Live data from Hacker News

European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

arstechnica.com

161–170 of 660 posts

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Mazda 3 is such a pretty car in and out. I wish there was an AWD turbo manual or a fully electric one. Either one will make me replace the Prius.

I've owned one for so long and it makes me so upset that Mazda doesn't have an EV yet. I just want my current car as an EV and I'd be happy.

They do sell en EV in some places, the MX-30. It’s a terrible EV that was outdated before its release, so that’s perhaps why they don’t try to sell it more. We are talking about the company that still invest in internal combustion engines so don’t have too high hopes.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everything I ever hear about Tesla's keeps getting worse and worse. How are they still in business and why does anyone buy one?

Have you seen the other BEVs available in America? There really isn't much choice if you don't want an SUV -- your options are basically a Tesla or a Chevy Bolt.

[dead]

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#163
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Check how Mazda did it with their ring control. I love it in mine. No touch screen needed. It's amazing that accessibility is such an afterthought that having a physical wheel that tabs forward and backward through a UI as the primary means of using it is unfathomable until it's actually implemented.

If it’s like the old BMW iDrive systems, it’s pretty good but I think it’s a bit like comparing a blackberry and an iPhone. Sure the physical keyboard on the blackberry has advantages.

> Sure the physical keyboard on the blackberry has advantages.

Yes, being able to operate it without looking at it and capable of navigating arbitrary 3rd party apps. And because the tab position is stateful you can perform complex actions incrementally. Touch screens win for phones but you would hate one as your laptop keyboard. It's not a better or worse situation as much as a fit-for-purpose situation.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention that on cars like Tesla, UI updates will change the location of these buttons . This drives me INSANE. The other one: some of the Tesla UIs feel like they were made with "minimalism" in mind. For instance the rear defroster vs the windshield defroster. I still, 3 years into my model Y, have no idea which is which, and every time I need to defrost the front windshield it's like a fight against the HVAC…

How is it possible to love a car that does things you hate when there are other cars at the same price that does everything the object of your love does, and doesn't do the things you hate? It sounds like an irrational love for the car.

Which other car in the similar price range can fart on demand from the mobile app?

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#166
post #120

The worst is when the touchscreen freezes and there is no master breaker switch to throw to reboot it “in flight.” You have to pull over, shut the car off, open the door, close the door, then start the car to reboot it.

What car do you have that does this?

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#167
post #149
post #8

Good. My Tesla doesn't have a stalk for wiper control and it's just awful UX. The auto function is erratic (often triggers on a sunny day, doesn't pick the right level in the rain). Might be fine for sunny California infrequent use, but terrible for England. I'd much rather have easy full control at my fingertips than have to faff about with scroll wheels or the touch screen.

How about buying an other car?

The challenge is that other cars are either worse or more expensive.

A Tesla with some aftermarket modes (the sexy buttons for example) is still interesting despite its shortcomings. The perfect product doesn’t exists.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#168

Around 10 years ago, I started looking into buying a new car. I couldn't believe the number of cars that switched to touch controls even 10 years ago. It boggles my mind just how car makers thought it was safer/easier to have touch in a car while one is driving. I refused to buy any car that replaced physical buttons with touch controls 10 years ago and I still have this rule today. Then again, it also boggles my min…

> Then again, it also boggles my mind how car makers in the US continue to use flashing red lights as the turn signal instead of yellow lights. Technology Connections channel had a video about that a while back: https://youtu.be/O1lZ9n2bxWA?si=xKRgMFK1DFBrB3i0

Flashing red = car is pointed away from you

Flashing yellow = car is pointed towards you

It's the same reason why headlights are white and taillights are not (unless reversing, in which case the tail becomes the head temporarily, and thus white reversing lights.)

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#169
post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it’s like the old BMW iDrive systems, it’s pretty good but I think it’s a bit like comparing a blackberry and an iPhone. Sure the physical keyboard on the blackberry has advantages.

> Sure the physical keyboard on the blackberry has advantages. Yes, being able to operate it without looking at it and capable of navigating arbitrary 3rd party apps. And because the tab position is stateful you can perform complex actions incrementally. Touch screens win for phones but you would hate one as your laptop keyboard. It's not a better or worse situation as much as a fit-for-purpose situation.

I think a good mix of physical buttons and touch inputs is best.
Post reply on HN