Pointless Gimickry and similar!!

[mickthemaverick]

I have just been watching a TMF video in which he referred to 'keyless ignition' ! It occurred to me 'Why?' I recently went to help a friend whose key fob battery had died and as a result she was unable to start her car. My point being that 'keys' have been a perfectly acceptable and convenient device for starting cars for donkeys years! I have a message for these would be, mostly IT types, innovators - IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T TRY AND MEND IT!!

[GiveMeABreak]

She needs to read the manual Mick, as the car can be started quite easily. These vehicles have a backup unit usually on the steering column where the fob can be placed against, and the vehicle started. In other words, the backup unit energises and reads the chip in the fob to allow starting.

[mickthemaverick]

I knew that Marc and hence was able to sort her out, but the fact still remains the idea to me is just pointless gimickry making life more complicated than it needs to be!!

[GiveMeABreak]

It's the way it's going unfortunately. We've already got the cardboard Citroen Oli coming....

The Citroen Oli concept is a £22,000 cardboard car of the future

[CitroJim]

I knew that Marc and hence was able to sort her out, but the fact still remains the idea to me is just pointless gimickry making life more complicated than it needs to be!!

I fully concur Mick... I do like things based on the 'KISS' principle... Keep It Simple, Stupid... Ans yes, if it ain't broke...

[Gibbo2286]

My car has the keyless set up but it doesn't have lots of other unnecessary stuff like a DPF, catalytic converter or any sort of exhaust in fact, doesn't have a petrol tank or pump or all those pipes that go with them, doesn't have engine oil and the need to change it regularly nor a timing belt and............................

[GiveMeABreak]

.... Just a whopping £7k plus bill for the battery after the 8 year battery warranty is over possibly!

[Gibbo2286]

.... Just a whopping £7k plus bill for the battery after the 8 year battery warranty is over possibly!

Nah! That's not the case on mine, it's on rental and guaranteed for the life of the car. it still checks out at less than 1% degraded from its new state and is nine years old.
Batteries, the later technology, on the cars after about 2013 are pretty well likely to outlast the cars and still have enough life to be used as domestic storage.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'm holding out for a lot longer yet Eric, before I'm convinced. I also thought that with the Zoe, the battery rentals increase with the mileage and require a deposit too.

Hopefully technology will improve in the years to come (and a lot more years to come as this ridiculous net zero guff is not going to happen).

[mickthemaverick]

I just watched the C6 review posted by Jay Bruce here and a thought occurred to me. If a small chip in the windscreen in the driver's eyeline is deemed as a fail , how come head up displays which give a similar distraction are allowed?

[GiveMeABreak]

I'd suggest because they allow you to see straight through to the road, whereas a crack or chip can block / distort the view.

Mine is a separate retractable unit that provides excellent information so I can keep my eyes on the road and still get my road speed limit signs, current speed, cruise and navigation settings for imminent turns. This does stop me having to look at the central display in the middle of the dashboard, refocus my eyes and look back up again - same for speedo and instrument cluster displays.

I use mine all the time and find it safer to use. My display is more to the lower part of the windscreen, so not directly in my field of view. The position, like the C6 display (which directly projects to the windscreen) be adjusted, lightened or dimmed as needed.

It's one of the best gadgets there is in my opinion for safety and to help stop you getting speeding fines!

[myglaren]

I was impressed when I drove Trainman's C6, didn't find it at all distracting and more convenient that the traditional method.

[Hell Razor5543]

Recently I had use of a Mazda 6 estate with a lot of gadgetry. At first I found the HUD distracting, as I had never used it before. Once I had got it set up so the whole display was properly positioned for my seating position I found it to be very useful. Things such as the speed limit (the Mazda has a smart camera system), blind spot indication and so on in the HUD went from a gimmick to a useful function. It meant that I did not have to take my eyes off the road as much as I do in other vehicles, but I still had a good awareness of what was going on.

[mickthemaverick]

Further to the new thread Marc has started this morning here, I wonder how many people will still like a HUD when they have to pay a subscription for it?

[CitroJim]

I hear there's going to be a free subscription available Mick, it'll flash up adverts every ten minutes on your HUD

You know, a bit like YouTube does... Just where you really don't want an advert...

The Police are all in favour... A spokesman said that they should make loads from speeding fines with the speedo readout obliterated by adverts...