Please make a dumb car • Hacker News Board

Re: Please make a dumb car

#241

Post by wazoox » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:47 PM UTC

robin_reala wrote: post #31

The original VW Up dispensed with a screen beyond a small radio display, and just came with a mount for the smartphone you were bound to have with you. Cabin shot: https://cdn1.buyacar.co.uk/sites/buyacar/files/styles/galler...

This is what Dacia proposes in their cars. They know it's better to have a basic system with a radio, bluetooth and a place to store your phone, that will stay up-to-date and usable for years to come (check early-2000s high-end cars GPS and entertainment systems for a laugh).

Re: Please make a dumb car

#242

Post by jbl » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:47 PM UTC

chakintosh wrote: post #138

khazhoux wrote: post #74

Our Volvo doesn't let you adjust the volume when you're in reverse. That means if you're backing out of the garage and the music is blaring -- you can't turn it off! The Volvo UI pops up an almost full-display warning when it can't connect to the phone over bluetooth on startup. This UI takes priority over the rear camera . So I guess it's better to hit Timmy and his puppy when I'm backing out, so long as I know my p…

I'm a UX designer and I've taken delivery of an XC40 Recharge two months ago, and I've never felt dumber in my life. Don't get me wrong, the car is absolutely wonderful, but the UX is so badly designed it makes me question myself. For starters, I have absolutely no clue how to use the lights, fans and wipers. Just last Saturday, a design oversight (and idiocy from my part) caused me to reverse into another car parked…

Re the odometers, in my 2018 Volvo and my Wife's 2019 XC40. They are all accurate, but for different purposes.

1. The standard "life of the car" odometer is permanently on the left gauge, top reading

2. There is one (two?) manually resettable trip odometers

3. There is an auto-resetting trip odometer - it resets when the car has been off for four hours.

You can configure which of the second two are displayed by going to in-dash "app" menu and selecting what you want in the "Trip" tab. On my car, this configures the lower displays on the left and right gauges.

Update Re: your high beams - It sounds like you have them on auto. There's a spring loaded ring on the left-hand stalk that engages auto vs. manual high beam. Twist it and the light-with-an-A sign on your dash should change to a normal light symbol. You can then use the twist knob with detents to select parking light vs. low beam and whether you want auto-on or manual on. High beams are engaged by pushing the lever (or you can pull to flash).

Re: Please make a dumb car

#243

Post by roland35 » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

If you want a dumb car, you should really consider the Nissan Frontier. The truck hasn't changed very much since the mid 2000s. I drove one as a rental for a while and it feels like a blast from the past.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#244

Post by ubu7737 » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

geenew wrote: post #212

jdhn wrote: post #200

One of the reasons that there's not really a "dumb" car anymore is that backup cameras are federally mandated. So you have a camera for backing up, and you need a way to display that. So auto manufacturers say "Hey, we have this screen, people are used to touchscreens due to their phone, and it makes manufacturing easier if we put everything on a screen as it means we can just put a flat piece of plastic where all th…

Some of the original backup camera models (in ford cars at least) were integrated into the rear view mirror. Worked fine for its purpose and didn’t involve a central dash monitor.

No post body was provided.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#245

Post by etskinner » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

ab_testing wrote: post #10

I think a lot of the smart car features have to do with legislation. All new cars require a back up camera due to legislation. But a backup camera with a huge 8" screen is only useful for backing up. So the manufacturers try to use that screen real estate for infotainment when the car is moving forward.

8" backup camera screen aren't required. I've seen some as small as about 4". The standard requires only that a certain spacing/size of objects behind the car is at least a certain visual angle. Screens in rear view mirrors and just below the bottom edge of the windscreen abound.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#246

Post by seanmcdirmid » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:48 PM UTC

Aren't dumb cars going to completely go away once the transition from ICE to EV is finished? I could see them being like antiques or something, but they wouldn't really be economically viable to produce anymore. And of course, the fact that dumb cars would be more expensive to produce is just a side effect of digital being cheaper than analogue after a certain about of development.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#247

Post by quickthrowman » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

xbryanx wrote: post #198

khazhoux wrote: post #74

Our Volvo doesn't let you adjust the volume when you're in reverse. That means if you're backing out of the garage and the music is blaring -- you can't turn it off! The Volvo UI pops up an almost full-display warning when it can't connect to the phone over bluetooth on startup. This UI takes priority over the rear camera . So I guess it's better to hit Timmy and his puppy when I'm backing out, so long as I know my p…

I get why, but my Volvo (2017) WILL NOT let me lock the keys in the car. Which is annoying if I'm trying to safely warm it up on a -15 Minnesota day and have the spare keys in the house. There's lots of forums detailing tricks involving rolling the windows down or locking the car from the back seat. I love all the tech automation and safety features, but at times I find myself befuddled by the designers choices.

I’m also unable to lock my 2019 Toyota if it is running and I’m not in the car. It’s implemented this way so they can sell you remote start. Pity about all the car thefts that happen as a result of auto manufacturer greed.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#248

Post by function_seven » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

CaptainZapp wrote: post #235

function_seven wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your second video horrified me. What the hell are they thinking with the touch-sensitive inputs on the steering wheel? Nevermind the weird shape and the issues with orientation when signaling during a steering maneuver. Those aren't actual buttons, they're no better than a touch screen. When I drive, my hands aren't always in the exact same position on the wheel. Muscle-memory won't reliably have my thumb landing on…

> Those aren't actual buttons, they're no better than a touch screen. Your comment fondly reminded me of my very first computer, which was a Sinclair ZX81. Let's just say that it wasn't ideal for text processing. About the same as this "steering console" doesn't look quite ideal for driving a fucking car. I concur with your horrification.

And you just reminded me of my first computer. An Atari 400.

The 800 had real keys, but the 400 was just a membrane keyboard. Didn’t matter; we only used it to play video games anyway.

I can’t imagine having to type on that thing.

Re: Please make a dumb car

#249

Post by com2kid » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

saiya-jin wrote: post #114

porknubbins wrote: post #23

Power seats are not a pointless luxury. I’m pretty sure they are continuously adjustable which is much better than trying to pull on some lever and get the seat to pop into approximately the right place. To say nothing of mulitple drivers with memorized positions etc.

Exactly, plus movement in more directions (up & down, didn't see a single car with manual adjustment that allowed this), very useful for us blessed with non-standard body dimensions (ie I am quite tall). It changes default-settings car where I touch roof with my head into one where there is more than 5cm/2" clearance. Adjustable tightness of part of the seat above your hips which keeps you better in tight/fast curves…

> (up & down, didn't see a single car with manual adjustment that allowed this),

My 2010 Kia Soul has manual seats that can go up and down.

Although when the Kia Soul was first introduced, Kia threw almost every feature they could in it to win market share!

Re: Please make a dumb car

#250

Post by pjerem » Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 5:49 PM UTC

There is something we could have on cars since at least a decade or more and that I don’t understand we don’t have : HUDs.

I already saw one in a top-end car and it’s absolutely practical. I can’t imagine that it costs anything to embed that in a car (it’s just a monochrome, really bright LED screen) so I assume manufacturers just want to keep them as high prices options.