Things to love or hate about cars...

[Pixbarmy]

I hate modern turbos. Quart in a pint pot, which eventually means premature failure and leaks. Don't get me started on variable vane technology! Keep it simple-make it last.

 

[Jelster]

Things I like about my current car, auto speed limiter, heated windscreen, digital dash (no analogue clocks).
The other car I quite like the HUD as well though it's set to the wife's height so I leave it there and can't see it, on that car I also like the Stop/Start it's the correct implementation of it and works perfectly, all cars should use the Mazda setup.

I sometimes wonder how I ever drove a car without a HUD. Best thing they've done in cars for years, you never have to turn away from a "head up, face forward" position. I can move my eyes to see my mirrors, so it has to be one of the best safety devices ever. Add that to my car being a "sport auto" with paddles, my hands never have to leave the wheel either. Voice control for most other things, and the phone via Bluetooth, it's just brilliant.

 

[jonbeeza]

Can't you ask the dealer/agent to disable this? I had something similar on my BMW in SA, and they turned it off when the car was in for servicing.

Yes, I think I will ask. It really is an annoyingly loud BLEEEP, noise.

 

[jonbeeza]

Something to like about new cars, is the colour. Really like the colour red above, nice looking car also, not sure what model it is.
We opted for a silver colour, mainly because silver does not show up the dirt. lol

 

[Jelster]

I hate modern turbos. Quart in a pint pot, which eventually means premature failure and leaks. Don't get me started on variable vane technology! Keep it simple-make it last.

Turbo's are all about performance and economy. I can get over 40mpg if I drive my car sedately, not bad for a 2 litre, 275bhp 4 wheel drive car... I get a lot less if I'm heavy with the right foot, but it moves much quicker too. Modern turbo's are the norm these days. Although I'd still like a 3.5L normally aspirated V8 in my drive

 

[jonbeeza]

Now something I do like, the sliding doors on our car. Very good for loading stuff into, also handy when people park too close, passengers don't throw the doors open into the parked up cars.

 

[Nod]

I can get mine up into the low 40s - 3 litre RWD. Like you, I could get it down a fair bit but even then, I reckon mid/high 20s on the road, staying legal. Mrs Nod's toy (MX5) won't get much over 32-33, even driven carefully.

Had a 4 litre V8 on the drive for a while but it was too refined, despite being a GT/sports car - could barely hear the engine!

 

[jonbeeza]

Another something I don't like about new cars...

All the bells and whistles. This morning when I was out driving. A warning flashed up on the instrument panel, it said. "WARNING! Pre Collision Assist!.
It suddenly disappeared, no idea what it is or why it came on. It is not that there were any other cars or pedestrians about.

 

[robj20]

Does it automatically change to new speed limit based on its camera vision?

I like the idea of this. Adaptive cruise control should also get this feature.

Yes, it's not a feature of my car but another thing I like about modern cars is what you can change with a laptop. Later models have it enabled from the manufacturer.
It's not 100% though it almost never over reads, it combines the camera sign recognition with the satnav of they disagree it uses the slower speed.

I've changed all sorts from changing the look of the dash, to what it displays, behaviour of the folding mirrors, how long the 12v socket stays powered. Enabled auto locking at above 2mph as well.

 

[jonbeeza]

Another something I don't like about new cars...

All the bells and whistles. This morning when I was out driving. A warning flashed up on the instrument panel, it said. "WARNING! Pre Collision Assist!.
It suddenly disappeared, no idea what it is or why it came on. It is not that there were any other cars or pedestrians about.

Just looked on the FORD Website and it says.

" Pre-Collision Assist detects vehicles and pedestrians in the road ahead, or who could cross the vehicle’s path, and warns you of their presence. If you don’t respond, the system automatically applies the brakes. This technology is designed to help reduce the severity of accidents, or help avoid them altogether, and functions at speeds of up to 50 mph. "

No chance of running over the local scoundrel then. Only joking of course.

 

[jonbeeza]

The Pre-Collision Assist came on this morning, and there was no reason I could see for it coming on. The road was empty, so no cars or people. I was going over a speed bump though, and slowly. Maybe it saw the speed bump as a small wall possibly.

I don't fancy the car applying the brakes for what the system thinks is an obstacle.
Yet another thing I would like to disable, if I could.

 

[robj20]

The Pre-Collision Assist came on this morning, and there was no reason I could see for it coming on. The road was empty, so no cars or people. I was going over a speed bump though, and slowly. Maybe it saw the speed bump as a small wall possibly.

I don't fancy the car applying the brakes for what the system thinks is an obstacle.
Yet another thing I would like to disable, if I could.

You probably can with the right software and a laptop.
Is there no way of turning it off in the menus.

 

[nilagin]

I hate modern turbos. Quart in a pint pot, which eventually means premature failure and leaks. Don't get me started on variable vane technology! Keep it simple-make it last.

Nothing wrong with modern turbos. So long as they are allowed to cool properly before the engine is switched off, they shouldn't fail. At least modern turbos have better installation and cooling.
I dyno tested a 1.0 ecoboost for over 3000hrs, equivalent to over 150000 miles, 75% of that will have been at wide open throttle, far more abuse than an engine in a road car is liable to be subjected to and the turbo was just fine. Turbo failures are usually down to switching engine off when they are too hot, engine being remapped and the turbo exceeding its speed limit or dirt somehow getting into the pre compression side, damaging the canes which can cause the turbo to over speed. High air inlet temperatures at pre compressor side also makes the turbo have to work harder and again will exceed its speed limit.
Turbo speed will vary depending on size and installation. The turbo on a 1.0 ecoboost has a maximum of around 250000rpm, we set our safety limits at 240,000, even on the standard overboost in the calibration, they only get as high as 225000rpm.

 

[jonbeeza]

You probably can with the right software and a laptop.
Is there no way of turning it off in the menus.

I will probably have a read up a bit more, see what can and can't be disabled.

 

[jonbeeza]

Nothing wrong with modern turbos. So long as they are allowed to cool properly before the engine is switched off, they shouldn't fail. At least modern turbos have better installation and cooling.
I dyno tested a 1.0 ecoboost for over 3000hrs, equivalent to over 150000 miles, 75% of that will have been at wide open throttle, far more abuse than an engine in a road car is liable to be subjected to and the turbo was just fine. Turbo failures are usually down to switching engine off when they are too hot, engine being remapped and the turbo exceeding its speed limit or dirt somehow getting into the pre compression side, damaging the canes which can cause the turbo to over speed. High air inlet temperatures at pre compressor side also makes the turbo have to work harder and again will exceed its speed limit.
Turbo speed will vary depending on size and installation. The turbo on a 1.0 ecoboost has a maximum of around 250000rpm, we set our safety limits at 240,000, even on the standard overboost in the calibration, they only get as high as 225000rpm.

I remember the days people would rev the engine, just before they switched it off. Never did it myself, not sure if it really made a difference though.

 

[nilagin]

View attachment 310626

Something to like about new cars, is the colour. Really like the colour red above, nice looking car also, not sure what model it is.
We opted for a silver colour, mainly because silver does not show up the dirt. lol

Race Red. That's the colour of my 2013 Focus that I had. My son's 2019 Focus is the exact same colour. I would have loved to have had a Focus RS in the same colour, but it wasn't an option when I bought my car, they did 300 Race Red editions several months after I bought mine. I went for Shadow Black, which can show up the dirt, but I love the reflections when it is clean.


Edited to add, that is a Ford Ecosport in your photo.

 

[nilagin]

The Pre-Collision Assist came on this morning, and there was no reason I could see for it coming on. The road was empty, so no cars or people. I was going over a speed bump though, and slowly. Maybe it saw the speed bump as a small wall possibly.

I don't fancy the car applying the brakes for what the system thinks is an obstacle.
Yet another thing I would like to disable, if I could.

There have been similar instances with cars driving over cattle grids.
Have you managed to get hold of the owners manual yet. The ability to turn it off maybe in the menu on the dash. My car has the City Stop function which can be turned off.

 

[jonbeeza]

There have been similar instances with cars driving over cattle grids.
Have you managed to get hold of the owners manual yet. The ability to turn it off maybe in the menu on the dash. My car has the City Stop function which can be turned off.

I have asked them many times, rang them and also sent them messages. But they keep using the current excuse, "due to the current health crisis, there is a backlog of printed material." I will wait till things settle down, and try again.

 

[wyx087]

Yes, it's not a feature of my car but another thing I like about modern cars is what you can change with a laptop. Later models have it enabled from the manufacturer.
It's not 100% though it almost never over reads, it combines the camera sign recognition with the satnav of they disagree it uses the slower speed.

I've changed all sorts from changing the look of the dash, to what it displays, behaviour of the folding mirrors, how long the 12v socket stays powered. Enabled auto locking at above 2mph as well.

Indeed.
In the Skoda, it's a VAG. Using a dongle for VAG cars, I've added mirror dim on reverse, screenwash additional wipe after a pause, reduced frequency of the headlight washer and removed unlocking beep (kept locking beep). Skoda DLR also doesn't dim when indicating, it's easily added by changing the light profile to Audi
In the Leaf, using a standard bluetooth dungle and LeafSpy pro, I've disabled a few annoying beeps when opening the charge flap, also changed the door auto locking behaviour (from always off)

But from another perspective. These settings should have been in the car touchscreen from the start, in an advanced setting sub-menu. Shouldn't need someone to buy dongles and/or software to change it. Going to dealers is just another money making scheme for the dealers. My parent's Volvo main headlights are always on (pre-DLR), dealers want £50 before touching the car.

 

[boogie man]

The Pre-Collision Assist came on this morning, and there was no reason I could see for it coming on. The road was empty, so no cars or people. I was going over a speed bump though, and slowly. Maybe it saw the speed bump as a small wall possibly.

I don't fancy the car applying the brakes for what the system thinks is an obstacle.
Yet another thing I would like to disable, if I could.

Our Audi has the same thing. On ours you can go into the menu via the centre screen and tweak the sensitivity down. I’ve got ours set to the lowest point. It still triggers the alarm randomly and the brakes have gone on for no apparent reason a couple of times in the three years we’ve owned the car. That scares the bejaysus out of you, believe me.

 

[Jelster]

Indeed.

But from another perspective. These settings should have been in the car touchscreen from the start, in an advanced setting sub-menu. Shouldn't need someone to buy dongles and/or software to change it. Going to dealers is just another money making scheme for the dealers. My parent's Volvo main headlights are always on (pre-DLR), dealers want £50 before touching the car.

I totally agree. My JCW is programmed to start up in Sport mode, as that's generally where I drive it. The "flick indicators" now do 5 flashes instead of 3, and the side mirrors fold by default, instead of me having to keep the lock button pressed for 2 seconds Mate of mine did all this with Bimmercode.

 

[jonbeeza]

Our Audi has the same thing. On ours you can go into the menu via the centre screen and tweak the sensitivity down. I’ve got ours set to the lowest point. It still triggers the alarm randomly and the brakes have gone on for no apparent reason a couple of times in the three years we’ve owned the car. That scares the bejaysus out of you, believe me.

Thanks for that, will have a look at the set up after.

 

[jonbeeza]

Race Red. That's the colour of my 2013 Focus that I had. My son's 2019 Focus is the exact same colour. I would have loved to have had a Focus RS in the same colour, but it wasn't an option when I bought my car, they did 300 Race Red editions several months after I bought mine. I went for Shadow Black, which can show up the dirt, but I love the reflections when it is clean.


Edited to add, that is a Ford Ecosport in your photo.

I have lost touch with modern cars, I thought it was a new style Fiesta or something.

 

[nilagin]

I have lost touch with modern cars, I thought it was a new style Fiesta or something.

It's based on the Fiesta platform, but the Ecosport is larger.

 

[bass_junkie83]

Just thought of something else that annoys me with some cars, or rather manufactures, and that is the fairly recent introduction of XXX-line cars into their ranges.
Most vehicle ranges start from the economical option, through the various sensible offerings, and then often topped of with a couple of sportier offerings. With Ford you have the ST and then the RS, VW has the GTI and then the R, Audi with the S and RS and so on and so on. You pick what suits depending on how you want to compromise between frugality and fun.

But now you have all these something-line options, Ford with the ST-Line, Audi with the S-Line, Vauxhall have the VX-Line.

As far as I can tell, all they do is take an engine from the boring end of the range, slap on some alloys and body styling from the sportier end of the line, and if you are lucky a mild suspension tweak. The result is a car that looks like it should shift, but just disappoints.

It doesn't really affect me and I am sure that my dislike for them is irrational, but nether the less, I wish that they would stop.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

As someone that moved away from 4 wheels a while back, I am finding this thread interesting. I also still read car magazines.
Do I regret getting rid of my car or miss having one? Not at all.
I’m loving the way car technology is going, electric, hydrogen fuel cells, glass cockpits etc.

 

[Jelster]

I’m loving the way car technology is going, electric, hydrogen fuel cells, glass cockpits etc.

Me too, the advances we've made in recent years is pretty cool. From anti-lock brakes & traction control, through onboard GPS & phone systems, bluetooth ant how we power the car. I really want to p/x our 2011 Mini for the new electric model, but it's still just too expensive.

 

[jonbeeza]

As someone that moved away from 4 wheels a while back, I am finding this thread interesting. I also still read car magazines.
Do I regret getting rid of my car or miss having one? Not at all.
I’m loving the way car technology is going, electric, hydrogen fuel cells, glass cockpits etc.

I have had both cars and bikes since I was about eighteen, I only stopped riding bikes about eight years ago, I think it was. I have had all sorts of bikes, from a CG125 a 250 Superdream, YB100 a GS500E, three ZZR 1100s, and a few other models in-between .

My mate has a classic bike collection, and I keep thinking of getting a bike off him, but my fingers hurt in the cold, and turn white. One of the reasons I stopped riding, plus a change in lifestyle as I get older.

So I have to make do with a box on wheels.

 

[jonbeeza]

Me too, the advances we've made in recent years is pretty cool. From anti-lock brakes & traction control, through onboard GPS & phone systems, bluetooth ant how we power the car. I really want to p/x our 2011 Mini for the new electric model, but it's still just too expensive.

I have never liked anti lock brakes, the strange pumping feeling is a bit un nerving. I also like the option of scrunching in the snow or gravel, as an option for emergency stopping.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Me too, the advances we've made in recent years is pretty cool. From anti-lock brakes & traction control, through onboard GPS & phone systems, bluetooth ant how we power the car. I really want to p/x our 2011 Mini for the new electric model, but it's still just too expensive.

That’s still the big downside of electric isn’t it, the cost. My OH had a mini and she nearly fainted when she saw the price of the electric one.

 

[nilagin]

Just thought of something else that annoys me with some cars, or rather manufactures, and that is the fairly recent introduction of XXX-line cars into their ranges.
Most vehicle ranges start from the economical option, through the various sensible offerings, and then often topped of with a couple of sportier offerings. With Ford you have the ST and then the RS, VW has the GTI and then the R, Audi with the S and RS and so on and so on. You pick what suits depending on how you want to compromise between frugality and fun.

But now you have all these something-line options, Ford with the ST-Line, Audi with the S-Line, Vauxhall have the VX-Line.

As far as I can tell, all they do is take an engine from the boring end of the range, slap on some alloys and body styling from the sportier end of the line, and if you are lucky a mild suspension tweak. The result is a car that looks like it should shift, but just disappoints.

It doesn't really affect me and I am sure that my dislike for them is irrational, but nether the less, I wish that they would stop.

Most manufacturers had 3 levels of sporty cars not 2. In the case of Ford, more recently it was Zetec S, ST and then RS. Zetec S became the ST Line to fall in with what other manufacturers were calling their models to make it easier for customers to identify which models it would be comparable with. Ford were doing it in the 60's with the Escort Sport, GT and RS. It isn't a recent thing at all. The Ford Line models will have the low powered engine, but it also has a more powerful engine that other lower spec models are likely to have. They also have sports suspension and larger wheels but not as big as the ST models, so tyre profiles will be bigger and give a more comfortable ride.

 

[jonbeeza]

I am not overly keen on the modern gizmos in modern cars, things can get too complicated, when you want to perform a simple task, or function.
Even with the fan on this morning, too many buttons light up.

I simply turned the blower on, ( fan, not telephone) to de mist the front screen. A load of lights on the instrument panel lit up. The front and rear de misters lit up, the AC lit up, and a few other symbols also lit up, no idea what they were for.

 

[nilagin]

Me too, the advances we've made in recent years is pretty cool. From anti-lock brakes & traction control,

ABS and traction control have been around for quite a few years. ABS became standard on all cars from 2004 and Traction Control in the guise of Electronic Stability Control became standard in 2012. I wouldn't rate either of them as recent.

 

[nilagin]

I am not overly keen on the modern gizmos in modern cars, things can get too complicated, when you want to perform a simple task, or function.
Even with the fan on this morning, too many buttons light up.

I simply turned the blower on, ( fan, not telephone) to de mist the front screen. A load of lights on the instrument panel lit up. The front and rear de misters lit up, the AC lit up, and a few other symbols also lit up, no idea what they were for.

That sounds to me like you switched the windscreen Max defrost on to me. You should be able to just turn the fan on and select the button for windscreen.
I am not sure if all Ford cars now have the function now, but at least on some, the heated front and rear screens switch on automatically at 4°C and below, although the buttons may not necessarily light up.

You really do need that owners manual.
Go on the Ford UK website find the request owners manual tab, enter your VIN and you can download the handbook as a pdf, whilst you're waiting for the dealer to get you a copy.

 

[jonbeeza]

That sounds to me like you switched the windscreen Max defrost on to me. You should be able to just turn the fan on and select the button for windscreen.
I am not sure if all Ford cars now have the function now, but at least on some, the heated front and rear screens switch on automatically at 4°C and below, although the buttons may not necessarily light up.

You really do need that owners manual.
Go on the Ford UK website find the request owners manual tab, enter your VIN and you can download the handbook as a pdf, whilst you're waiting for the dealer to get you a copy.

I was just about to say that. LOL

I know I should also spend a morning getting to know what all the switches and buttons do. But being a person that feels the cold, I don't feel like sitting in the car twaddling away with the buttons and knobs. Now if it was summer, I would even be looking under the bonnet.

 

[robj20]

Just thought of something else that annoys me with some cars, or rather manufactures, and that is the fairly recent introduction of XXX-line cars into their ranges.
Most vehicle ranges start from the economical option, through the various sensible offerings, and then often topped of with a couple of sportier offerings. With Ford you have the ST and then the RS, VW has the GTI and then the R, Audi with the S and RS and so on and so on. You pick what suits depending on how you want to compromise between frugality and fun.

But now you have all these something-line options, Ford with the ST-Line, Audi with the S-Line, Vauxhall have the VX-Line.

As far as I can tell, all they do is take an engine from the boring end of the range, slap on some alloys and body styling from the sportier end of the line, and if you are lucky a mild suspension tweak. The result is a car that looks like it should shift, but just disappoints.

It doesn't really affect me and I am sure that my dislike for them is irrational, but nether the less, I wish that they would stop.

Actually I hate the minefield that is trim levels.
Nearest it for to being simple for me was with a Ford the MK2 Focus ST. You had ST1, ST2 and ST3. So simple and easy to see where you stood, not to mention you can now buy the top trim and still not get everything with all the different options.

 

[jonbeeza]

What I hate when I have a new / newish / good car, people always want to park right next to it, and dent it with their wing mirrors.
This morning I parked in the shopping city car park, masses of empty car spaces. I parked the car well out of the way, at the bottom end.
There were about ten or more spaces either side, and front and back of the car. Yet some silly fool had parked right next to me, and over the bay line, and encroaching on my parking bay. I had to get in via the passenger door. I would have gotten a photo, but my fingers were numb with the cold.

 

[Nod]

As someone that moved away from 4 wheels a while back, I am finding this thread interesting. I also still read car magazines.
Do I regret getting rid of my car or miss having one? Not at all.
I’m loving the way car technology is going, electric, hydrogen fuel cells, glass cockpits etc.

Still got a foot in both camps. Looking forward to some semblance of normality so I can get to a relatively local dealer who has some ex-demo electric bikes at an almost reasonable price. Problem is that I like the noise my parallel twins make!

 

[wyx087]

Speaking of manufacture trim levels. The thing really annoys me as second hand buyer is how higher trips always get bigger alloys by default.

Bigger alloys = more expensive tyres, less comfortable ride. Only up side is more showroom appeal and (unnoticeable in normal driving) turning response.

I like to buy top trim cars to not feel cheap and outdated after a few years. But I hugely dislike the large alloys on my cars.

 

[robj20]

Speaking of manufacture trim levels. The thing really annoys me as second hand buyer is how higher trips always get bigger alloys by default.

Bigger alloys = more expensive tyres, less comfortable ride. Only up side is more showroom appeal and (unnoticeable in normal driving) turning response.

I like to buy top trim cars to not feel cheap and outdated after a few years. But I hugely dislike the large alloys on my cars.

Do like i did, join an owners page and swap with someone else. Mine came with 19" alloys i managed to swap to some (imo) nicer looking 18" plus a bit of cash my way.