Madison_rogue

People are getting fed up with all the useless tech in their cars

For the first time in 28 years of JD Power’s car owner survey, there is a consecutive year-over-year decline in satisfaction, with most of the ire directed toward in-car infotainment. #jd #infotainment #apple #android #tech

https://www.theverge.com/23801545/car-infotainment-customer-satisifaction-survey-jd-power

People are getting fed up with all the useless tech in their cars

People are dissatisfied with the technology in their cars, according to a new survey from JD Power. They especially don’t like the native infotainment systems.

The Verge
Jul 20, 2023 at 11:53pmWeb
Show threadIzzyJul 21, 2023

I absolutely refuse to buy a car where the only thing in the dash is a single big touchscreen. This is a really cheap and lazy way to design a car. It’s not fancy or futuristic. It’s turning an engineering problem into a cheap software problem. Any feature that controls some aspect of the physical car such as AC, headlights, turn signal, seat placement, side mirrors, etc… should all be physical buttons with some tactile feedback. The only thing that is acceptable as a screen is information display and controlling entertainment.

If electric vehicles 10 years from now don’t re-engineer buttons, dials and knobs into their cars I am just going to walk 30 miles every day.

Show threadAddv4Jul 21, 2023
The touchscreens are cheaper, that's the main reason they are becoming common. Honda has already realized they are an issue, and has been going back to physical buttons.
Show threadOpenStarsJul 21, 2023
The horrifying part is that often physical buttons are mere affectations now anyway, and instead everything is still controlled by the central computer system. Like I was comparing Hondas to Subarus and while the latter had physical buttons where the former had touchscreens, whenever the computer is busy then e.g. the volume knob still gets entirely ignored. I still like it better, but it is not really better, instead it just "looks different".
Show threadEnderWi99inJul 21, 2023
Mazda has had it figured out in my opinion for years with their dial setup. Most of the important stuff is on the wheel itself, but you can control the entire center console with an easy scroll dial and like 4 buttons surrounding it, and all the traditional stuff has physical buttons right near it. Their cars have other drawbacks, but the interior design just makes sense to me.
Show threadAnonymousLlamaJul 21, 2023

Driven a few Mazda 3's and the wheel / button placement is great. Lots of things within fingers reach. One thing I'm not keen on is the sports mode button, that should totally be on the steering wheel, where right now it's on the middle dashboard.

I guess the idea is you want people to think about switching this mode on/off so it disincentives them doing it all the time maybe?

Show threadBurpJul 21, 2023
Another bump for Mazda. Their recent engines are phenomenal as well. Really well made naturally aspirated 4 cylinder with a normal 6 speed automatic. They drive fantastic and feel very well engineered. No more cheap ford parts. Best bang for your buck right now in my opinion.
Show threadbedroomsJul 21, 2023
Well, I bet that sports mode position comes from the MT days. It's also not a switch for casual people to toggle frequently.
Show threadSir_Osis_of_LiverJul 21, 2023

The Mazda system was a complete deal breaker for me. You have to locate the hotspot on the screen, then fiddle with the knob to get it over the right spot, then select. Way more aggravating than a touch screen.

If you use Carplay or Android Auto, it reverts to a touch screen anyway. The whole system was a muddle.

Lexus and Audi have both dropped their puck controllers due to customer feedback.

Show threadelscallrJul 21, 2023

I don't even want my entertainment that way. At least let me control the volume via a physical button.

Personally I don't want the screen at all.

Show threadRhodinJul 21, 2023
I like the screen for the GPS and nothing else.
Show threadAnonymousLlamaJul 21, 2023
Great as a huge reverse camera too. That's super handy
Show threadfrasassiJul 21, 2023
My biggest gripe is that they are incredibly distracting to use while driving. The safety implications are huge. I hate on-screen buttons. On top of that most are poorly coded and run slowly. @Madison_rogue
Show threadAnonymousLlamaJul 21, 2023

Not keen on cars with an over reliance on central displays for everything. Having a single unit controlling so many things that could easily be switches, dials or other things feels pretty dangerous.

Everything you need should be within hands reach, or easily adjustable without having to fiddle through displays

Show threadknolandJul 21, 2023

Not keen on cars with an over reliance on central displays for everything. Having a single unit controlling so many things that could easily be switches, dials or other things feels pretty dangerous.

Coulda just ended the sentence there.