Objectionable Gadgets
 

...in Your Car


A GPS that reports back to a govt. agency or anyone you don't send it to is an easy thing to hate.

What about rental cars?

What about other things like a breathalyzer test you have to pass before you can start your car?
- either required for everybody
- or in a rental car

Which cars? Which rental companies? Are these gadgets something that comes with cars bought from the showroom floor?

In all, thank goodness I don't need nor want anything new in automobiles these days.

I really dislike new cars. This kinda junk just gives me more reason.

With the GPS 'tax by mileage' program wanted by the State of Oregon? Car age won't matter...the goal is to equip all cars. No state mandated GPS, no license...won't be allowed to buy gas.

Breathelizer test is already required fo those convicted of DUII here...a parole thing. My neighbor had his car equipped that way during his parole period...

I don't see the GPS thing getting any traction. We will need a way to be sure electric cars pay a fair share for road maintenance, so people with Dodge trucks don't wind up paying for all of it...

I think a Breathelizer unit might come in handy... I'm not enamored with the govt. - or anyone else - getting access to it.

they have used GPS data to convict people. they search the GPS unit memory and find out where you have been. fun stuff.

The prosecution would seem to have the burden of proof, how do they prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the one driving the car?!?

active steering on new bmw's

supposed to counter steer when the car's backend breaks out, along side esp and tc and whatever other electronics...

IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE RWD WITH POWER, BUY A LOW SPEC FWD CAR DAMMIT!

i don't know. but i have read news articles where they used the contents of the GPS unit's memory to help convict.

Park-Tronic....is parking really that difficult? Remove all the driving skills from the people and let's see what happens.

pretty much anything that my '66 mustang didn't have annoys the hell out of me.

I pretty much don't like anything with a microchip in it.

The most complex piece of circuitry in my 911 is the CDI box and I like it that way. It doesn't even have a radio.

Every car I have owned for the last 25 years has had one annoying feature. The nagavator. That blond unit that is always in the passenger seat that seems to know everything about driving. It is part GPS (likes to tell me where to turn) The speed warning device (likes to tell me how fast I am going) and the bathroom locator (seems my car has to stop at every restroom that is beyond the 20 mile limit from the last one). Mine seems to be missing the mute button.

LOL! Mine used to be brunette...now "salt & pepper". Why do we keep such annoying gadgets around? Oh...never mind.

At least these can be removed from the vehicle, thereby disabling their ability to monitor your driving 24/7/365. That, and when removed from the vehicle, one can take advantage of certain programmed in multi function capability. Of course the monitoring mode does not automatically shut down when removed from the vehicle, it just begins to target non-driving related behaviors. Must be some kind of default setting. I'm not aware of anyone who has successfully overridden it.

There are four modern technologies that I like in a car:
- ABS braking.
- Airbags.
- Portable GPS units
- Heated seats

Granted, I've lost the 'feel' of braking without an ABS equipped car, but in panic situations on the street, it does allow one to steer - and there is a good chance of being able to steer around something hard and immobile rather than plow into it.

Airbags have been shown to be effective in minimizing injury when the ABS isn't good enough to prevent plowing into something hard and immobile.

I bought my wife a portable GPS unit a couple of years ago - she and I both love it! For day to day driving, it isn't of much worth, but on vacations in an unfamiliar town, or for those trips to the racetrack -- it is definately worth using. And frankly, I don't really care if the government or some other agency can see where I've been via my GPS - I've got nothing to hide.

Heated seats? Yeah - there's nothing like a bun toaster on a cold winter day. Call it shameless indulgence, if you will...

As far as distronic (radar guided cruise control), night vision, PSM/ESP/PASM/whatever-you-call-your-traction-control-system, heated steering wheels...etc. - I don't really see a lot of value in them. Granted, they all offer some element that makes the car safer - but the technology is replacing good driving skills - and that's bad.

-Z-man.

I'm old, I've "modulated" the brakes on my abs car

GPS is a good thing Government intrusion is an abomiable thing. What would our Forefathers think?

I agree with zman with the addition of a cd player.

I think I am going to save this tidbit. It may become handy someday. :D

I drive a 1/2 T PU for a DD. Wind up windows, PS, PB, auto V8, rubber floors, non elec seat, etc.

Some of the gadgets that work for me are intermittent wipers, scan/seek on the radio, and I suppose, the ABS on the rear, although I don't know if I've ever felt them working.

Otherwise, I want nothing more. If this one goes away, I'll look for a clone. However, if it came with power windows and locks, I wouldn't complain.