Why no new Bullitt Mustang for me
 

A 24 minute review here. But go to the 5 minute mark, when he moves to the interior and dash features. All the electronics...the features this guy seems to love are what turns me off. More buttons & touch screen krap than on the bridge of the starship enterprise.

Yeah, I'm old...love the 480 ponies, the big brakes, the torsen rear end he doesn't mention, etc. But all those features only an IT guy could love?

Well, I suppose Ford knows it's demographics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKK9LGdywJI

(edit) So, what do the younger members here think? Do you like a dash with many electronic options and a touch screen? Am I just an old curmudgeon for preferring a nice set of gauges and an easy to operate sound system?

Yea, we aren't in anyone's demographic target audience anymore. While I love the extra horses, and Highland Green Paint, I don't love any of the electronics. I currently drive a 40th anniversay triple black 2004 GT convertible, and would like to trade for the new style, and upgraded motor/suspension, a new Bullitt is out of the question for me. I would be just as happy with a Kona blue GT with "only" 460 HP.

We recently rented a 2018 Audi A4 from Silvercar while visiting Seattle. It took us 10 minutes to figure out the audio settings and adjust the volume. At the end of the day we still did not figure out how to increase the volume on the navigation system - it would cut in over the radio but we could not hear the directions. The instrument cluster could embed the map navigation - had it running when we picked the car up. After lunch it was gone - never figured out how to get it back. I'm sure I would figure it all out at some point if I owned the car but I don't see any real value add with the latest tech. YMMV.

Yep, seems many of the car companies are into this "gee whiz" tech. A turn off for me, but maybe those generations who used laptops for teething rings consider it to be cool stuff?

I only used the Mustang as an example here...

My 2016 GT has basically no options. I've never connected it to my phone, and I've never touched the Ford Sync. It drives just fine if I pretend the gizmos are not there.

A secret to happiness has been shown to be fewer options.

Totally understand the irritation. I am still driving my 2013 A4, it has plenty add-ons, I do like the blue tooth connect for cell phone, do not have navigation screen or back up camera and the little screen is built in to the dash, it is fine. Audi keeps wanting me to get a new car and I finally told them that as long as you make the car with a pop up screen that comes out of the dash, will not buy anew one, am happy with the one I have. The salesman finally wrote me saying he feels the same way.

At 56k on the clock, I have awhile before the car is old and tired.

My parents have a fully loaded 2018 SQ5, I have to say the dash with all the various options looks great, but the cruise control with lane departure is anything but intuitive.

Also, it still uses a touch pad to enter data on screen. I can't believe in 2018 that they don't use a touch screen. Car drives great, but the UI issues would dissuade me from getting one of my own.

Analog cars for me. Late 90's is the limit...

Love all that electronic gizmo stuff. But do admit I have to sit in the driveway with the vehicle running and go thru the manual to figure out how to use them. They are not what I would call intuitive and every system seems different.

Every one of the stereo/nav manufacturers need to take classes on user interface like they offer for software and video game development.
Don't ever take one of these classes yourself, it will increase your frustration with their lack of usability.

My wife, and I own 5 different vehicles that I have to try to keep track of where, and how each system works...throw in the 4 new company cars at work all from different manufacturers who we supply, and I find myself driving down the road paying more attention to the different control placements, and radio controls than driving, which is kind of scary.

+1
Give me a car I can drive without having to look at the dashboard.

Lots of gee whiz techy stuff in my 19 Avalon. Hated it at first, but after some time, have mastered it and really like it. Radar cruise is awesome, heads up display took some getting used to but very useful. I turned off the lane departure stuff. I actually like how it gently steers you back toepward the center of the lane but I hate the beeping that comes with it. Seems you can’t have one without the other, so...off.

I like Apple Car Play...uses my Spotify account and for some reason the sound quality is noticeably better than radio. Quit being a bunch of curmudgeons! I’m 60 and have learned to appreciate the technology. Now, get off my damned lawn!

Amen, brother!!

That's why I'll NEVER sell my 2006 GMC Sierra. Which, BTW, has superb ergonomics, especially the cd changer -- featuring... BUTTONS!

A thread listing best analog cars and trucks for driving today, might be educational. Not built today, but readily available today. Cars you might buy to avoid new vehicle electroncs.

Robert

To answer your question - yes and no.

I chose a C5 Corvette over later generations.

All the electronics are GREAT for cross country trips.

Especially the ability to control music que's from the steering wheel.

But now that I work from home most of my trips are because the weather is nice, I roll the windows down, and have some fun.

I do like the advancements of my Jaguar over my older cars. It really eats up the miles on the long haul. A definite plus.

My two favorite modern electronics have been a Toyota Camry and Porsche 911.

I will say that the stability control on the 991 911 impressed me. I never shut it off.

Normally finding how to shut such things off is something I take the time to do.

In the 911 it was making such quick and tiny little inputs to individual corners that it felt like a mind extension.

Especially with patchy gravel, bumps etc. Was impressed.

So personally, I'd take both. A comfortable optioned long range cruiser, and a raw harsher sports car for the short trips.

-vs- no look, feel push knob, turn.

Is the next round of auto lawsuits going to be for overly-complicated systems controls?
The manufacturers will say "we were just following consumer demand".

My trusty OLD El Camino has manual door locks, and manual cranks for the windows. Both work perfectly after all the miles and years and have never need repair. ;)

I did replace the rear view mirror with one that auto-dims, and has the built in garage door opener. I also replaced the crappy original AM-FM radio with a unit that plays a USB drive with all my music on it, and it has Bluetooth to connect to my phone that I usually have turned off.

My wife's 2017 Macan has lots of bells and whistles. The Apple play is cool, and Porsche Connect has features I will never bother to figure out.

It's kind of refreshing to crawl into my 1996 F150 with the 300 I6, and an automatic. It has pull locks, crank windows, a rear slider, and openable quarter windows for crotch A/C...and dead nuts reliable.

Recently saw an Mercury that was interesting.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1949-Mercury-4-door/264237821887?hash=item3d85cd2fbf:g:0ggAAOSw6lpciUa v&frcectupt=true

The base model 2017 Mustang V6 was the "sweet spot" for me; 305 HP, uses regular unleaded fuel and didn't have all the tech gizmo stuff. Just couldn't justify pulling the trigger on a new one at the time.