Computer screens on car dashboards.

[Mr Fro]

So a good old shouting match with SWMBO could have unintended consequences and end up in a ditch.

You know what mate, ending up in a ditch would be a welcome relief sometimes.

 

[premmington]

I have an electric handbrake and find it fine but in my opinion hill assist is not much more than a useless gimmick.
Fwiw, I'm all for progress but I do feel that many of these new features are dumbing down driving though there will come a time when learners learn to drive in cars with all these features fitted and the cars they then go on to buy will also have them. We have two choices which are to accept change if you want to drive a modern car or drive old cars without them fitted.

I am not keen on electric handbrakes - but the "hill assist" on my VW Passat estate works well.

For some unknown reason - "hill assist" to me - really only suits cars with automatic transmission!

 

[DAPPH]

I find kicking them out of the car and making them make their own way home at a first offence soons hammers the message home.
Or maybe get better "mates" to start with.

Saying that: the Lexus has a foot operated "hand brake", so maybe that's the way to go?

Not if you have a seriously damaged left knee like me and a lot of older ( Did I really type that ) drivers . I have to rely on , "brake to a stop ,carefully select park ( bust shoulder joint of 40 years ) then use right foot to put the left sided foot brake pedal down .

 

[bigegg]

Not if you have a seriously damaged left knee like me and a lot of older ( Did I really type that ) drivers . I have to rely on , "brake to a stop ,carefully select park ( bust shoulder joint of 40 years ) then use right foot to put the left sided foot brake pedal down .

It's a shame you can't get one where the brakes+gears are operated by touchscreen.

 

[addjunkie]

It's a shame you can't get one where the brakes+gears are operated by touchscreen.

Electric cars are heading that way…..point and press!

 

[Bullet2012]

It's a shame you can't get one where the brakes+gears are operated by touchscreen.

You can, it’s called a train.

 

[redlig]

Not if you have a seriously damaged left knee like me and a lot of older ( Did I really type that ) drivers . I have to rely on , "brake to a stop ,carefully select park ( bust shoulder joint of 40 years ) then use right foot to put the left sided foot brake pedal down .

Similarly damaged 78 year old with 2 new knees , fused right ankle and arthritic left shoulder plus .....I won't go on. It made Classic Car Trials a bit iffy in a basic Liege with no Gizmo's . But where's the fun in "Dial a Ride"?

 

[Kayos]

Similarly damaged 78 year old with 2 new knees , fused right ankle and arthritic left shoulder plus .....I won't go on. It made Classic Car Trials a bit iffy in a basic Liege with no Gizmo's . But where's the fun in "Dial a Ride"?

The more I drive the less interested in driving a manual I become.
My next car will be electric, if that wasn't the case it would be a diesel auto

 

[redlig]

The more I drive the less interested in driving a manual I become.
My next car will be electric, if that wasn't the case it would be a diesel auto

I think my next car may well be a hearse. Just guessing.

 

[redlig]

You know what mate, ending up in a ditch would be a welcome relief sometimes.

Do I detect a hint of resignation in your comment ?I do hope not. Just think of the paperwork.

 

[redlig]

Apparently those that have tried it up to 30mph reckon being fired into a brick wall naked at 30mph is more pleasant.

Um the ABS already controls all of that so all you have is a switch and a wire to the ECU that already controls all of that, the rest of it is software, no need for hydraulic pipes that don't already exist.

On all electric handbrake I've seen it's an electric actuator so no need for hydraulic pipes for that unless I've misunderstood you.

I'm sure what you say is true but still more complicated than a cable . If the ECU fails ,and they have been known to, left with nothing operational.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

The more I drive the less interested in driving a manual I become

Go wash your mouth out!

 

[Kayos]

I'm sure what you say is true but still more complicated than a cable . If the ECU fails ,and they have been known to, left with nothing operational.

My Vectra from 2001 was drive by wire, ECU controlled throttle. I never had an issue, it is still on the road today and has never ever had a failure (I bought it new, sold it to someone who still has it)
I reckon ECU design is even better now. Plus drive by wire braking has to have a backup system

 

[Kayos]

Go wash your mouth out!

I dread to think of how many times I have changed gear, plus not using a clutch and gear lever gives me more time to look at the touchscreen

 

[Hood]

A car for me is just transport for getting from A to B. Never really enjoyed driving as in just going out for a spin. Had an auto before and it was good, boss has a DCT and it is great, sadly my van has a gear lever and manual clutch but it was all that was available at the time.

 

[Revs1972]

I had an omega once when car was being repaired . That had an electric handbrake and was a manual. I just couldn’t get on with it. I had to reverse park up a hill and it was an absolute nightmare. Had the car for 3 weeks and I still never got the hang of it.

I have electric handbrake on my EV and in comparison it’s the easiest thing in the world to use.

Not driven a manual for 6 years now , don’t miss them one bit. Had hill assist on last 4 vehicles and has worked a treat on them all (all auto vans)

 

[DAPPH]

It's a shame you can't get one where the brakes+gears are operated by touchscreen.

Stephen Hawkins had an electric wheelchair that he used to wink at to get it to move so perhaps it's not too far away for the public to move in that direction .

t

 

[Bullet2012]

Stephen Hawkins had an electric wheelchair that he used to wink at to get it to move so perhaps it's not too far away for the public to move in that direction .


t

That would work, right up until summertime when the scantily clods are parading

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My car still has wind up windows never mind a computer screen

 

[DAPPH]

It's a shame you can't get one where the brakes+gears are operated by touchscreen.

I was offered the option of additional controls by cables & wires for hand brake , gear selection & clutch for a motability car.
Blek ! They looked like badly assembled Meccano toys to me .
What was interesting was that to have a standard car modified that would take my electric wheel chair would have been almost twice to cost of hiring my new motability KIA Sedona automatic fitted with a 90 kg electric hoist /lift & assisted tail gate opener /closer .