New modern car advancements ,likes and dislikes.

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

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Having recently got a new car, the ford Galaxy took delivery yesterday. Took it for a good drive today, and finding a little bit more about it. Some great improvements in technology have been implemented in the car, but some things I just can't get the instinctive feel for. For example, the electric parking brake. I loved the reassuring feel, of pulling a lever to set the hand brake on. Now it is press a switch, a light illuminates to say it is set to on. To release, you first have to press the foot pedal, then press the switch.

How many of us, ( I do know you are not supposed to) rest their hand, on the hand brake? I do miss the hand brake :(

Only a light hearted thread, not to be taken too seriously. ;)
 
I suppose I should have started the thread, with a positive thing the car has.

Good I got that one in first. :rolleyes:


It does have many positives, I will probably name a few.
 
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I love electric parking brakes, but implementations vary. On my Golf R it is unobtrusive and fully automatic at all times. No pressing buttons etc unless not wearing a seatbelt. I really like that implementation, so much so I've had other cars roll ;) On our Mercedes GL you have to press a little harder on the pedal to engage when the engine is running (i.e. at traffic lights) so a little more effort. But not too much either.

Best thing I find is fully automatic cruise control, only steering is required (for now) on my Golf R. Pretty amazing.

Side wind assist, and fully automatic air suspension with active corner control on the Mercedes GL is amazing as well. It allows me to corner a big car in science defying (well not literally obviously) ways. Absolutely amazing and very comfortable at the same time.

Something that I dislike is parking assist. Not that I particular hate it, it is just that I've never found a good implementation of it. Too temperamental and slow to use all the time. Good party trick though for really tight parallel parking with no hands, but often I find it quicker and less fiddly to just park myself.
 
dejongj said:
I love electric parking brakes, but implementations vary. On my Golf R it is unobtrusive and fully automatic at all times. No pressing buttons etc unless not wearing a seatbelt. I really like that implementation, so much so I've had other cars roll ;) On our Mercedes GL you have to press a little harder on the pedal to engage when the engine is running (i.e. at traffic lights) so a little more effort. But not too much either.

Best thing I find is fully automatic cruise control, only steering is required (for now) on my Golf R. Pretty amazing.

Side wind assist, and fully automatic air suspension with active corner control on the Mercedes GL is amazing as well. It allows me to corner a big car in science defying (well not literally obviously) ways. Absolutely amazing and very comfortable at the same time.

Something that I dislike is parking assist. Not that I particular hate it, it is just that I've never found a good implementation of it. Too temperamental and slow to use all the time. Good party trick though for really tight parallel parking with no hands, but often I find it quicker and less fiddly to just park myself.
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Not too sure what our car does, and does not have. Or if it does have it, where it is. Awaiting the manual, that some numpty did not order with their cars!

Regarding the parking brake. Wonder if the rogues out there, can no longer do hand brake turns. If the car no longer has a hand brake as such, but only an electronic switch?
 
jonbeeza said:
Not too sure what our car does, and does not have. Or if it does have it, where it is. Awaiting the manual, that some numpty did not order with their cars!

Regarding the parking brake. Wonder if the rogues out there, can no longer do hand brake turns. If the car no longer has a hand brake as such, but only an electronic switch?
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LOL Yes good point well made. Can't say I've ever done a handbrake turn :)
 
I'm really coming to appreciate cruise control, I've had it in my car since December but not had a lot of chance to use it, got a new works van a month ago and it has cc as well as a variable speed limiter, the limiter is handy but cruise control especially on long runs lets me rest my right foot and get comfortable, makes a working day much nicer.

It also has a real life saver, being a big van (Renault Traffic) it's got a huge blind spot on the passenger side and they fixed that with a blind spot mirror on the passenger sun visor. Pull up to a tight junction but can't see left, just pull the visor down and hey presto! no more having to play Russian roulette.
 
Steep said:
I'm really coming to appreciate cruise control, I've had it in my car since December but not had a lot of chance to use it, got a new works van a month ago and it has cc as well as a variable speed limiter, the limiter is handy but cruise control especially on long runs lets me rest my right foot and get comfortable, makes a working day much nicer.

It also has a real life saver, being a big van (Renault Traffic) it's got a huge blind spot on the passenger side and they fixed that with a blind spot mirror on the passenger sun visor. Pull up to a tight junction but can't see left, just pull the visor down and hey presto! no more having to play Russian roulette.
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Our new Galaxy has good decent sized visors, and they do work a treat. Pretty good all round vision, with a bit of a blind spot with the front pillars, they seem rather thick in width.
 
Aye, my car is the same but the van has no rear or side windows behind the cab. In the past that's meant inching out at junctions or trying various acrobatic manoeuvres to get a glimpse of the traffic.
 
That reminds me, I like the 360 degree camera system. Not just a great party trip (everyone always asked where the camera above us is) but also great for looking around corners.
 
i used to like the handbrake on my mondeo ,but s*** happens and the house bricks do work ,(usually) :banana::banana::banana::beer:
 
dejongj said:
That reminds me, I like the 360 degree camera system. Not just a great party trip (everyone always asked where the camera above us is) but also great for looking around corners.
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There is a little pull down that I thought was a camera at first, then I thought it was just a funny type of mini rear view mirror. On searching a little more, I think it is a child minder mirror of some sort.
 
I am certainly not likely to pass out while driving, but many others have for varying reasons. Stories of very young children managing to pull the hand brake on. Most people would not look for a button to pull the brake on, in an emergency. Suppose young children, whose parents have cars with parking brake button, would suss what to do.
 
As a small boy I once managed to release the handbrake on my grandfather's Bedford minibus while it was parked on a steep hill. Fortunately my father got there before it picked up too much speed. :)

I had a Renault of some kind on hire in Italy back in 2006 with an electric handbrake. :rolleyes: Eventually found how to release it, but it's something that would probably make me avoid a car now. I like well implemented auto wipers a la Peugeot (not VW/BMW-mini) and find them a genuinely aid to driving. Cruise control is nice now I'm older, but never cared for it when young.
 
Don't like cruise control but do like (and use) the reverse implementation of it - called ASL in mine, Automatic Speed Limiter, although it's driver set not automatic! I like the electronic hand brake in mine as well, a quick pull up of the big switch and it's on, dab the throttle pedal and off you go.
 
My Merc has start/stop technology 1st couple of times it stops does get you thinking but foot of the brake and it starts immediately good fuel saving device
 
I don't like auto wipers.
I don't/can't use the garage for the car (it's full of `stuff` :rolleyes: ) & in Winter if they've been left `on` overnight & forgotten to check before starting the engine, the rubbers get knacked with the ice & snow. :mad: Would be ok if they re-set to off, after engine is switched off I suppose.

My really BIG hate though is wipers sweeping across the screen as soon as you touch the `washer`. It's bad enough in Summer if the water bottle empties, but even worse in Winter with all the salt/crap on the road spread on the windscreen & the jets are frozen!
(luckily I managed to disable `auto wipe` in the menu, along with auto folding wing mirrors)

Also wish the day time running lights weren't illuminated in P or N.
 
ancient_mariner said:
As a small boy I once managed to release the handbrake on my grandfather's Bedford minibus while it was parked on a steep hill. Fortunately my father got there before it picked up too much speed. :)

I had a Renault of some kind on hire in Italy back in 2006 with an electric handbrake. :rolleyes: Eventually found how to release it, but it's something that would probably make me avoid a car now. I like well implemented auto wipers a la Peugeot (not VW/BMW-mini) and find them a genuinely aid to driving. Cruise control is nice now I'm older, but never cared for it when young.
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Nod said:
Don't like cruise control but do like (and use) the reverse implementation of it - called ASL in mine, Automatic Speed Limiter, although it's driver set not automatic! I like the electronic hand brake in mine as well, a quick pull up of the big switch and it's on, dab the throttle pedal and off you go.
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Our Galaxy has cruise control and the speed limiter, not tried it out yet. I tend not to use it, it is more what the missus said it had to have.
 
OldCarlos said:
I don't like auto wipers.
I don't/can't use the garage for the car (it's full of `stuff` :rolleyes: ) & in Winter if they've been left `on` overnight & forgotten to check before starting the engine, the rubbers get knacked with the ice & snow. :mad: Would be ok if they re-set to off, after engine is switched off I suppose.

My really BIG hate though is wipers sweeping across the screen as soon as you touch the `washer`. It's bad enough in Summer if the water bottle empties, but even worse in Winter with all the salt/crap on the road spread on the windscreen & the jets are frozen!
(luckily I managed to disable `auto wipe` in the menu, along with auto folding wing mirrors)

Also wish the day time running lights weren't illuminated in P or N.
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Wonder if our Galaxy has auto wipers? Will have to check. It was very light drizzle before when I drove it, I just can't recall turning wipers on in the first place.
 
Even though I still have a road atlas in the car & still use it to plan longer journey's, I do like sat-nav.
My fave thing though is probably the flappy-paddle gear change.
 
OldCarlos said:
Also wish the day time running lights weren't illuminated in P or N.
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They switch off in both P and N in my wife's CX5.

The CX5 has lots of electronic tools and tricks, auto this and that and on one hand I think it's great but on the other I like the simplicity of my MX5 - it feels reassuringly simple.
 
Nawty said:
They switch off in both P and N in my wife's CX5.

The CX5 has lots of electronic tools and tricks, auto this and that and on one hand I think it's great but on the other I like the simplicity of my MX5 - it feels reassuringly simple.
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I'll have another check in the menu's, but couldn't see the option when I looked before.
Yep, I had an MX5 for a couple of years & know what you mean. (y)
 
OldCarlos said:
I don't like auto wipers.
I don't/can't use the garage for the car (it's full of `stuff` :rolleyes: ) & in Winter if they've been left `on` overnight & forgotten to check before starting the engine, the rubbers get knacked with the ice & snow. :mad: Would be ok if they re-set to off, after engine is switched off I suppose.

My really BIG hate though is wipers sweeping across the screen as soon as you touch the `washer`. It's bad enough in Summer if the water bottle empties, but even worse in Winter with all the salt/crap on the road spread on the windscreen & the jets are frozen!
(luckily I managed to disable `auto wipe` in the menu, along with auto folding wing mirrors)

Also wish the day time running lights weren't illuminated in P or N.
Click to expand...
Nawty said:
They switch off in both P and N in my wife's CX5.

The CX5 has lots of electronic tools and tricks, auto this and that and on one hand I think it's great but on the other I like the simplicity of my MX5 - it feels reassuringly simple.
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I have often wondered how the Police manage, when they want to tail someone covertly. Can the daylight running light be disabled?
 
dinorock said:
My Merc has start/stop technology 1st couple of times it stops does get you thinking but foot of the brake and it starts immediately good fuel saving device
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Read some where some criticism of stop/start, does save fuel but will increase wear/shorten life of battery and starter motor
 
nog said:
Read some where some criticism of stop/start, does save fuel but will increase wear/shorten life of battery and starter motor
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Often wondered why the ring gear does not get worn out, with all that starter motor activity. Maybe a higher grade metal is now used.
 
I love the satnav, a/c, auto dipping rear view mirror, heated seats and blind spot monitors on our Jag.

Not keen on the auto headlights and wipers though. The lights come on if the sun goes behind a cloud for a nanosecond. Meanwhile the wipers don't like to come on if there's less than a monsoon. The most ridiculous thing though is the electronic dipstick: there's no physical dipstick and you can only check the oil level when the engine has been turned off for a minimum of 10 minutes.... errr, don't people check the oil level when they buy fuel then? Even then you can't see what the actual level is (it just comes up as "oil level ok" on the dash) or the state of the oil, eg if it's clean or not. What dipstick thought that was a good invention?
 
jonbeeza said:
Having recently got a new car, the ford Galaxy took delivery yesterday. Took it for a good drive today, and finding a little bit more about it. Some great improvements in technology have been implemented in the car, but some things I just can't get the instinctive feel for. For example, the electric parking brake. I loved the reassuring feel, of pulling a lever to set the hand brake on. Now it is press a switch, a light illuminates to say it is set to on. To release, you first have to press the foot pedal, then press the switch.

How many of us, ( I do know you are not supposed to) rest their hand, on the hand brake? I do miss the hand brake :(

Only a light hearted thread, not to be taken too seriously. ;)
Click to expand...

Wait until it freezes solid in the winter too and wont release! Some cars with ebrake wont let you take the ignition key out unless you activate it too! I would not entertain another car with one.

I have a Civic and it has !lane departure warning system - its annoying, great though you can switch it off!

The blind spot system is excellent though and I miss it when I use the Mrs car. I want this in any other new car I buy, saved me a couple of times especially when bikers who are hard to see loitering in the blindspot when on the motorway.
 
I don't like the wiper blades action on the galaxy, they look like daddy long legs. They move in a disconcerting manner, I know they have to be large, for that large windscreen. :)
 
LASTOLITE said:
Wait until it freezes solid in the winter too and wont release! Some cars with ebrake wont let you take the ignition key out unless you activate it too! I would not entertain another car with one.

I have a Civic and it has !lane departure warning system - its annoying, great though you can switch it off!

The blind spot system is excellent though and I miss it when I use the Mrs car. I want this in any other new car I buy, saved me a couple of times especially when bikers who are hard to see loitering in the blindspot when on the motorway.
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That is another thing, the new car we got is a key sensor fob. You do not actually insert key in ignition. You keep key fob in pocket, and just press a button in car to start. Not too sure, but could see a potential problem here.
 
jonbeeza said:
That is another thing, the new car we got is a key sensor fob. You do not actually insert key in ignition. You keep key fob in pocket, and just press a button in car to start. Not too sure, but could see a potential problem here.
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Indeed, almost had an issue myself - used to it now though - gaffer tape fob to ankle :D
 
Another thing that threw me the other day with new car advancements, was our previous car the Volvo V40, and it's fuel theft security cover . We were due to trade in Volvo for the Galaxy, so I did not fill much fuel in our Volvo. We had to keep the car for another few days as Galaxy was not ready. I miss judged the fuel left, so I thought I should carry a spare can of fuel. When it came to refill the Volvo from the fuel can, via a hose and gravity. I was thwarted by the anti theft fuel lock thingy. I only found the Volvo fuel pouring adapter on the day of clearing stuff out of car.
 
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nog said:
Read some where some criticism of stop/start, does save fuel but will increase wear/shorten life of battery and starter motor
Click to expand...
Ive had stop start on my 1996 Golf. The same stories werd doing the rounds then. Andere in my many years of cars with stop start that is exactly what they are; stories.
 
Love cruise control - it was just about the only thing on the "must have" list when I bought my current car. (Merc C-class)

Absolutely hate the foot operated "hand" brake though. My handbrake turn fix will have to come from the Westfield, which has a hydraulic handbrake as well as the "normal" sort...

"Intelligent" headlights which point according to the steering direction are also great, although I do wonder how it would pan out with a good handful of opposite lock! ;-)

Auto dipping rear view mirror is also a good feature, although it's not as effective in the Merc as it was in my old Vauxhall Omega.
 
jonbeeza said:
Wonder if our Galaxy has auto wipers? Will have to check. It was very light drizzle before when I drove it, I just can't recall turning wipers on in the first place.
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If you have a plastic housing on the windscreen behind the mirror, then you have Auto wipers, just lift the wiper stalk up 1 notch. You should be able to rotate the wiper stalk to vary the sensitivity. You will likely have auto headlights too, Position A on the light switch I believe.
 
nog said:
Read some where some criticism of stop/start, does save fuel but will increase wear/shorten life of battery and starter motor
Click to expand...
Uprated batteries and starter motors are fitted.
 
jonbeeza said:
That is another thing, the new car we got is a key sensor fob. You do not actually insert key in ignition. You keep key fob in pocket, and just press a button in car to start. Not too sure, but could see a potential problem here.
Click to expand...
They are no trouble at all. You can't lock them in the car, it will unlock again, I've had mine in my jeans pocket in my gym bag and put it in the boot before now, the hatch just pops open again. My key fobs are always in my pockets. If the battery charge in the fob gets low, a message appears on the dash. The only problems I have encountered is if the fob is shrouded by my phone in my pocket, the door doesn't always unlock, shift the fob in my pocket and it works. Other than that if you are jet washing the car with the fob in your pocket any spray hitting the sensor in the door handle will cause the car to lock/unlock.
 
jonbeeza said:
Another thing that threw me the other day with new car advancements, was our previous car the Volvo V40, and it's fuel theft security cover . We were due to trade in Volvo for the Galaxy, so I did not fill much fuel in our Volvo. We had to keep the car for another few days as Galaxy was not ready. I miss judged the fuel left, so I thought I should carry a spare can of fuel. When it came to refill the Volvo from the fuel can, via a hose and gravity. I was thwarted by the anti theft fuel lock thingy. I only found the Volvo fuel pouring adapter on the day of clearing stuff out of car.
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Your Galaxy will be fitted with Ford's easy fuel, meaning you can't put the wrong fuel in. Only the correct nozzle will open the little flap in the filler neck. You should have a small funnel in the boot, check it's there, sometimes they are overlooked by the dealer.
 
nilagin said:
If you want a list of what your Galaxy has fitted, enter your registration in here https://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRe...id=5304A83C1478572E5EDFEEC1164ADB5D.eccvas502 as for how it works, you'll still have to wait for the manual I'm afraid, although most stuff is usually intuitive. Didn't the salesman run through it all anyway? They have done when I've picked my cars up.
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Thanks will check it out now.

Salesman showed us the basics, indicators wipers lights. He said the touch screen was too confusing to teach us there and then, and said we would forget it as soon as we drove out of the gate. Something that is probably true, besides he was too busy and needed to get back in. He had others waiting at his desk.
 
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