more efficient designs, a safer road for everyone, has given way to class separation. It is only a safer road for those who can pay for an ugly battleship. That said, Navigator, Expedition, Tahoe, Yukon, etc… those are all beautiful, exciting, big cars. And they rip. To hell with crossovers and pickups though. EDIT: I saw a newer Ford escape in the parking lot before I finished writing this and to be fair, it has a nice stance and pretty big wheels and tires proportionally speaking. It’s like a big lifted focus, but not actually that big. Just bigger than a focus by a little
@@StreetForged I read a comment a few years ago that said, "if you want to reduce car crashes get rid of airbags and replace them with a shotgun that fires into one's face on impact and you'll miraculously see driving and drivers improve 10,000% overnight". I laughed at the time but after thinking about it a few years he may have had a point. If you make something too safe for the operators, they tend to lose respect for how dangerous what they are operating can be. There may NEED to be an element of danger/fear to keep someone focused and alert.
In my opinion the subscription charges are straight robbery. But the most annoying trend in modern cars is taking away the manual controls for HVAC, sound system, seat adjustment, and other controls that we need to change constantly.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone. If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
@@rogerwilco2 I read somewhere that there was an attempt in 60-ties with using those green screens, with infra red net for "touch" coordinates to create "smart" systems in cars, and it failed miserably, people rejected them because they had to take eyes off the road. But, evolution, here we are, same thing that failed 60 years ago now it's okay. Oh the irony...
For me the really telling one was looking at a Lexus at the auto show. It was just a rebadged Toyota Camry but it came with a 2y subscription to Sirius, a 12m subscription to ... etc For $60k? And then you want another $100/month to maintain the gizmos and "not be a Toyota" ?! Insane.
Matt, you omitted the biggest problem of all! Which is the removal of physical knobs and buttons for basic functions like volume and aircon. Instead, we have to fiddle with complex touchscreens while driving. It’s utter madness and needs to be called out by influential reviewers like you.
so you are claiming your car doesn't have volume controls on the steering wheel? that would be a rare finding these days. plus most cars have automatic climate control that you set and forget...
@@mikhailgagarinov4323 bruh I don’t know what’s so different about it you still have to look at it anyway and I’m pretty sure the steering wheel has some of those controls anyway so why bother?
The yoke was designed for aircraft. Aircraft operate in 3D and don’t normally make huge changes in direction. It doesn’t work in cars. Another brilliant video!
@@hassanabdulaziz4517 yes my brother works for Gulfstream and they’ve gone to side sticks. First one I ever saw was in the F16 when I was in the Air Force
And the operation is different. Turning the yoke on a plane starts the plane rotating on the x axis. The amount you turn the yoke determines the rate of roll. Once you reach the degree of bank you require for your desired turn, you straighten the yoke again, hold it throughout the turn, and at the end of the turn, turn the yoke in the opposite direction to roll back to level where you straighten out the yoke again. Making a tighter turn doesn't require turning the yoke more, just holding the roll until you get a steeper bank. As such, the max rotation of a yoke is not going to exceed 90 degrees.
You forgot to mention that most modern cars don’t have spare wheels. That’s the most annoying aspect when you have a flat tyre and you would need a tow truck to tow your car to a tyre shop. How about when the flat tyre happens during the weekend, late evening, or public holidays when the tyre shops are closed? How about during long trips driving around the countryside when there’s no tyre shop available within a 50 mile radius?
So true! In a few years I can see cars being equipped with a qr scan, so that you have to scan your vaccine passport if you want to start your car or some similar crazy idea
Most sensible comment on here. I'll keep my 1600E Cortina , bags of street cred, covered in chrome and real wood dash, no silly bleeps/sensors and it's even ULEZ exempt with ultra cheap classic car insurance too. Happy days :)
The worst thing is having to do anything on a touchscreen that you previously could do with a physical button. At least anything that you could be expected to do when driving.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone. If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
I also hate touch buttons. The old physical buttons gave you feedback, you knew that you pressed them, the touch ones I always find myself looking, did I place my finger correctly, did it register etc. And that's not only in cars,computer monitors for example do that too. Why change something that was proven with something objectively worse and more expensive?
Personally, i think what Lexus has done with the yoke/steering wheel is brilliant. Not only did they reduce drivability, and safety, but they also engineered in more failure points to raise the price of the car. This is what true innovation looks like, just like touch controls in a car.
This video could easily have a part two! My bugbear is the combined screen for sat-nav, music and pretty much everything else. Makes you have to operate the screen more than you should, which can have an effect on road concentration and safety. Also, on mine, I can't switch off the display if I just want to listen to the radio.
11. Fake exhaust pipes. 12. No protection plates for doors and bumpers 13. Rear reflectors not integrated in the rear lights 14. Digital instruments 15. Touchscreens inside for everything
Digital stuff is alright but like another guy said. It shouldn’t control things that could just have a switch or a knob. For music and navigation, the digital side is great
You're wrong about 13, the reflectors need to reflect the lights from the car behind, but those lights illuminate much lower than the taillights so they can't be in the same cluster, they need to be lower
I've got no problem with digital instruments, so long as it is primarily the instruments and not controls. having a digital instrument cluster actually allows the manufacturers to reduce the cost (actually, probably increase the margins) because they can then change the instrumentselectronically rather than having to have a different set for KPH and MPH. It also allows the user to do so when changing from UK to EU, for example. Once you have the digital instruments, the added cost of other instrument options is near zero.
I live in the USA and Mercedes subscription here is an absolute joke lol It has put so many people off it, for such a premium brand it is crazy how they are doing that
Same goes for BMW, to this day I won't understand the $80/yr for map updates on $100k+ cars. Like, add $1000 to the price upfront for software upkeep and give it 12yrs of updates and be done with it. Nobody will refuse to buy a $105k vehicle whereas they'd buy a $104k one, you just annoy people with nickle and dimming them. Not really 'Premium' if you ask me.
@@zwerko I can tell you. When they realize that after 3 years no one has a running subscription, they won't put any more effort in it. If they have to maintain it "for free" though, they have to put in work for 12 years
Mercs are notorious for that crap. You have to pay for the forced updates to the EV's software. Want be long before MBW and MB want to charge you a subscription for wheels.
#1 Planned Obsolescence edit: I had a Civic with an Isotta steering wheel like that yoke. I was told it was illegal by every police officer who ever laid eyes on it, citing safety issues.
Making everything automated ensures a customer for the life of the car. People can’t fix their own vehicles anymore. Only dealerships and manufacturers can repair many electronic/software issues
The one that annoys me is when they changed from large door mirrors, sometimes with convex outer sections to smaller mirrors, thus creating blind spots, then introduced Blind Spot Elimination Systems (yes, VOLVO, I'm talking about you) for many hundreds of pounds, sometimes Thousands!
100% right, as usual. And I could add a few. Having been responsible for strategy and customer proposition for some well-known consumer brands, I suspect that the new subscription models in particular will make customers actively hate BMW and others that do it. Nobody likes being told they can’t have something which they feel they’re entitled to - like a feature that’s right there on the car you just paid £60k for. Most other things are irritations - but that will build serious resentment and ultimately undermine brand value.
I think the idea was if you don't want the feature, you don't have to pay for it. and the subscription was a "try before you buy" type affair. but it really comes across as double charging for something that would otherwise be part of the sale price.
With subscriptions, car makers ARE really tinkering with the concept of 'what you get'/ownership when you buy a car - a bad trend they are taking over from the software world, where everyone wants you to subscribe, and not buy anything. So eventually you end up renting everything and own nothing.
7:00 when the car was invented there was actually a lot of panic about how the horses on the road saw cars and people actually put fake horse heads on the front of their cars so the real horses wouldn't freak out.
The swiping indicators was an effort to make indicating cool, to encourage the German car drivers to do it. They will only do something if it has a benefit to their ego.
@@dts7824 You have to understand that we have strong data protection laws which actually make it illegal to use indicators, especially if you sit in a BMW. Also, we don't buy Chevys.
absolutely disagreeing with the physical buttons removal, because touch buttons are very sensitive and you can accidentally touch on them, with the opposite of physical buttons, they are less sensitive
The problem with these yoke-style controls is that you're supposed to also have a reduced rotation to go along with it, like in formula 1 cars. Something more like 270 degrees instead of 900 or 1080.
Yeah, exactly - I have a 26cm Fanatec carbon fibre Formula rim - functionally equivalent to a Tesla Yoke - which is brilliant in eg the (simulated) F3A or F1 - but not many others. The wheel in the Tesla Model 3 is actually very nice, being more compact than others it's fairly responsive. I sure as hell wouldn't want a Formula style rim in it - especially one with hardly any buttons.
Right. A yoke makes sense on a Cessna 172, where you turn it 90 degrees left or right for full aileron deflection. Not so much when you need to turn it 360 degrees (or more) for a tight turn.
I can see how the fly by wire system will get around it but why fix a problem that doesn't exist with something hideously complicated? Better for self driving systems though I suppose.
BUTTONS!!! BUTTONS!!! We want physical buttons!!! Digital control don’t work for many controls whilst you’re driving and still want to look at the road!!! (Sorry Matt, i got emotional… nice video)
I really don't understand that why the heck can't they be installed inside and behind rear windows. Most cars have heated rear window AND wiper. Why is it so hard 😃
@@jothain For one, the viewing angle out the back window is obstructed by the trunk on cars, and would be at a poor angle on an SUV. Also, that means that the window also needs to be clear of dirt/ice/snow, so then the camera needs to be installed in an area where the wiper is working....more toward center rather than tucked away. Some cameras also use infrared at night, which does not go through glass well.
@@ian3580 I don't see why it would be poor angle on SUV, it would be great in fact, plus there's tons of angle possibilities in optics. To me it would it far better than ie. common license plate area for mounting. Also just don't use IR in night, why would you as you have reversing light anyway. Better to have 90% off wintertime functioning method than current virtually always non-working ones. Also in sedans that trunk isn't that big of a thing. Use camera for detection as primary and have common bumber sensors in addition if needed. On sedan that blindspot wouldn't be that huge plus it would still give great measurement when parking on that "apex" plus with bit off modern tech it's easy to measure when that apex has straight view to object reversing and then use wheel sensors to give very accurate reading of distance to collision. And case still exist. Camera would work in winter times behind glass with much, much greater success than any other method. Plus as mentioned have it work in conjuction with tech that isn't affected by winter.
@@jothain I think you're missing the point of a backup camera, and also don't understand how cameras work. The backup camera needs to be where it is to see directly behind the car at a VERY downward angle. Right at the bumper. I challenge you to put yourself inside the back of an SUV and use your Cell camera to get a picture there of the back of the pumper or within a few inches behind it. Now do it with a sedan. Could you see backing up to a curb, or a child laying there, etc? Behind the glass is going to have a much more outward rather than downward view based on the limitations of location and physics. If your idea was better do you think EVERY car company the world over would be putting them on the outside where they actually capture the angle necessary for safety?
IMHO worst is the electronic door handles that sit flush in the door panels. While it looks somewhat sleek and cool to some, I've had this fixed 3 times already due to some 'software' error and my friends have also experienced some kinda bug or defects one way or another....definitely in top 10 worst trend I'd say.
Cars are way too over-automated today. Lots of things are easier and quicker to do manually, plus they’ll almost never break. But they don’t look as cool and you can’t charge extra for them.
'They' (the car maintenance and independent garage peeps) seem to be worried that EVs are so unlikely to need routine maintenance that they will go out of business. Well fear not; there's plenty to go wrong in all new cars!
The yoke is not only stupid, it has undoubtedly already cost lives - I'm on record on that since day one. The GREAT thing about the steering wheel, one of the best user interfaces ever invented (and not as obvious as you might think, tillers and handlebars were the early equivalents), is that your hands always know where to find it, no matter how it's turned, what you have to be paying attention to at any given time, or what emergency you might be facing. You can't look at your steering wheel (or yoke) when cars are spinning out in front of you on ice, you're sliding yourself, and you need to put in just the right amount of opposite lock to maintain control. You need a boring, reliable, perfect, steering wheel. The yoke is stupid, stupid, stupid.
@@mmaldonadojr Yeah that's a point. Still one of the greatest inventions, possibly even better suited for cars than ships. And I'm sure you'd agree it's true that a lot of early cars skipped this piece of progress. And none of it distorts my opinion of that awful backwards design I was writing about in the first place.
Yep. They are trying to make cars feel more like airplanes when they forget a few key things. 1. Planes (with yokes) also are controlled by pedals. Not just the yoke. 2. Planes dont need to make sharp turns when flying. They almost always make slow, gentle turns, and so do not need to turn the yoke all that much (in fact a properly configured/maintained plane requires very little force to move the yoke at all) which brings me to point 3. 3. Airplane yokes only turn to at most 90 degrees from center. This, of course doesnt work in cars because the amount you need to turn the wheel changes given how fast you are going and because you often need to do pinpoint, tight maneuvers, such as during parking, which is not necessary in airplanes.
I've been driving a yoke controlled car for almost two years now. As I've gained experience with the device, I will say my rate of running over homeless orphans with leukemia has lessened considerably, more or less. I do agree with your assertion that all good things have been invented, and that all change is bad. It's good to meet a brother from the "I fear new things" tribe, welcome!
Reminds me of an engineering magazine where designers were trying to make car components lighter weight at the same time manufacturers are adding stuff we don't really need or fitting it because they can. Haven driven a modern car and a brand new car over the last few years I am now looking for nice simple classic car to ENJOY!
*Same here!* I totally and absolutely dislike all the "New Tech" supposed to make our driving more pleasant... Hence why it took me close to 10 years to replace the Passat I loved so much: _The more "innovations hit the market. The LESS I liked them._ It took me quite a month to get used to my new Toyota: too many steps/options for any setup everything and tons of "features" I haven't even been able to access. THEN the eternal noises for whatever, I even think the car has a specific special sound for when I: blink, yawn, burp or fart... Soo confusing that I used to stand next to my car trying to figure out WHAT it was warning me this time of: *I gave up! Doors closed? Seatbelt on?* Who gives a RAT's ass what it's trying me to warn off next... Nevermind the backup camera, it's the "Ghostbuster edition" keeps on finding ghosts on my rear than No One ever sees. BUT hey! If someone walks too close to the car, the warning system doesn't care: "Ohh well that guy is gonna be run-over immediately anyway..."
@@900108Chale I feel the pain of this every day. I started driving a truck (I say it's a truck if the steering is on the left, and a lorry if it's on the right!) in 1999, when there were few, if any, electronics. Now... Everything is beeping, dinging, and buzzing at me. It has RADAR that will slam on the brakes when the computer decides that I'm going to rear-end that vehicle that is already merged into the exit lane. It slows the cruise control gradually behind slower vehicles, so I look down to notice that I've lost 5 or 6 MPH somewhere. It farts at me when I get too close to the white line... or when I cross over painted-out lines from previous construction... or just because... reasons. Worst of all, if the door is opened when the brakes aren't set, the horn starts blasting. And you CAN'T TURN ANY OF IT OFF! (Although a bit of tinfoil and a strategically placed smear of grease on the glass defeats some of that technology that probably cost millions in R&D. That thought just warms the cockles of my heart.)
Does anyone else agree that whilst we enjoy watching videos on these new cars, we’re better off buying or keeping older ones? Manufacturers ought to heed Matts comments because he’s 100% correct, looking forward to part two….
So true, my 2006 GMC Sierra is still my favorite favorite over my 2022 F150. The overall usability is just so hard to beat on that GMC, such a nice driving truck and not to mention insanely comfortable. The poor thing is rolling up on 300k miles and will still knock your dentures out when you put it to the floor. It's like one a those WW2 vets that just refuses to admit it's time to retire and loves to pick on all the millennials for being whiney n soft.🤣
THIS is why I'll never part with my '18 Mercedes GLA45 AMG. It's the last of the generation of (mostly) analog cars...and delightfully free of distracting digital nannies and irritating design features!
I nearly bought a brand new Kia. It was perfect in every way. But I took it onto my town's main road, one that's full of S-curves. This thing beeped at me for 10 minutes until I made it out of that part. No matter how careful I was being, it wouldn't stop. I travel on that road every day, there is no way I'm putting up with that
Not always. Cadillac physically removed adaptive cruise off capability on Platinum models (no way to turn it off or disable it). On/off was available on the cheaper models. DAd spent 125k for a 2019 (2020) platinum escallade - returned 30 days later because it almost killed him 3 times when the brakes locked up when anyone someone pulled in front on highway and he couldn't disable it. Sued them for 250k; cost plus anxiety and suffering. Cadillac settled out of court with usual NDA required.
Absolutely agree with all of that, especially the subscriptions (how evil is that). Also really glad you didn't complain about what you call soft limiters, which are neutral limiters not soft limiters, and which also don't matter. They're there for a reason. All the best, Nick
@@hampps4729 given that the area at the back of hatchbacks/suvs is already a turbulent vortex, not a part of laminar airflow, I'd expect the impacts to be minimal to negligent. But like mentioned in the video, put it under the spoiler, where it's out of the airflow completely, especially since they already do that on several other models.
@@JeffDeLamater you’re not wrong but it’s the little things that add up that car makers have to do to increase the range even by a couple percent that are really off putting, design and functionality wise.
The base price of a no-frills Golf is just bananas. I remember when VW briefly had the City Golf model. We bought one brand new off the lot in ‘08 for $10k… in Canadian dollars. Quite literally the deal of the century.
VW is a brand of European-import luxury vehicles sold in North America to a class of drivers so refined that they are above even indicating their upcoming turns. The peons they passed on the road ought to naturally intuit their intentions. And those model names! "Golf" is weird enough but there's also a "Tiguan". I guess one brand executive wanted to call it Tiger and another preferred Iguana, so they agreed to compromise? The point is, buying budget BMW is like buying a budget yacht: you don't need one to survive and it'll cost you an arm and a leg to maintain it. That's true in North America at least. BMWs are possibly more affordable in the European domestic market.
I love this, I think more influential youtubers such as yourself should talk about these issues and maybe we can achieve some positive changes at some point down the line. Otherwise, us, the average consumers, will just keep on getting scammed by greedy manufacturers who are apparently becoming more and more out of touch with reality and the actual needs of people who buy and drive their cars.
My Scoda Scala reverse camera would get all messy and didn't have a dedicated washer. Then I figured out, that they aimed the back window washer in a way that it will drip from the window onto the camera and clean it. So efficient and nice, just like many other things in the Scoda.
I agree with all of these. VW has managed to cram its front facing driving sensors into the VW logo so it’s invisible. Why can’t other manufacturers do the same instead of those ugly black box sensors 😬 They also put the rear camera behind the badge so that solves two of these issues.
Sure it looks better, but it's complete crap in Nordic winter conditions. Even slightest amount of sleet or wet snowfall sticks like a glue into it. In worst case you can't get from one traffic light to next without triggering "Front Assist not available" fault, disabling the emergency braking system and and Cruise Control.
@@mikkojk83 Tbf I’ve never experienced that myself. However if it’s snowing/heavy sleet I’d rather fully take control of the vehicle anyway so wouldn’t bother me. I even have a skin over mine to make the VW logo black and it’s worked perfectly every time.
"...but it's complete crap in Nordic winter conditions..." If properly designed: this is wrong The sensors have a built in heating to prevent an "ice dam built up"
Now that LEDs are commonplace, manufacturers are going wild using them as styling points, but imho some of these styles are pretty gimmicky and won't age well. The tail lights on the Cadillac Esacalade for instance, look like a set of goal posts.
All valid. For part two though, you need: - cameras instead of actual wing mirrors (a mirror is totally fine, better and cheaper) - air con controls in the screen (or, actually worse, touch sensitive controls that still need you to take your eyes off the road) - full-width light bars on the front of cars (they loook shite) - having to fanny about trying to work out how to disable lane keep assist (just give me a damn button) - extra cost to 'upgrade' to a 'bigger' digital dial screen (my one experience being the current Audi A3 - it's the same bloody larger screen in every car, just masked off with plastic trim and smaller graphics to make it look smaller, thankfully I'm now rid of it)
- cameras reduces drag, that is their only purpose in this case - I hate it, too - just speak to your car and it will fulfill your wish... sometimes... - full-width light bars on the back are another issue - or just make me enable it by myself... and not with every time I start the car - disabling it everytime is cruesome - manufactures had found a new way to catch more money - it's the same with detuned engines (you can both modify for the full experience)
Sir what about the VW Golf mk7? I thought it got a very small screen (the trendline version) but now after reading your comment I started doubting that, does it really got a small screen or is it actually bigger but has thick plastic bits around and smaller graphics like your old A3 had?
@@VladimirComputin I was actually on about the digital cockpit rather than the MMI/infotainment screen. If it's the infotainment screen you're talking about in your Mk 7 Golf, there were definitely different sizes of unit (I had both Mk 7 and 7.5 GTi's), rather than single-sized plastic-trimmed standard units. I'm not sure about the digital cockpit screen though as it was so long ago, sorry.
I've been driving a '68 Corolla for about 36 years so far. It's got cruise control, traction control, stability control, launch control, Rev limiter, anti-lock brakes...and all those systems are in my feet and hands.
I love this. I started this video and was expecting having to scream into the comments, how I don't want all that electronic bullshit, like navis, air-conditioning, distance-sensors, cameras, touch screens, seat-heat etc because I want a cheap car that is as low weight as possible. I don't even need a radio and I much prefer knobs to regulate my heating instead of a touchscreen. But I didn't have to, because you actually made that point and I did not expect that from a car person. So thank you!
I have a 2014 c63 6.2l . This car was the perfect time in automotive history, or when the fruit was the ripest on the internal combustion tree, the forefront of innovation in internal combustion engines , but jjst before the eu noise, safety and emissions regulations came in . And yes ! It has physical knobs for the radio and heat controls. That V8 burble is music to my ears
What about the infotainment screens glued to the top of the dash? They all look like the designers thought they'd finished & then realised they'd forgotten the infotainment, deciding to then just glue a tablet on & hope we don't notice!
Especially since they had it figured out 10 years ago…Audis from 2010 have their screens integrated into the dash properly,I genuinely don’t understand
@@bosknight7837 Its just what screens they can buy. You can put one square 8 inch one in the middle without it looking stuck on, but if it has to be a foot long, well no one is making curved screens a foot long (although they are working on it). Also lets say they made a perfectly round screen, or one made exactly the shape of a cut out, triangle on one end and curved the other. A giant teardrop. That could end up costing more than the car. Then in 5 years when they run out spares, there wont be one other screen on the planet that fits. When you can buy a screen on a roll and cut it to shape, they will look amazing.
@@geroutathat these older screens were literally normed my dude. Double din,like a normal car radio is single din. But you’re not entirely incorrect,they usually do just take the cheapest touch screen they can find and basically glue it on,paired with proprietary software that’s also as cheap as possible so they all have horrible response times and feel
One of the worst trends recently is SCREENS ON DASHBOARDS . I mean , I'm looking at screens already throughout the day . I don't need to be looking at even more screens when I'm driving in my car ffs . Takes away from the driving experience imo .
I like it. It's great for using navigation and other things because you are not looking down at a touchscreen. Instead, your focus is on the screen but you can more easily glance forward. It's safer than a touchscreen where you have to take your eyes further away from the road. It's also nice since you are not craning to see the screen. It's right in front of you
I do think however that it's ugly and ruins the flow of the design. If it's particularly bezel-heavy, it can automatically date the car's interior. I think when it's done right there are many positives to it
I notice a lot of these feature are in higher end cars. It seems the more you pay for your vehicle the less you get and the more you need to pay for standard features.
Agree on the whole list. I think the problem is manufactors are nervous to miss the new features and trends and loose market. It shows a lack of confidence and thats why everyone looks at everyone and puts everything in all their cars (even the cheaper ones). When the market becomes more confident in electric cars and the transition we will see normal cars again without crazy features that is just annoying.
Agree, a lot of it is to blame to tesla imo, (no tesla hater btw) they are very popular and trendy and a lot of folks find everything they do great and are very vocal about it. This creates hype and makes it look cool and seem all great. Because Tesla is now seemed as cool and all other brands want to follow and jump on the wagon. Like the yoke, but also the big screens with every function, like ac and heated seats on it started with tesla.
Great video! I agree on all of your points! If you plan a part 2, definitely add the lack of physical knobs and the strange trend of flush/ retractable handles. With their need of additional actuators and sensors they add weight on the scale, above that: what happens in the case of a crash? Will they still open? Function follows design never was the best solution in the engineering world.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone. If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
The cost of new cars, the soulless homogeneous design across all brands, subscription based features… Nope, I have no desire to purchase a new vehicle anymore. It’s sad, my entire life I’ve been a “car guy”, obsessed with many aspects/genres, and I’ve just completely lost interest.
I think the only car that tries to maintain its similar size from preceding cars is the Miata MX-5. Not only the size of the car, but the weight only gained about 200-100 pounds (according to sources) while still maintaining a 50/50 ratio. Kudos to them.
Your emphasis on efficiency and practicality is spectacular. Most of these brands are really not keeping up with customer requirements when it comes to being practical.
BIGGEST issue with new cars - lack of actual buttons! Manufacturers are putting every single option to the touch screens, which technically shouldn't be used while driving. So yeah, that's that.
What's actually worse, is the subscriptions system, why do my car have a paywall based features in order to use those functions? what did i pay the car full price for? Sounds like Scam to me It's only a matter of time, until this become a Mandatory standard Trend among the globe, the future is looking scary that i don't wanna see or know on what's coming next...
I agree with all your comments. All new cars are becoming to annoyingly complicated, heavier and more expensive. I don't think manufactures know the principle of KISS. As for the EV's, they are the equivalent of a heavy 4WD in terms of weight, my Defender is less than 2.1T which is less than most EVs. So, the roads are not designed to hold 100% 4WDs or trucks, therefore roads will need more resurfacing more often, more cost to the economy and negative environmental impact. Great video thanks for sharing.
The biggest problem is the law makers. They keep mandating that cars be safer and safer, and while this might be a good thing for the consumers chances of surviving, this really adds weight. There is only so much extra strength you can add to a door, by cleverly bending the metal, at some point the only way to make it stronger is to add thickness to the material, and this adds weight.
imo EV´s are NOT the future. at least not now. the battery technology is still way too heavy and bulky. and dont get me started on the milageand imagine this, you replace ALL ICE cars with EV´s... now look at the powergrid... see where this is going?
I gotta say, looking at all this unecessary stuff which manufacturers put into cars nowadays, I love my 18 years old Citroen C2. Weighs under a 1000kg, is sporty to drive and simple on the inside. Like those analogue dials for the fan and heating. :-)
It's crazy really. In Australia, a decent cheap 'new' car that drives ok costs at least $30,000 AUD. I doubt prices will ever go back down in the sub 20's.
But wages have also doubled, amirite ? Sike, get fucked poor people. I cant even buy a a fuckin 10 year old car I want here in croatia cuz "co2" taxes aka we steal your money in the name of ecology
I’ve got a great idea. Make manual windows with a crank handle used to open and close the window. Also make a triangular vent window which can be opened to any angle. It could blow air directly on you or wherever you want.
There's a lot of merit to this. Happened briefly to get a very old used car in the family, that is, one with manual window openers. They were much easier to control, pleasant to use, and -- could be used when the car was NOT RUNNING. As it is, when I want to leave my dog in my car for 5 minutes after doing my shopping, I have to unlock it, put the dog in, get in the driver's seat, start the car, lower the windows, turn the car off and then leave. DUMB DUMB DUMB.
@@blixten2928 I know, right? Also, if you’ve ever had to replace a widow motor you know what a hassle that is. The manual method has some inconveniences but in the long run I think this is a case where the old way was better.
@@joebyedone2351 Absolutely. Also, older sewing machines. Also, older tractors. Also, sound systems with knobs. Electronics and computers have become a horrid anti-user way to force consumers to pay more for planned obsolescence. I'm buying more and more used (my household tractor is a Massey Ferguson from 1958).
Buttons in general and controlling your own air vent. I have a fight with the vents in my friend's Rivian truck every time I get in it because the air vent isn't aiming where the screen says it is. Just let me control it myself with a little switch manually...please.
Surprised you didn't mention the lack of heater/AC controls onbuttons, dials or knobs (this has been mentioned elsewhere, and I absolutely, 100% agree with the lack of rear wipers. Another, important, model which doesn't have the rear wiper is the MG 4, and that also doesn't have grab handles. I'm not convinced about the lack of grab handles, I'll have to wait and see when mine arrives, but no wash wipe? If I was in the UK it would be such a fault that I might be tempted away. Fortunately, living in Spain it is not such a serious ommision. At least the MG has 2 programable knobs, so I can have one for the heater controls.
Excellent. I agree 100%. The solution to all this is simple: do like I do and drive a '98 C180 (or any other older car). No beeps. not even for the seat belts. Not too expensive and very sustainable!
@@Trabant_Vishnya Repair your car yourself, and all the hassles are gone. Sometimes getting spare parts can be hard, but as long as there's demand, there will be supply, I know that for sure. You can become the best mechanic you know, that's an extra.
@marecar5449 Let me give you a time saving advice. If you don't want to argue with someone, try to minimise interactions with them, especially the ones which can break out into an argument
Have you tried to drive one or just via hearsay? I don't care what others drive but I notice a lot of options from ppl that never tried one for themselves.
I agree with the last thing on the list for sure. I never realized how bad it was to have an uncovered reversing camera until I got my mk7.5 golf r. It's camera is behind the badge and it's fantastic that it's always clean
Same! Old car had the camera laid bare, always dirty. My T-Roc now same as your Golf. Although the sound when the emblem covers the camerta back up again was irritating at first and I thought something is broken :D
Its been 7 years and I've never cleaned the backup camera in my Golf. I also live in a place where it snows and all cars are covered in dirt for half the year. Its a truly elegant solution ahead of its time.
I've a humble Golf Mk7 and had to send it off to the dealership for fixing. They loan me a Golf Mk8 base model. It never shut the hell up beeping and booping at me. Everything had a warning sound attached to it. It was insane. I was so glad to be back in the much easier to use (and less cheap interior) of the 7.
I don't have a problem with them, its rare you need to touch or alter things anyway, people say about heat/aircon etc but everything is now climate controlled so you just set a temperature (I personally have 20c) and the car will reach and maintain this temp pretty quickly. As for other controlls like media so volume etc what you may adjust frequently this can typically all do done from manual buttons on the wheel. I think the only thing I do on the touchscreen is sometimes turn off the heated seats after a few mins.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone. If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
My pet hate is the expansion in dimensions. My garage isn’t getting wider and it’s so much easier to park my mk3 golf in there than the mk4. The thing that got me was the new polo is bigger than the mk4 golf. Crazy. In addition the increased safety around the A pillar has decreased the visibility to the extent you can actually hide a car in it making it more likely to have an accident. Turning circles have also reduced and you can’t say it’s because of legislation because they managed to get type approval for london taxis. Lack of tactile controls for things that need adjustment is idiotic. I don’t need to look at my controls in the Mk3 golf to change the heating or direction but the mk4 needs to be looked at.
Great Video, designers should have at least a TEAMS meeting with you..😄 Some trends are even dangerous: - recessed door handles (I hope this is the right word). 30 years ago, the motor journalists forced even BMW to change their handles to the style of Mercedes and VW (and many others). This because after an accident, these handle style could give the first responders more power to open damaged doors. - Cameras instead of side mirrors: Nice, but you cannot change the view angle to erase blind spots by simply move your head - electric doors: What the....instead of one switch, you need actuators, motors and sensors (to avoid damages with near objects) In addition, if the electricity is down (happened on a TESLA the other day, guy hardly escaped from the burning car), you need to know where your emergency opener is.
The manual door release on a Tesla is just about where it would be if they did not have electronic door opening. The reason the Tesla has it, it to make it possible for the car to roll down the window slightly before actuating the door, to not destroy the door seals. Then you might say that this is a silly design, but this is how the made it.
Matt, as already said I think the most annoying thing manufacturers have managed to get away with is putting the heating and fan controls in the screen sub menus. Some, as you have shown, are so bad it is dangerous to change while driving. It would be interesting if you did a research piece on this with manufacturers to find out what is the gain in this as it must be cheaper but doesn’t end up affecting the car prices. Also, every review of every car by every reviewer I have seen has complained about this but hardly any manufacturers have taken heed of this. Also, all reviews hate haptic steering wheel controls and yet they are appearing on more and more cars. Once again, what is the logic of this when they seem mostly universally loathed. Do manufacturers have no care for what a customer may actually want - seems that way. Cheers.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone. If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
@@rogerwilco2 That is not practical, you would end up with a cockpit-like interior and out of necessity many controls placed in bad locations. You dont need every function while driving (e.g hood aka bonnet button). Not to mention, the car would have to be very expensive and its reliability would suffer.
Good list. The size thing really is starting too bug me. Cars are getting to large. Parking garages is increasingly a nightmare. And good luck if you live in an old town with tight streets. It really hits you when you for example see an 80s Porsche 911, next to a new one. The 80s one looks like a moped car.
My dream car, a mid-'60s XKE, looks tiny next to most new cars. (I wanted one since I was 18, but now I'm on Social Security----another youthful fancy dashed).
It's been many years since I could tell the difference in a Corolla or Camry. My 68 Corolla weighs about 1500 lbs, you can reach the back windows from the drivers seat, good vision all around, quick and nimble, up to 50 mpg on a good ol', regular rear wheel drive, 4 speed manual.
How about #11: removing features from cars after reviews are out. Take the BMW IX Xdrive50. Came standard with air suspension and rear wheel steering. It's now removed and only available on the top trim M60. Yet all reviews talk about how the xdrive50 has nice the drive feel with the air suspension. People waiting for a delivery of an Xdrive 50 got the choice of accepting removal of their air suspension and rear wheel steering or canceling there order and ordering a new M60. BMW also removed opening the tailgate with your foot and massaging seats for the front passenger in all trims due to parts shortages. So your luxury SUV is now less luxurious than one built a year ago. Tesla removed the parking sensors because of part shortage (even on the X and S). A replacement should be coming in software using the camera's on board, but it's not here yet (so it probably doesn't work well). A Dacia Spring of 20K has parking sensors, a new model X at 120K doesn't.
Tesla removed the ultrasonic sensors because they don't think they are necessary. I suspect it is because they can save a load of cash off each car by removing them. Tesla claims its camera software update will do the job just as well but I suspect body shops are going to be doing a lot of bumper repairs on Teslas in the coming years.
7:14 - About the prices, I'd say the biggest problem is that they have discontinued the smaller, cheaper models like the Up! You say that the 2003 (Mk5) Golf cost about £18,500 in today's money while a new Golf today (Mk8) is almost £26,000. However, if you compare the wheelbases, the Mk5 Golf (2,578 mm) is considerably smaller than the Mk8 (2,636 mm). In fact, it's much closer to the current (Mk6) Polo (2,548 mm), which costs £19,505 according to VW's UK website. So the problem in this case is actually that the carmakers want to sell you a brand (e.g. "Golf") that you stick to for 20-30 years as a customer, so that you buy an increasingly bigger and more expensive car for each generation: "Oh, I'm a Golf person."
I can understand sound generators for electric vehicles since they run silent. The purpose originally is for pedestrian safety around EVs so they can be heard but I think they can be implimented better.
I guess that's part of the reason I like Acura, no rubbish addons, heated seats are standard, all safety features are standard, still have a lot of physical buttons, sensors are cleverly hidden inside their own logo and price makes sense
manufacturers talking between: 1: let's put blinkers somewhere in Menu Option? 2: your'e so evil! That's genius! 1: and one more thing, if they want to unlock 2nd gear, they will have to find Easter Egg under the backseat :) 2: what easter egg? 1: my poop. 2: Congratulations! you just got promoted.
Definitely agree on the beeps. We recently exchanged our 2007 Toyota Yaris for a 2019 Skoda Superb and it startles me every time the car beeps because the outside temperature drops below 4°C; beeps as if an accident was imminent. Also the continuous noise the car makes when you open the door and the motor is still running (as shown in the video).
It does the noise even if the ignition is on and you open the door...very nice (and quite loud) for neighbours when you start at 3:00 o clock in the morning..;)
I don't know how this temperature warning could be annoying. Especially when you are in hill or mountain areas the temperature can vary a lot with in minuts. One short Peep or Bing per drive - either at the beginning or once when the temperature droppped while driving - has definetly more benerift than annoyance factor. I also think the warning when leaving the car with running engine makes sense. I had several cars in which you didn't really hear or feel the enging when running in idle. Also there are several countries where it's not allowed to leave the car when the engine is running. I currently have a skoda. It might be annoying when you try to film a car reviews, but in daily use I never hear that warning.
Yes.. I can actually remember those days. It was too much fun to take your eyes off the road while you turned that dial to move the needle and you had to watch it while you took what seemed like forever to hit the millimeter of space perfectly so the radio station was in tune. You then had to fine tune it ever 20 miles or so.
I could not agree more. I had a Skoda Superb so I know exactly what you mean about that noise. I'm currently driving a 10 year old Volvo that has an even worse noise if you happen to get out of the car with the key in your pocket when the engine is running. Given the bloody thing has keyless entry and ignition the key is almost always in my pocket so I get this racket quite often.
The worst thing ever is an old one. The stop/start 'feature'. Whoever designed this has never driven in traffic. At the time I first had one, I worked 3.5 miles away. The car stop/started 28 times! Twenty eight! Thankfully it doesn't work anymore...
Yeah the trick to disabling the Auto Start-Stop is to replace the vehicle's fancy AGM battery with a simple flooded-cell one. The computer detects the difference and will stop sending the shutoff command.
The popup reversing camera should be standard. Here in Norway, the camera is pretty much useless 6 months out of the year unless it's a popup. (or stow-away)
Totally agree, but if i remember corectly you can turn off voice activation of the assistant in mercedes. 9:34 toyota corolla scared me a few times beeping about how its cold and road can be slippery, like i can't tell that its cold. The worst part is that its not beeping right after turning on the car, but later in random moment and that beep sound is qute agressive, like i said it scared me a few times
Ohhh man, the beeps and bongs in newer cars drive me nuts! Just this week I drove a brand new Honda CRV; a chime because it wanted me to shift up, a chime when it wanted me to shift down, a chime when it read a maximum speed sign, a chime when I changed lanes and I forgot to indicate... and even more annoying is that it's the same chime for everything so it forces you to look at the dash to understand why it's chiming at me... seems quite counter productive to road safety.
Yeah. I hate that my 1998 E39 bongs me when it's 3C or below outside when I first turn it on, with the same sound when something is genuinely wrong. I just have to watch Clarkson rage on Top Gear at all the bonging in his E60 M5 review to know how little I have to whinge about really
What about hidden cameras when its winter and snow. Will they open or they are stuck? Like cars where boot open is hidden in car logo. Most - degrees winter it is crap solution. You came from store and you need open not electric boot but you notice that logo is iced and you cant open it. Probably problem is not for car manufacturers but users ho live in north europe like Estonia etc.
Love your new car reviews! Very honest!! Watching this review of modern tech on new cars; I have to agree with you about the reversing camera!! As an Irish person who's recently bought a new car with this feature, I find myself cleaning the camera, literally EVERY day, this time of year because of dirt & grime being splashed onto it from the road by passing vehicles. I love the idea of a camera that is "hidden" away until reverse gear is selected, but I drive a Ford Fiesta & so, the camera's not stowed away until needed, but then; the camera's not stowed away on ANY model in the Ford range, as far as I'm aware...
About the yolk. I was always taught to not cross hands while steering. Because if you'd get into an accident there's a chance that the airbags would push your arms back into you.
2:46 - _"If BMW is going to fit them regardless, why not make them standard?"_ Simple - because they'll make more money by charging extra for the subscription that is required to unlock these features that are already built in.
It's a technique when u are buying a considerably expensive car with pretty high starting price you won't tick for the optional extras . But some features may find useful once u start using that car but then it would be too late to install those features or would have to go for aftermarkets . Bmw is making use of that by offering features which u wish u had opted for when u where buying that car
Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I am shocked you miss having to use a touchscreen for setting up music volume or AC temperature, making the warning button a touchscreen, and fake exhausts…
first.
I WAS FIRST
First
Tihrth
3rd
*Wow* didn’t expect that from *Carwow*
I'm surprised you didn't mention the daft nonsense of burying controls for the heater/aircon etc. deep inside of the infotainment system. There is nothing wrong or old fashioned about knobs, switches and dials. The only knobs in some car manufacturers these days can only be found in their head offices.
As a Tesla owner, I thought the same before I bought it. But honestly, after driving it for a year, it’s so much better than knobs.
Had me laughing thanks for that have a good Day.
Hahahaha
@@Tazman55x shut up
😂
Buying a subscription for heated seats is crazy 💀
If EA games made cars.
@@mikeallan7740 YES!
@@jackwhorton6826 lol. It’s joke?
@@jackwhorton6826 I get your perspective but if the hardware is already installed, why force us to pay extra to “turn it on”? Seems a bit redundant to me. What else will manufacturers force us to pay extra for next? The ability to open your sunroof? 10$/month to adjust your seats? I see this as the beginning of something awful
@@jackwhorton6826 but it’s *already built in* so why not just enable them from the beginning??
Lack of physical buttons. It doesn't just take away the quality feel but it's also dangerous.
This and stuck on tablets instead of integrating the screens into the dashboard are my biggest pet peeves with modern cars.
Look at phone illegal, big touchscreen in the car legal.
This.....sooooo much this.
F**ng hate this
The wiring used to make knobs are costly these days, its cheaper to put it in the infotainment
The weight issue is totally bananas. We should be going the other way, using better materials to make things lighter, and being more efficient in design.
Regulations prioritize making cars good at crashing into things rather than making them less likely to crash. My car has been hit two times while stationary because the other person "couldn't see me" and decided they would drive blindly into me.
In intersections I can't see anything around me because there's an SUV or full sized pickup that's never seen dirt blocking my view. I'm glad other people's need to feel "safe" in their massive vehicles with no visibility makes me less safe.
My 4 door Volvo 240, which many people compare to a tank and think is heavy, is smaller than modern mini coopers, has way better visibility than any modern car I've driven, incredibly safe for it's time period, and handles very responsively with suspension mods and weight reduction.
The materials, the tech, the driver assists, and the regulatory design make every modern car feel like a cheap appliance that forgot how to be a car. Every one of them feels geriatric with no steering or brake feel and creaky plastic being the only thing you hear in the cabin. I feel that modern cars almost entice you to fall asleep at the wheel with the lack of feedback or sound. Good thing manufacturers forgot how to make comfortable seats or we might have an epidemic on our hands
TRUTH. It’s an arms race to feel safer and more luxurious. The collective good, which could easily be had with todays advancements, lighter materials, more efficient designs, a safer road for everyone, has given way to class separation. It is only a safer road for those who can pay for an ugly battleship.
That said, Navigator, Expedition, Tahoe, Yukon, etc… those are all beautiful, exciting, big cars. And they rip. To hell with crossovers and pickups though.
EDIT: I saw a newer Ford escape in the parking lot before I finished writing this and to be fair, it has a nice stance and pretty big wheels and tires proportionally speaking. It’s like a big lifted focus, but not actually that big. Just bigger than a focus by a little
then it's going to make cars more expensive.
@@StreetForged I read a comment a few years ago that said, "if you want to reduce car crashes get rid of airbags and replace them with a shotgun that fires into one's face on impact and you'll miraculously see driving and drivers improve 10,000% overnight".
I laughed at the time but after thinking about it a few years he may have had a point. If you make something too safe for the operators, they tend to lose respect for how dangerous what they are operating can be. There may NEED to be an element of danger/fear to keep someone focused and alert.
Battery banks are heavy.
In my opinion the subscription charges are straight robbery.
But the most annoying trend in modern cars is taking away the manual controls for HVAC, sound system, seat adjustment, and other controls that we need to change constantly.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone.
If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
@@rogerwilco2 I read somewhere that there was an attempt in 60-ties with using those green screens, with infra red net for "touch" coordinates to create "smart" systems in cars, and it failed miserably, people rejected them because they had to take eyes off the road. But, evolution, here we are, same thing that failed 60 years ago now it's okay. Oh the irony...
and IGNITION. and BRAKES. Things you might want to not be computerized in an emergency.
Why do you need to constantly change your HVAC and seat?
Both of them you set once before starting to drive...
For me the really telling one was looking at a Lexus at the auto show. It was just a rebadged Toyota Camry but it came with a 2y subscription to Sirius, a 12m subscription to ... etc
For $60k? And then you want another $100/month to maintain the gizmos and "not be a Toyota" ?! Insane.
Matt, you omitted the biggest problem of all! Which is the removal of physical knobs and buttons for basic functions like volume and aircon. Instead, we have to fiddle with complex touchscreens while driving. It’s utter madness and needs to be called out by influential reviewers like you.
he mentioned it in another video
That’s why you do something called doing it at a stoplight
so you are claiming your car doesn't have volume controls on the steering wheel? that would be a rare finding these days.
plus most cars have automatic climate control that you set and forget...
@@slapshotjack9806 yep, especially on a highway! When you have another couple of hundreds kilometres ahead🥰
/s
@@mikhailgagarinov4323 bruh I don’t know what’s so different about it you still have to look at it anyway and I’m pretty sure the steering wheel has some of those controls anyway so why bother?
The yoke was designed for aircraft. Aircraft operate in 3D and don’t normally make huge changes in direction. It doesn’t work in cars. Another brilliant video!
Even then some aircraft have developed side-sticks and moved past yokes 😂
@@hassanabdulaziz4517 yes my brother works for Gulfstream and they’ve gone to side sticks. First one I ever saw was in the F16 when I was in the Air Force
And the operation is different. Turning the yoke on a plane starts the plane rotating on the x axis. The amount you turn the yoke determines the rate of roll. Once you reach the degree of bank you require for your desired turn, you straighten the yoke again, hold it throughout the turn, and at the end of the turn, turn the yoke in the opposite direction to roll back to level where you straighten out the yoke again. Making a tighter turn doesn't require turning the yoke more, just holding the roll until you get a steeper bank. As such, the max rotation of a yoke is not going to exceed 90 degrees.
SAAB briefly fitted some sort of aircraft derived steering control. There's an old Top gear episode in which Clarkson reviewed it.
I'd be tempted to put on one of those steering wheel knobs that stunt drivers sometimes have.
You forgot to mention that most modern cars don’t have spare wheels. That’s the most annoying aspect when you have a flat tyre and you would need a tow truck to tow your car to a tyre shop. How about when the flat tyre happens during the weekend, late evening, or public holidays when the tyre shops are closed? How about during long trips driving around the countryside when there’s no tyre shop available within a 50 mile radius?
The subscription model reeks of 'You will own nothing, and you will be happy'.
Soon we'll have Car as a subscription model, and eat ze bugs for dinner
So true! In a few years I can see cars being equipped with a qr scan, so that you have to scan your vaccine passport if you want to start your car or some similar crazy idea
I won't use subscription models and I will be happy.
Jesus christ everywhere right-wing zombies repeating cluelessly this bon-mot, without even understanding the source of this "quote".
@@Geebvs Then please inform us of the truth, if we are so ill informed.
Seeing these trends makes me appreciate my old car even more...
same here !
@@51tomtomtom So do I. My car has none of these and is just great to drive. A..i TT.
Most sensible comment on here. I'll keep my 1600E Cortina , bags of street cred, covered in chrome and real wood dash, no silly bleeps/sensors and it's even ULEZ exempt with ultra cheap classic car insurance too. Happy days :)
The worst thing is having to do anything on a touchscreen that you previously could do with a physical button. At least anything that you could be expected to do when driving.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone.
If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
I also hate touch buttons. The old physical buttons gave you feedback, you knew that you pressed them, the touch ones I always find myself looking, did I place my finger correctly, did it register etc. And that's not only in cars,computer monitors for example do that too. Why change something that was proven with something objectively worse and more expensive?
@@djibrille31 its Not More expensive :( those crappy touch interfaces Are cheaper than buttons
See the point on subscription payments to unlock capability.
It's not actually a problem. Takes a few minutes to get used to it and then most people welcome the lack of physical buttons.
Personally, i think what Lexus has done with the yoke/steering wheel is brilliant.
Not only did they reduce drivability, and safety, but they also engineered in more failure points to raise the price of the car.
This is what true innovation looks like, just like touch controls in a car.
What are u on about 😂 the yoke is horrible
@@ob_0327sarcasm
@@ob_0327 Read it again, buddy. The sarcasm is dripping off the comment.
@@KindredBrujah I got u bro 😉😂
@@ob_0327 Sorry, didn't realise I was resurrecting a comment from 5 months ago. Kudos on the rapid reply! :P
This video could easily have a part two!
My bugbear is the combined screen for sat-nav, music and pretty much everything else. Makes you have to operate the screen more than you should, which can have an effect on road concentration and safety. Also, on mine, I can't switch off the display if I just want to listen to the radio.
This is part 3, it's been mentioned before
@@T4lyX part 4 actually imo.
absolutely!
@@purwantiallan5089 Thanks, will check them out!
I don't see why cars need a screen except for stuff like a backup camera. It's a car, not a computer.
11. Fake exhaust pipes. 12. No protection plates for doors and bumpers 13. Rear reflectors not integrated in the rear lights 14. Digital instruments 15. Touchscreens inside for everything
Digital stuff is alright but like another guy said. It shouldn’t control things that could just have a switch or a knob. For music and navigation, the digital side is great
16. no seat vacuum for sucking out farts.
That's true, I just want physical buttons and Analog Instruments, want to feel how the dials goes up and down.
You're wrong about 13, the reflectors need to reflect the lights from the car behind, but those lights illuminate much lower than the taillights so they can't be in the same cluster, they need to be lower
I've got no problem with digital instruments, so long as it is primarily the instruments and not controls.
having a digital instrument cluster actually allows the manufacturers to reduce the cost (actually, probably increase the margins) because they can then change the instrumentselectronically rather than having to have a different set for KPH and MPH. It also allows the user to do so when changing from UK to EU, for example. Once you have the digital instruments, the added cost of other instrument options is near zero.
I live in the USA and Mercedes subscription here is an absolute joke lol
It has put so many people off it, for such a premium brand it is crazy how they are doing that
You mean it's a yoke, right?
Same goes for BMW, to this day I won't understand the $80/yr for map updates on $100k+ cars. Like, add $1000 to the price upfront for software upkeep and give it 12yrs of updates and be done with it. Nobody will refuse to buy a $105k vehicle whereas they'd buy a $104k one, you just annoy people with nickle and dimming them. Not really 'Premium' if you ask me.
@@zwerko I can tell you.
When they realize that after 3 years no one has a running subscription, they won't put any more effort in it. If they have to maintain it "for free" though, they have to put in work for 12 years
Mercs are notorious for that crap. You have to pay for the forced updates to the EV's software.
Want be long before MBW and MB want to charge you a subscription for wheels.
@Veliona328 i can't believe the subscription on the beamer heated seats! Wtf!!!
#1 Planned Obsolescence
edit: I had a Civic with an Isotta steering wheel like that yoke. I was told it was illegal by every police officer who ever laid eyes on it, citing safety issues.
Making everything automated ensures a customer for the life of the car. People can’t fix their own vehicles anymore. Only dealerships and manufacturers can repair many electronic/software issues
It's like why steering knobs are illegal - extreme risk of hand injury, or amputation, during accident.
The one that annoys me is when they changed from large door mirrors, sometimes with convex outer sections to smaller mirrors, thus creating blind spots, then introduced Blind Spot Elimination Systems (yes, VOLVO, I'm talking about you) for many hundreds of pounds, sometimes Thousands!
I'm sure this is for better aesthetics and also aerodynamics. I think larger mirrors on my Volvo would definitely look a bit goofy.
@@sugonmaballs i agree they look better, but I'd prefer to be safe.
@@paultodd9301 You're safe with the BLIS.
@@sugonmaballs not at that price - I refused to pay that and went to another brand instead.
@@paultodd9301 Cool, my 14 year old car has BLIS though, so not sure why that's relevant. We're talking about the tech, not the manufacturer.
100% right, as usual. And I could add a few.
Having been responsible for strategy and customer proposition for some well-known consumer brands, I suspect that the new subscription models in particular will make customers actively hate BMW and others that do it. Nobody likes being told they can’t have something which they feel they’re entitled to - like a feature that’s right there on the car you just paid £60k for. Most other things are irritations - but that will build serious resentment and ultimately undermine brand value.
I think the idea was if you don't want the feature, you don't have to pay for it. and the subscription was a "try before you buy" type affair.
but it really comes across as double charging for something that would otherwise be part of the sale price.
I wonder what happens once the subscription feature stops working. Who pays for it?
Could you “hack “ these features. I’m sure someone will work it out.
You're definitely right, I was considering an X3 for the next car but will now be avoiding BMW for fear of subscription nonsense.
With subscriptions, car makers ARE really tinkering with the concept of 'what you get'/ownership when you buy a car - a bad trend they are taking over from the software world, where everyone wants you to subscribe, and not buy anything. So eventually you end up renting everything and own nothing.
7:00 when the car was invented there was actually a lot of panic about how the horses on the road saw cars and people actually put fake horse heads on the front of their cars so the real horses wouldn't freak out.
I would make the list a top 12 and add:
Removal of physical buttons
Swiping indicators/turn signals (chavvy)
The swiping indicators was an effort to make indicating cool, to encourage the German car drivers to do it. They will only do something if it has a benefit to their ego.
@@dts7824 You have to understand that we have strong data protection laws which actually make it illegal to use indicators, especially if you sit in a BMW. Also, we don't buy Chevys.
what's w/ kia putting turn signals in the bumpers?
German cars should be built without indicators
absolutely disagreeing with the physical buttons removal, because touch buttons are very sensitive and you can accidentally touch on them, with the opposite of physical buttons, they are less sensitive
The problem with these yoke-style controls is that you're supposed to also have a reduced rotation to go along with it, like in formula 1 cars. Something more like 270 degrees instead of 900 or 1080.
Yeah, exactly - I have a 26cm Fanatec carbon fibre Formula rim - functionally equivalent to a Tesla Yoke - which is brilliant in eg the (simulated) F3A or F1 - but not many others.
The wheel in the Tesla Model 3 is actually very nice, being more compact than others it's fairly responsive. I sure as hell wouldn't want a Formula style rim in it - especially one with hardly any buttons.
Almost like a racing style wheel has it's purpouse and isn't practical for every day driving..
Right. A yoke makes sense on a Cessna 172, where you turn it 90 degrees left or right for full aileron deflection.
Not so much when you need to turn it 360 degrees (or more) for a tight turn.
To be honest.. i drove the yoke in a tesla and its very easy to drive with.. it takes 1min to get used to. after that its really nice.
I can see how the fly by wire system will get around it but why fix a problem that doesn't exist with something hideously complicated?
Better for self driving systems though I suppose.
BUTTONS!!! BUTTONS!!!
We want physical buttons!!! Digital control don’t work for many controls whilst you’re driving and still want to look at the road!!!
(Sorry Matt, i got emotional… nice video)
You are right. The touch screen sucks.
That popout camera will also work in finnish winter at least once before breaking since it froze and broke the mechanism.
Same in Canada! The mechanism will get covered in slush and ice. Uncovered cameras are only usable for 5 mins.
I really don't understand that why the heck can't they be installed inside and behind rear windows. Most cars have heated rear window AND wiper. Why is it so hard 😃
@@jothain For one, the viewing angle out the back window is obstructed by the trunk on cars, and would be at a poor angle on an SUV. Also, that means that the window also needs to be clear of dirt/ice/snow, so then the camera needs to be installed in an area where the wiper is working....more toward center rather than tucked away. Some cameras also use infrared at night, which does not go through glass well.
@@ian3580 I don't see why it would be poor angle on SUV, it would be great in fact, plus there's tons of angle possibilities in optics. To me it would it far better than ie. common license plate area for mounting. Also just don't use IR in night, why would you as you have reversing light anyway. Better to have 90% off wintertime functioning method than current virtually always non-working ones. Also in sedans that trunk isn't that big of a thing. Use camera for detection as primary and have common bumber sensors in addition if needed. On sedan that blindspot wouldn't be that huge plus it would still give great measurement when parking on that "apex" plus with bit off modern tech it's easy to measure when that apex has straight view to object reversing and then use wheel sensors to give very accurate reading of distance to collision. And case still exist. Camera would work in winter times behind glass with much, much greater success than any other method. Plus as mentioned have it work in conjuction with tech that isn't affected by winter.
@@jothain I think you're missing the point of a backup camera, and also don't understand how cameras work.
The backup camera needs to be where it is to see directly behind the car at a VERY downward angle. Right at the bumper. I challenge you to put yourself inside the back of an SUV and use your Cell camera to get a picture there of the back of the pumper or within a few inches behind it. Now do it with a sedan. Could you see backing up to a curb, or a child laying there, etc? Behind the glass is going to have a much more outward rather than downward view based on the limitations of location and physics.
If your idea was better do you think EVERY car company the world over would be putting them on the outside where they actually capture the angle necessary for safety?
IMHO worst is the electronic door handles that sit flush in the door panels. While it looks somewhat sleek and cool to some, I've had this fixed 3 times already due to some 'software' error and my friends have also experienced some kinda bug or defects one way or another....definitely in top 10 worst trend I'd say.
Cars are way too over-automated today. Lots of things are easier and quicker to do manually, plus they’ll almost never break. But they don’t look as cool and you can’t charge extra for them.
My 1987 Subaru XT had these flush handles; only they were spring-loaded, not electronic. They never failed me.
'They' (the car maintenance and independent garage peeps) seem to be worried that EVs are so unlikely to need routine maintenance that they will go out of business. Well fear not; there's plenty to go wrong in all new cars!
There's a Diagnose Dan video where a failed electric handle on a BMW failed in a way that scrambled the bus signals and the car wouldn't start
!!!
The yoke is not only stupid, it has undoubtedly already cost lives - I'm on record on that since day one. The GREAT thing about the steering wheel, one of the best user interfaces ever invented (and not as obvious as you might think, tillers and handlebars were the early equivalents), is that your hands always know where to find it, no matter how it's turned, what you have to be paying attention to at any given time, or what emergency you might be facing. You can't look at your steering wheel (or yoke) when cars are spinning out in front of you on ice, you're sliding yourself, and you need to put in just the right amount of opposite lock to maintain control. You need a boring, reliable, perfect, steering wheel. The yoke is stupid, stupid, stupid.
Well said
The steering wheel existed for centuries before the automobile... it was tried and tested as the helm in thousands of ships.
@@mmaldonadojr Yeah that's a point. Still one of the greatest inventions, possibly even better suited for cars than ships. And I'm sure you'd agree it's true that a lot of early cars skipped this piece of progress. And none of it distorts my opinion of that awful backwards design I was writing about in the first place.
Yep. They are trying to make cars feel more like airplanes when they forget a few key things.
1. Planes (with yokes) also are controlled by pedals. Not just the yoke.
2. Planes dont need to make sharp turns when flying. They almost always make slow, gentle turns, and so do not need to turn the yoke all that much (in fact a properly configured/maintained plane requires very little force to move the yoke at all) which brings me to point 3.
3. Airplane yokes only turn to at most 90 degrees from center. This, of course doesnt work in cars because the amount you need to turn the wheel changes given how fast you are going and because you often need to do pinpoint, tight maneuvers, such as during parking, which is not necessary in airplanes.
I've been driving a yoke controlled car for almost two years now. As I've gained experience with the device, I will say my rate of running over homeless orphans with leukemia has lessened considerably, more or less.
I do agree with your assertion that all good things have been invented, and that all change is bad. It's good to meet a brother from the "I fear new things" tribe, welcome!
Reminds me of an engineering magazine where designers were trying to make car components lighter weight at the same time manufacturers are adding stuff we don't really need or fitting it because they can. Haven driven a modern car and a brand new car over the last few years I am now looking for nice simple classic car to ENJOY!
You want a Caterham Super 7!
I, too, want one but, we can't really get one in the States.
an old family car would do you nicely, like a cavalier
*Same here!*
I totally and absolutely dislike all the "New Tech" supposed to make our driving more pleasant... Hence why it took me close to 10 years to replace the Passat I loved so much: _The more "innovations hit the market. The LESS I liked them._ It took me quite a month to get used to my new Toyota: too many steps/options for any setup everything and tons of "features" I haven't even been able to access. THEN the eternal noises for whatever, I even think the car has a specific special sound for when I: blink, yawn, burp or fart... Soo confusing that I used to stand next to my car trying to figure out WHAT it was warning me this time of: *I gave up! Doors closed? Seatbelt on?* Who gives a RAT's ass what it's trying me to warn off next... Nevermind the backup camera, it's the "Ghostbuster edition" keeps on finding ghosts on my rear than No One ever sees. BUT hey! If someone walks too close to the car, the warning system doesn't care: "Ohh well that guy is gonna be run-over immediately anyway..."
100% agree. Modern cars make drivers lazy and have become more point and squirt.
@@900108Chale I feel the pain of this every day. I started driving a truck (I say it's a truck if the steering is on the left, and a lorry if it's on the right!) in 1999, when there were few, if any, electronics.
Now... Everything is beeping, dinging, and buzzing at me. It has RADAR that will slam on the brakes when the computer decides that I'm going to rear-end that vehicle that is already merged into the exit lane. It slows the cruise control gradually behind slower vehicles, so I look down to notice that I've lost 5 or 6 MPH somewhere. It farts at me when I get too close to the white line... or when I cross over painted-out lines from previous construction... or just because... reasons.
Worst of all, if the door is opened when the brakes aren't set, the horn starts blasting.
And you CAN'T TURN ANY OF IT OFF! (Although a bit of tinfoil and a strategically placed smear of grease on the glass defeats some of that technology that probably cost millions in R&D. That thought just warms the cockles of my heart.)
Does anyone else agree that whilst we enjoy watching videos on these new cars, we’re better off buying or keeping older ones? Manufacturers ought to heed Matts comments because he’s 100% correct, looking forward to part two….
Yep, agree - my MB S212 does pretty much all of this with physical controls that I never have to look at to operate.
So true, my 2006 GMC Sierra is still my favorite favorite over my 2022 F150. The overall usability is just so hard to beat on that GMC, such a nice driving truck and not to mention insanely comfortable. The poor thing is rolling up on 300k miles and will still knock your dentures out when you put it to the floor. It's like one a those WW2 vets that just refuses to admit it's time to retire and loves to pick on all the millennials for being whiney n soft.🤣
THIS is why I'll never part with my '18 Mercedes GLA45 AMG. It's the last of the generation of (mostly) analog cars...and delightfully free of distracting digital nannies and irritating design features!
Hahaha…. You’re funny. Analogue cars died around 2000-2005….
@@kingsalami142 GLA45 AMG still better in terms of quality than Teslas.
I nearly bought a brand new Kia. It was perfect in every way. But I took it onto my town's main road, one that's full of S-curves. This thing beeped at me for 10 minutes until I made it out of that part. No matter how careful I was being, it wouldn't stop. I travel on that road every day, there is no way I'm putting up with that
It's possible to disable most safety features in modern vehicles.
Not always. Cadillac physically removed adaptive cruise off capability on Platinum models (no way to turn it off or disable it). On/off was available on the cheaper models. DAd spent 125k for a 2019 (2020) platinum escallade - returned 30 days later because it almost killed him 3 times when the brakes locked up when anyone someone pulled in front on highway and he couldn't disable it. Sued them for 250k; cost plus anxiety and suffering. Cadillac settled out of court with usual NDA required.
Absolutely agree with all of that, especially the subscriptions (how evil is that).
Also really glad you didn't complain about what you call soft limiters, which are neutral limiters not soft limiters, and which also don't matter. They're there for a reason.
All the best, Nick
As an Ioniq 5 owner, there are two things that I really miss from my GTI. The rear wiper, and the hide-away reverse camera.
Rear wiper getting removed considered to be completely useless.
its to reduce drag and increase range, another reason why I don't want to switch to electric.
@@hampps4729 given that the area at the back of hatchbacks/suvs is already a turbulent vortex, not a part of laminar airflow, I'd expect the impacts to be minimal to negligent. But like mentioned in the video, put it under the spoiler, where it's out of the airflow completely, especially since they already do that on several other models.
@@JeffDeLamater you’re not wrong but it’s the little things that add up that car makers have to do to increase the range even by a couple percent that are really off putting, design and functionality wise.
@@hampps4729 I won't go (full) EV because of charging station anxiety on long road trips in rural areas
SUVs and Hatchbacks. That's all the list needs! SUVs have killed car design and 99% of people that own them only take them to Starbucks
Okay but why hatchbacks??
@@thomas.nd2 Don't lik em'! However, SUVs 100% need to go
@@MichaelBertolino I agree but hatchbacks were always there.. an most of em are cool
The base price of a no-frills Golf is just bananas. I remember when VW briefly had the City Golf model. We bought one brand new off the lot in ‘08 for $10k… in Canadian dollars. Quite literally the deal of the century.
VW is a brand of European-import luxury vehicles sold in North America to a class of drivers so refined that they are above even indicating their upcoming turns. The peons they passed on the road ought to naturally intuit their intentions. And those model names! "Golf" is weird enough but there's also a "Tiguan". I guess one brand executive wanted to call it Tiger and another preferred Iguana, so they agreed to compromise? The point is, buying budget BMW is like buying a budget yacht: you don't need one to survive and it'll cost you an arm and a leg to maintain it. That's true in North America at least. BMWs are possibly more affordable in the European domestic market.
I love this, I think more influential youtubers such as yourself should talk about these issues and maybe we can achieve some positive changes at some point down the line. Otherwise, us, the average consumers, will just keep on getting scammed by greedy manufacturers who are apparently becoming more and more out of touch with reality and the actual needs of people who buy and drive their cars.
Yeah
@@Professor-Scientist 👍
Having a couple of older cars (for redundancy) this video reaffirms my intention to keep them going for as long as possible.
My Scoda Scala reverse camera would get all messy and didn't have a dedicated washer. Then I figured out, that they aimed the back window washer in a way that it will drip from the window onto the camera and clean it. So efficient and nice, just like many other things in the Scoda.
Scoda , Simply Clever
Scuba
Scoda Skala 🤔
dude, i just got myself a Scala and i did not know that thanks mate!
Scoka. Cimply Klever.
Absolutely agree on every point. Car manufacturers, could you please stop doing these?
Honestly the thumbnail explains everything
Just all new bmw designs to be precise
In his yt shorts he uploads videos of the bmw washing thing and says it's cool but in the thumbnail he says it's not?!?!?!?
BMW, fake grille,fake exhaust etc
@@T0NYMANUEL bmw never do fake exhaust on gas cars
I agree with all of these. VW has managed to cram its front facing driving sensors into the VW logo so it’s invisible. Why can’t other manufacturers do the same instead of those ugly black box sensors 😬 They also put the rear camera behind the badge so that solves two of these issues.
Sure it looks better, but it's complete crap in Nordic winter conditions. Even slightest amount of sleet or wet snowfall sticks like a glue into it. In worst case you can't get from one traffic light to next without triggering "Front Assist not available" fault, disabling the emergency braking system and and Cruise Control.
@@mikkojk83 Tbf I’ve never experienced that myself. However if it’s snowing/heavy sleet I’d rather fully take control of the vehicle anyway so wouldn’t bother me. I even have a skin over mine to make the VW logo black and it’s worked perfectly every time.
"...but it's complete crap in Nordic winter conditions..."
If properly designed: this is wrong
The sensors have a built in heating to prevent an "ice dam built up"
No they haven't I've got a 72 plate with the black sensor box in the middle of the bumper
@@neilmorris6719 Which car? My 2018 Golf R sensors are behind the VW Badge
Now that LEDs are commonplace, manufacturers are going wild using them as styling points, but imho some of these styles are pretty gimmicky and won't age well. The tail lights on the Cadillac Esacalade for instance, look like a set of goal posts.
And ruin night vision
All valid. For part two though, you need:
- cameras instead of actual wing mirrors (a mirror is totally fine, better and cheaper)
- air con controls in the screen (or, actually worse, touch sensitive controls that still need you to take your eyes off the road)
- full-width light bars on the front of cars (they loook shite)
- having to fanny about trying to work out how to disable lane keep assist (just give me a damn button)
- extra cost to 'upgrade' to a 'bigger' digital dial screen (my one experience being the current Audi A3 - it's the same bloody larger screen in every car, just masked off with plastic trim and smaller graphics to make it look smaller, thankfully I'm now rid of it)
- cameras reduces drag, that is their only purpose in this case
- I hate it, too - just speak to your car and it will fulfill your wish... sometimes...
- full-width light bars on the back are another issue
- or just make me enable it by myself... and not with every time I start the car - disabling it everytime is cruesome
- manufactures had found a new way to catch more money - it's the same with detuned engines (you can both modify for the full experience)
In my opinion you are right man.
Sir what about the VW Golf mk7? I thought it got a very small screen (the trendline version) but now after reading your comment I started doubting that, does it really got a small screen or is it actually bigger but has thick plastic bits around and smaller graphics like your old A3 had?
@@VladimirComputin I was actually on about the digital cockpit rather than the MMI/infotainment screen. If it's the infotainment screen you're talking about in your Mk 7 Golf, there were definitely different sizes of unit (I had both Mk 7 and 7.5 GTi's), rather than single-sized plastic-trimmed standard units. I'm not sure about the digital cockpit screen though as it was so long ago, sorry.
@@swampthing20 Okay tank you !
I've been driving a '68 Corolla for about 36 years so far. It's got cruise control, traction control, stability control, launch control, Rev limiter, anti-lock brakes...and all those systems are in my feet and hands.
My 1986 Opel Kadett E makes only two sounds:
- left light on and key pulled out of the ignition
- engine running 😂
I love this. I started this video and was expecting having to scream into the comments, how I don't want all that electronic bullshit, like navis, air-conditioning, distance-sensors, cameras, touch screens, seat-heat etc because I want a cheap car that is as low weight as possible. I don't even need a radio and I much prefer knobs to regulate my heating instead of a touchscreen.
But I didn't have to, because you actually made that point and I did not expect that from a car person. So thank you!
Then you are the opposite extreme. No radio, no aircondition, no navi, really? Wouldn´t be my thing.
I have a 2014 c63 6.2l . This car was the perfect time in automotive history, or when the fruit was the ripest on the internal combustion tree, the forefront of innovation in internal combustion engines , but jjst before the eu noise, safety and emissions regulations came in . And yes ! It has physical knobs for the radio and heat controls. That V8 burble is music to my ears
What about the infotainment screens glued to the top of the dash? They all look like the designers thought they'd finished & then realised they'd forgotten the infotainment, deciding to then just glue a tablet on & hope we don't notice!
Especially since they had it figured out 10 years ago…Audis from 2010 have their screens integrated into the dash properly,I genuinely don’t understand
@@bosknight7837 Its just what screens they can buy. You can put one square 8 inch one in the middle without it looking stuck on, but if it has to be a foot long, well no one is making curved screens a foot long (although they are working on it). Also lets say they made a perfectly round screen, or one made exactly the shape of a cut out, triangle on one end and curved the other. A giant teardrop. That could end up costing more than the car. Then in 5 years when they run out spares, there wont be one other screen on the planet that fits. When you can buy a screen on a roll and cut it to shape, they will look amazing.
@@geroutathat these older screens were literally normed my dude. Double din,like a normal car radio is single din.
But you’re not entirely incorrect,they usually do just take the cheapest touch screen they can find and basically glue it on,paired with proprietary software that’s also as cheap as possible so they all have horrible response times and feel
I thought that was a good move - the closer to the sight-line the better. It may look like an add-on but is much safer.
Well said ... written, I mean.
One of the worst trends recently is SCREENS ON DASHBOARDS .
I mean , I'm looking at screens already throughout the day .
I don't need to be looking at even more screens when I'm driving in my car ffs .
Takes away from the driving experience imo .
100% agree, ugly, inelegant and lazy design
Agreed, analog gauges are 3D, while digital gauges are only 2D.
I like it. It's great for using navigation and other things because you are not looking down at a touchscreen. Instead, your focus is on the screen but you can more easily glance forward. It's safer than a touchscreen where you have to take your eyes further away from the road. It's also nice since you are not craning to see the screen. It's right in front of you
I do think however that it's ugly and ruins the flow of the design. If it's particularly bezel-heavy, it can automatically date the car's interior. I think when it's done right there are many positives to it
@@colechapman6976 nice while all pixels are working but won't last as long as analogs or analog-digi combos.
I notice a lot of these feature are in higher end cars. It seems the more you pay for your vehicle the less you get and the more you need to pay for standard features.
My big issue and a deal breaker when looking at buying a car it has to have Spare wheel not a tyre repair kits and temporary wheels.🤬
Agree on the whole list. I think the problem is manufactors are nervous to miss the new features and trends and loose market. It shows a lack of confidence and thats why everyone looks at everyone and puts everything in all their cars (even the cheaper ones). When the market becomes more confident in electric cars and the transition we will see normal cars again without crazy features that is just annoying.
Sadly, acronyms sell cars more than quality/reliability. 😢
Agree, a lot of it is to blame to tesla imo, (no tesla hater btw) they are very popular and trendy and a lot of folks find everything they do great and are very vocal about it. This creates hype and makes it look cool and seem all great. Because Tesla is now seemed as cool and all other brands want to follow and jump on the wagon.
Like the yoke, but also the big screens with every function, like ac and heated seats on it started with tesla.
Great video! I agree on all of your points!
If you plan a part 2, definitely add the lack of physical knobs and the strange trend of flush/ retractable handles. With their need of additional actuators and sensors they add weight on the scale, above that: what happens in the case of a crash? Will they still open?
Function follows design never was the best solution in the engineering world.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone.
If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
The cost of new cars, the soulless homogeneous design across all brands, subscription based features… Nope, I have no desire to purchase a new vehicle anymore. It’s sad, my entire life I’ve been a “car guy”, obsessed with many aspects/genres, and I’ve just completely lost interest.
Cool cars are no longer new cars
I think the only car that tries to maintain its similar size from preceding cars is the Miata MX-5. Not only the size of the car, but the weight only gained about 200-100 pounds (according to sources) while still maintaining a 50/50 ratio. Kudos to them.
See the BMW "Mini" - almost the same size as an early SUV now.
Except they removed the cute popup headlights :(
@@brianligat2038
I have a Volvo C30 it can hide behind a MINI
The more I see of these connected cars and the ability to have things turned off for no reason, the more I like my old cars!
Your emphasis on efficiency and practicality is spectacular. Most of these brands are really not keeping up with customer requirements when it comes to being practical.
Agree.
BIGGEST issue with new cars - lack of actual buttons! Manufacturers are putting every single option to the touch screens, which technically shouldn't be used while driving. So yeah, that's that.
What's actually worse, is the subscriptions system, why do my car have a paywall based features in order to use those functions? what did i pay the car full price for?
Sounds like Scam to me
It's only a matter of time, until this become a Mandatory standard Trend among the globe, the future is looking scary that i don't wanna see or know on what's coming next...
I agree with all your comments.
All new cars are becoming to annoyingly complicated, heavier and more expensive.
I don't think manufactures know the principle of KISS.
As for the EV's, they are the equivalent of a heavy 4WD in terms of weight, my Defender is less than 2.1T which is less than most EVs.
So, the roads are not designed to hold 100% 4WDs or trucks, therefore roads will need more resurfacing more often, more cost to the economy and negative environmental impact.
Great video thanks for sharing.
I agree completely with everything you said here. Looking at every car on the market today, Colin Chapman must be spinning in his grave.
The biggest problem is the law makers.
They keep mandating that cars be safer and safer, and while this might be a good thing for the consumers chances of surviving, this really adds weight.
There is only so much extra strength you can add to a door, by cleverly bending the metal, at some point the only way to make it stronger is to add thickness to the material, and this adds weight.
imo EV´s are NOT the future. at least not now. the battery technology is still way too heavy and bulky. and dont get me started on the milageand imagine this, you replace ALL ICE cars with EV´s... now look at the powergrid...
see where this is going?
I gotta say, looking at all this unecessary stuff which manufacturers put into cars nowadays, I love my 18 years old Citroen C2. Weighs under a 1000kg, is sporty to drive and simple on the inside. Like those analogue dials for the fan and heating. :-)
I had a C2 1.6 16v VTR SensoDrive new in 2008, loved that car.
It's crazy really. In Australia, a decent cheap 'new' car that drives ok costs at least $30,000 AUD. I doubt prices will ever go back down in the sub 20's.
But wages have also doubled, amirite ? Sike, get fucked poor people. I cant even buy a a fuckin 10 year old car I want here in croatia cuz "co2" taxes aka we steal your money in the name of ecology
Yeh but you don't pay personal vehicle insurance or road tax so it's made all inclusive of the vehicle price or sumthing like that
In fairness you guys also have a horrid currency
I readed "AUDI" loool
Isn’t your minimum wage something like 21 bucks an hour???
I’ve got a great idea. Make manual windows with a crank handle used to open and close the window. Also make a triangular vent window which can be opened to any angle. It could blow air directly on you or wherever you want.
And let's install tillers in place of steering wheels, too!
There's a lot of merit to this. Happened briefly to get a very old used car in the family, that is, one with manual window openers. They were much easier to control, pleasant to use, and -- could be used when the car was NOT RUNNING. As it is, when I want to leave my dog in my car for 5 minutes after doing my shopping, I have to unlock it, put the dog in, get in the driver's seat, start the car, lower the windows, turn the car off and then leave. DUMB DUMB DUMB.
@@blixten2928
I know, right? Also, if you’ve ever had to replace a widow motor you know what a hassle that is. The manual method has some inconveniences but in the long run I think this is a case where the old way was better.
@@joebyedone2351 Absolutely. Also, older sewing machines. Also, older tractors. Also, sound systems with knobs. Electronics and computers have become a horrid anti-user way to force consumers to pay more for planned obsolescence. I'm buying more and more used (my household tractor is a Massey Ferguson from 1958).
@@blixten2928 I can lower my car windows with my keyfob by holding unlock 🤔
Buttons in general and controlling your own air vent. I have a fight with the vents in my friend's Rivian truck every time I get in it because the air vent isn't aiming where the screen says it is. Just let me control it myself with a little switch manually...please.
Surprised you didn't mention the lack of heater/AC controls onbuttons, dials or knobs (this has been mentioned elsewhere, and I absolutely, 100% agree with the lack of rear wipers. Another, important, model which doesn't have the rear wiper is the MG 4, and that also doesn't have grab handles.
I'm not convinced about the lack of grab handles, I'll have to wait and see when mine arrives, but no wash wipe? If I was in the UK it would be such a fault that I might be tempted away. Fortunately, living in Spain it is not such a serious ommision.
At least the MG has 2 programable knobs, so I can have one for the heater controls.
Excellent. I agree 100%. The solution to all this is simple: do like I do and drive a '98 C180 (or any other older car). No beeps. not even for the seat belts. Not too expensive and very sustainable!
Unfortunately, rust and lack of good mechanics at the services could be a pain in the arse
@@Trabant_Vishnya Repair your car yourself, and all the hassles are gone. Sometimes getting spare parts can be hard, but as long as there's demand, there will be supply, I know that for sure. You can become the best mechanic you know, that's an extra.
@@baladar1353 sure, but you also need to do the main job duties to afford that. :)
You'll save between €15,000 and €40,000 on the price of the car. I think that money will pay for a few repairs.
Car manufacturers don’t care about making them better, they care about maximizing sales.
The Corsa being just over a ton in today's world is honestly impressive
Corsa? So did Peugeot 307 and 5008.
@@purwantiallan5089 They weren't mentioned in this video.
I like how he states "First generation" but there is a Corsa B (2nd gen) shown 😅
The yoke is a deal breaker for me. Any company that will offer replacement steering wheels for the yoke will definitely make millions.
But no one is making millions doing that. I wonder why? Maybe you opinion isn't representative of most buyers' opinion
@marecar5449 If people could actually argue with reason🤦
@marecar5449 Let me give you a time saving advice. If you don't want to argue with someone, try to minimise interactions with them, especially the ones which can break out into an argument
@@biplabkumarghosh6300 shut up
Have you tried to drive one or just via hearsay? I don't care what others drive but I notice a lot of options from ppl that never tried one for themselves.
I agree with the last thing on the list for sure. I never realized how bad it was to have an uncovered reversing camera until I got my mk7.5 golf r. It's camera is behind the badge and it's fantastic that it's always clean
Same! Old car had the camera laid bare, always dirty. My T-Roc now same as your Golf. Although the sound when the emblem covers the camerta back up again was irritating at first and I thought something is broken :D
I have a mk 7.5 Golf GTI. It took me weeks to workout where the reversing camera is.
Its been 7 years and I've never cleaned the backup camera in my Golf. I also live in a place where it snows and all cars are covered in dirt for half the year. Its a truly elegant solution ahead of its time.
I've a humble Golf Mk7 and had to send it off to the dealership for fixing. They loan me a Golf Mk8 base model. It never shut the hell up beeping and booping at me. Everything had a warning sound attached to it. It was insane. I was so glad to be back in the much easier to use (and less cheap interior) of the 7.
mk7's are the best
I think the worst is lack of physical buttons. It's safety risk. I think now the regulators need to step in and stop the touch everything madness!
I don't have a problem with them, its rare you need to touch or alter things anyway, people say about heat/aircon etc but everything is now climate controlled so you just set a temperature (I personally have 20c) and the car will reach and maintain this temp pretty quickly.
As for other controlls like media so volume etc what you may adjust frequently this can typically all do done from manual buttons on the wheel.
I think the only thing I do on the touchscreen is sometimes turn off the heated seats after a few mins.
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone.
If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
My pet hate is the expansion in dimensions. My garage isn’t getting wider and it’s so much easier to park my mk3 golf in there than the mk4.
The thing that got me was the new polo is bigger than the mk4 golf. Crazy.
In addition the increased safety around the A pillar has decreased the visibility to the extent you can actually hide a car in it making it more likely to have an accident.
Turning circles have also reduced and you can’t say it’s because of legislation because they managed to get type approval for london taxis.
Lack of tactile controls for things that need adjustment is idiotic. I don’t need to look at my controls in the Mk3 golf to change the heating or direction but the mk4 needs to be looked at.
Great Video, designers should have at least a TEAMS meeting with you..😄
Some trends are even dangerous:
- recessed door handles (I hope this is the right word). 30 years ago, the motor journalists forced even BMW to change their handles to the style of Mercedes and VW (and many others). This because after an accident, these handle style could give the first responders more power to open damaged doors.
- Cameras instead of side mirrors: Nice, but you cannot change the view angle to erase blind spots by simply move your head
- electric doors: What the....instead of one switch, you need actuators, motors and sensors (to avoid damages with near objects) In addition, if the electricity is down (happened on a TESLA the other day, guy hardly escaped from the burning car), you need to know where your emergency opener is.
The manual door release on a Tesla is just about where it would be if they did not have electronic door opening.
The reason the Tesla has it, it to make it possible for the car to roll down the window slightly before actuating the door, to not destroy the door seals.
Then you might say that this is a silly design, but this is how the made it.
Remember cameras instead of side mirrors don’t exist in all countries.
That subscription shambles has left me utterly flabbergasted. What a disgrace
Matt, as already said I think the most annoying thing manufacturers have managed to get away with is putting the heating and fan controls in the screen sub menus. Some, as you have shown, are so bad it is dangerous to change while driving. It would be interesting if you did a research piece on this with manufacturers to find out what is the gain in this as it must be cheaper but doesn’t end up affecting the car prices. Also, every review of every car by every reviewer I have seen has complained about this but hardly any manufacturers have taken heed of this. Also, all reviews hate haptic steering wheel controls and yet they are appearing on more and more cars. Once again, what is the logic of this when they seem mostly universally loathed. Do manufacturers have no care for what a customer may actually want - seems that way. Cheers.
The answer is... the egos of the boneheads in the Marketing department. 😖
Indeed. All controls in a car should be usable by touch alone.
If I need to take my eyes of the road to interact with a control, the design has failed.
@@rogerwilco2 That is not practical, you would end up with a cockpit-like interior and out of necessity many controls placed in bad locations. You dont need every function while driving (e.g hood aka bonnet button). Not to mention, the car would have to be very expensive and its reliability would suffer.
Good list. The size thing really is starting too bug me. Cars are getting to large. Parking garages is increasingly a nightmare. And good luck if you live in an old town with tight streets.
It really hits you when you for example see an 80s Porsche 911, next to a new one. The 80s one looks like a moped car.
exactly ! It seems ALL needs to based on the US .......
My dream car, a mid-'60s XKE, looks tiny next to most new cars. (I wanted one since I was 18, but now I'm on Social Security----another youthful fancy dashed).
It's been many years since I could tell the difference in a Corolla or Camry. My 68 Corolla weighs about 1500 lbs, you can reach the back windows from the drivers seat, good vision all around, quick and nimble, up to 50 mpg on a good ol', regular rear wheel drive, 4 speed manual.
How about #11: removing features from cars after reviews are out.
Take the BMW IX Xdrive50. Came standard with air suspension and rear wheel steering. It's now removed and only available on the top trim M60. Yet all reviews talk about how the xdrive50 has nice the drive feel with the air suspension. People waiting for a delivery of an Xdrive 50 got the choice of accepting removal of their air suspension and rear wheel steering or canceling there order and ordering a new M60.
BMW also removed opening the tailgate with your foot and massaging seats for the front passenger in all trims due to parts shortages. So your luxury SUV is now less luxurious than one built a year ago.
Tesla removed the parking sensors because of part shortage (even on the X and S). A replacement should be coming in software using the camera's on board, but it's not here yet (so it probably doesn't work well). A Dacia Spring of 20K has parking sensors, a new model X at 120K doesn't.
Tesla removed the ultrasonic sensors because they don't think they are necessary. I suspect it is because they can save a load of cash off each car by removing them. Tesla claims its camera software update will do the job just as well but I suspect body shops are going to be doing a lot of bumper repairs on Teslas in the coming years.
Electric steering, absurdly thick pillars, auto stop/start, blinding screens, blinding headlights, phantom buttons, menus... the list continues!! 😢
Oh my god. I want my car to sound like a horse.
But what about the tail above muffler 😂
Looking at brand new cars just makes me think: "Yeah, I'm just gonna buy a 90s Corolla"
I feel you. Why would anyone want these stupid infotainment systems, touchscreens everywhere and useless, unreliable systems???
7:14 - About the prices, I'd say the biggest problem is that they have discontinued the smaller, cheaper models like the Up!
You say that the 2003 (Mk5) Golf cost about £18,500 in today's money while a new Golf today (Mk8) is almost £26,000. However, if you compare the wheelbases, the Mk5 Golf (2,578 mm) is considerably smaller than the Mk8 (2,636 mm). In fact, it's much closer to the current (Mk6) Polo (2,548 mm), which costs £19,505 according to VW's UK website. So the problem in this case is actually that the carmakers want to sell you a brand (e.g. "Golf") that you stick to for 20-30 years as a customer, so that you buy an increasingly bigger and more expensive car for each generation: "Oh, I'm a Golf person."
Couldn't agree more with this list. Especially the price point, they're ridiculous !
That's it I'm getting the horse noises installed 😂 that was f-ing funny
I can understand sound generators for electric vehicles since they run silent. The purpose originally is for pedestrian safety around EVs so they can be heard but I think they can be implimented better.
the running remark is that these sound generators need to make the sound from the Jetsons cartoon.
How about emitting the Wiggums kid from the Simpsons calling out, "I'm helping." Then the other kid saying, "Ha! Ha!"
I guess that's part of the reason I like Acura, no rubbish addons, heated seats are standard, all safety features are standard, still have a lot of physical buttons, sensors are cleverly hidden inside their own logo and price makes sense
I know I shouldn't but I really like GM interiors and exterior styling 😂😭😭😭
manufacturers talking between:
1: let's put blinkers somewhere in Menu Option?
2: your'e so evil! That's genius!
1: and one more thing, if they want to unlock 2nd gear, they will have to find Easter Egg under the backseat :)
2: what easter egg?
1: my poop.
2: Congratulations! you just got promoted.
Definitely agree on the beeps. We recently exchanged our 2007 Toyota Yaris for a 2019 Skoda Superb and it startles me every time the car beeps because the outside temperature drops below 4°C; beeps as if an accident was imminent. Also the continuous noise the car makes when you open the door and the motor is still running (as shown in the video).
It does the noise even if the ignition is on and you open the door...very nice (and quite loud) for neighbours when you start at 3:00 o clock in the morning..;)
@@jaykay3136 try engaging the park brake
I don't know how this temperature warning could be annoying. Especially when you are in hill or mountain areas the temperature can vary a lot with in minuts. One short Peep or Bing per drive - either at the beginning or once when the temperature droppped while driving - has definetly more benerift than annoyance factor.
I also think the warning when leaving the car with running engine makes sense. I had several cars in which you didn't really hear or feel the enging when running in idle. Also there are several countries where it's not allowed to leave the car when the engine is running. I currently have a skoda. It might be annoying when you try to film a car reviews, but in daily use I never hear that warning.
People: *Finds beeps annoying*
Also people: *Doesn't mind that trucks has reverse beepers*
@@automation7295 This has a security impact at least
I really miss the radios of old where one turned a knob to tune in. So easy, one did not even need to take eyes of the road.
Yes.. I can actually remember those days. It was too much fun to take your eyes off the road while you turned that dial to move the needle and you had to watch it while you took what seemed like forever to hit the millimeter of space perfectly so the radio station was in tune. You then had to fine tune it ever 20 miles or so.
I could not agree more. I had a Skoda Superb so I know exactly what you mean about that noise. I'm currently driving a 10 year old Volvo that has an even worse noise if you happen to get out of the car with the key in your pocket when the engine is running. Given the bloody thing has keyless entry and ignition the key is almost always in my pocket so I get this racket quite often.
The worst thing ever is an old one. The stop/start 'feature'. Whoever designed this has never driven in traffic. At the time I first had one, I worked 3.5 miles away. The car stop/started 28 times! Twenty eight!
Thankfully it doesn't work anymore...
Yeah the trick to disabling the Auto Start-Stop is to replace the vehicle's fancy AGM battery with a simple flooded-cell one. The computer detects the difference and will stop sending the shutoff command.
@@SanchoPanza-wg5xf Interesting
The popup reversing camera should be standard. Here in Norway, the camera is pretty much useless 6 months out of the year unless it's a popup. (or stow-away)
Totally agree, but if i remember corectly you can turn off voice activation of the assistant in mercedes.
9:34 toyota corolla scared me a few times beeping about how its cold and road can be slippery, like i can't tell that its cold. The worst part is that its not beeping right after turning on the car, but later in random moment and that beep sound is qute agressive, like i said it scared me a few times
All very good points. 6:39 had me laughing out loud. Had to look at the calendar to check it wasn’t April 1st. 😂
Ohhh man, the beeps and bongs in newer cars drive me nuts! Just this week I drove a brand new Honda CRV; a chime because it wanted me to shift up, a chime when it wanted me to shift down, a chime when it read a maximum speed sign, a chime when I changed lanes and I forgot to indicate... and even more annoying is that it's the same chime for everything so it forces you to look at the dash to understand why it's chiming at me... seems quite counter productive to road safety.
Yeah. I hate that my 1998 E39 bongs me when it's 3C or below outside when I first turn it on, with the same sound when something is genuinely wrong. I just have to watch Clarkson rage on Top Gear at all the bonging in his E60 M5 review to know how little I have to whinge about really
What about hidden cameras when its winter and snow. Will they open or they are stuck? Like cars where boot open is hidden in car logo. Most - degrees winter it is crap solution. You came from store and you need open not electric boot but you notice that logo is iced and you cant open it. Probably problem is not for car manufacturers but users ho live in north europe like Estonia etc.
Love your new car reviews! Very honest!! Watching this review of modern tech on new cars; I have to agree with you about the reversing camera!! As an Irish person who's recently bought a new car with this feature, I find myself cleaning the camera, literally EVERY day, this time of year because of dirt & grime being splashed onto it from the road by passing vehicles. I love the idea of a camera that is "hidden" away until reverse gear is selected, but I drive a Ford Fiesta & so, the camera's not stowed away until needed, but then; the camera's not stowed away on ANY model in the Ford range, as far as I'm aware...
You should do a video on the best new cars (if any) that has the least of these problems. Or maybe used cars are the way to go.
About the yolk.
I was always taught to not cross hands while steering. Because if you'd get into an accident there's a chance that the airbags would push your arms back into you.
Love it when Mat gets on his soapbox and his inflexion pitch rises to 11.
He reminds me of Laurence (Lost in the Pond) Brown😆😆😆
2:46 - _"If BMW is going to fit them regardless, why not make them standard?"_
Simple - because they'll make more money by charging extra for the subscription that is required to unlock these features that are already built in.
It's a technique when u are buying a considerably expensive car with pretty high starting price you won't tick for the optional extras . But some features may find useful once u start using that car but then it would be too late to install those features or would have to go for aftermarkets .
Bmw is making use of that by offering features which u wish u had opted for when u where buying that car
@@hyde9288 there's a name for this "technique" - money gouging.
in other words, money gouging.
I can’t stop laughing about yoke steering wheel! 😂
But that yoke makes you feel like you're flying a B-52!!!😆😆😆
Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
I am shocked you miss having to use a touchscreen for setting up music volume or AC temperature, making the warning button a touchscreen, and fake exhausts…