Self Steering Trucks

[Chocaholic]

Perhaps a bit of a rant, but...I’ve seen several ads recently depicting a happy family driving down the highway in their new American pickup truck. As they are motoring along the highway the driver let’s go of the steering wheel so he can slap his legs twice, then clap. He does this repeatedly as the others join in. The smiles and laughter build upon themselves as they seem to be having great fun.

Paddie-cake. That’s all. I guess I’ll have to go spend $90+K for a new pickup to do the same. Outside of eating a cheeseburger while driving (without cheating and steering with your knee....don’t lie, we’ve all done that)...are people really finding this feature compelling enough to buy this vehicle? In these ads, that’s the only function of the new truck that is depicted.

What am I missing? Or is this knee slapping/clapping activity really as fun as it looks in the ads?

[stevej37]

[oldE]

I remember Mercedes working on this technology for their highway tractors just over 30 years ago. The idea was to try to reduce operator fatigue. Now it just seems to be another step in separating people from the thankless task of not destroying property or killing someone.

Best
Les

[Nickshu]

It will probably still alarm if it doesn't detect slight steering input or your hands on the wheel, then turn off the system. I have had a few cars w/ different degrees of autopilot and they all shut down without detecting your hands on the wheel, but have not driven GM's SuperCruise. Most comparisons I have seen say that GM SuperCruise is one of the best systems currently out there.

[craigster59]

I routinely see Tesla drivers texting or reading something while traveling the SoCal freeways. I just can't see myself putting that kind of "trust" in a vehicle.

[Chocaholic]

I owned a BMW 540i a few years ago. It was the last modern BMW I’ll likely ever own. It’s no longer a ‘drivers’ car. It’s now a gadget car. It had a button on the door panel that would activate a massage function that would inflate and deflate various in-seat bladders. I tried it on two occasions and found it useless and sort of creepy.

But there’s more...in addition to a volume knob on the steering wheel and inches away on the radio itself...if either of those are simply too taxing to endure, in between them you could swirl your finger in the air clockwise to increase the volume (with a minimum of control), or counterclockwise to turn it down.

Just because they can make such a feature, doesn’t mean they should...unless their target audience is someone other than the audience upon which they built their reputation.

[sc_rufctr]

This may sound like I'm from the stone age but...

I really don't like the automatic conveniences in modern cars (like auto head lights and windshield wipers). I'd rather switch those things on and off myself and if past experience is anything to go by those devices will most likely fail at some point anyway.

Self steering/driving car? - No thanks.

[flatbutt]

There was a time that I could roll a joint while steering with my knee. Yeah I was that stupid but I'm not giving that kind of control to a computer.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

There was a time that I could roll a joint while steering with my knee. Yeah I was that stupid but I'm not giving that kind of control to a computer.

I also wouldn't allow the car to roll my joint.

[hcoles]

Re the commercial, they are attempting to get an emotional reaction. Just like the Dodge commercials with the cars drifting sideways smoking the tires. The idea is the reaction will get you into the dealership to buy a $90k vehicle that you don't need and can't afford. If you fall for this, it is your fault.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

There was a time that I could roll a joint while steering with my knee. Yeah I was that stupid...

Memories!

As a former pilot in a two person cockpit, one of the hardest things was to go from being in screen lock with the tactical picture (think cell phone cubed) then coming heads up and aware of the flight picture and dynamics...the transition takes a few seconds, seconds you may not have in a car, especially at 65 mph.

I prefer driving, I ready do.

[john walker's workshop]

Up on the Seward Highway in the Anchorage area, you can do that with any car, as long as it tracks in the grooves.

[A930Rocket]

In one scene, the pick up truck is passing a semi truck. Did the pick up truck auto pilot itself around the semi?

I’m not ready to give my my driving to a computer.

[Chocaholic]

C’mon A930...we’re talking paddie-cake at 70mph! What could be more fun?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

This may sound like I'm from the stone age but...

I really don't like the automatic conveniences in modern cars (like auto head lights and windshield wipers). I'd rather switch those things on and off myself and if past experience is anything to go by those devices will most likely fail at some point anyway.

Self steering/driving car? - No thanks.

My antique 911 (1985) would start right up while in gear with no one in the seat, while standing outside of the car, and twisting the key. No nannies of any sort. Dumb actions result in dumb results.

I will admit, when parking my wife's Macan it is neat and convenient to park while backing in, into a corner parking spot and clearly see the ground in all 360 degrees around the car. I can do that in my 911 with just mirrors.

[Zeke]

IDK which commercial that just came out but it featured 2 deaf (presumably) and dumb ladies (dumb as in inability to speak) going hands free so they could sign each other.

Think of that as you will.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My antique 911 (1985) would start right up while in gear with no one in the seat, while standing outside of the car, and twisting the key. No nannies of any sort. Dumb actions result in dumb results.

I will admit, when parking my wife's Macan it is neat and convenient to park while backing in, into a corner parking spot and clearly see the ground in all 360 degrees around the car. I can do that in my 911 with just mirrors.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Zeke

IDK which commercial that just came out but it featured 2 deaf (presumably) and dumb ladies (dumb as in inability to speak) going hands free so they could sign each other.

Think of that as you will.

That’s got to be a huge market for the GMC Denali. A 6 figure pickup truck for all those deaf female drivers who need to sign to each other while driving down the highway. Why didn’t I think of that?