Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms The operation in some new cars is getting worse.

I guess car manufacturers are looking towards full autonomy but until that happens, money saving changes that involve moving regularly used controls to touch screens is not acceptable. TBH I'm surprised this is not already regulated.

This is not new, Ford in the 70-80 changed 100s, x 1000s of engines that
where faulty after a very short mileage.

Mercedes replaced body Panels on lots if their Saloon Cars in the early 2000s
cheap metal that corroded away prematurely.

One of the reasons I ditched the AMG A35 was the touch screen and the "Hey Mercedes" feature.

Back in a 2019 C Class it has a rotational knob and buttons.
The buttons on the steering wheel deal ith radio volume.
We have a 2017 and 2019 C Class and every control is the same, and in the same place, so it becomes intuitive.
The Morgan Plus 8 controls are the same as they were in the Roadster: again their use is intuitive and I don't have to take my eyes of the road.

The UK TRL and IAM Roadsmart published a report last year that concluded Touch Screens degraded driver attention 4 times as much as being over the drink drive limit. You can read it HERE.

I will never own a vehicle where I have to use a touch screen: how long will it be before the EU restricts their use... perhaps they shouldn't work above 10kpk/7mph!!

When yesterday's newspaper reported on the Golf VIII recall due to touch screen failure, a German court ruling from mid-2019 was mentioned.

A Tesla driver wanted to increase the interval frequency of the windshield wiper in heavy rain. To do so, he had to go into a submenu of the touch screen. He was distracted for so long that he left the roadway and hit several trees and ended up crashing in front of another tree.

The court ruled: The touch screen is considered an electronic device just like a cell phone if you have to go to a submenu of the touch screen. Even if the TS is permanently installed in the car, it is therefore forbidden to operate it while driving. Only if you can quickly change a control function by briefly tapping the TS, this action is allowed.

For me, this ruling has two consequences.
First, no matter what you do as a driver on the TS, you may be entering a legal gray area, because in my view it is a distraction from driving in any case. Take alone the changeover time of the accommodation from far to near vision...and back again. I think any operation while driving, where I have to see what I'm doing, is very bad.

And secondly...in this case the driver was convicted and since the confirmation of this verdict by the Higher Regional Court in late 2020 no one is allowed to operate the TS for a longer period of time while driving.
And my guess, it could well be the case from now on, that car makers will no longer get approval for the TS with all functions when driving. The cheapest solution may be that you can no longer access submenus while driving. Basically similar to many cab drivers who used to have a small TV in earlier times but it had to go off when the cab started.

Please dear car makers, leave the immediate basic functions on the levers, buttons and on the small knobs. For private purposes we still drive our 10 year old E class station wagon W212 to our satisfaction. All the buttons and knobs are still there, but no longer in the successor.

Alternatively have everything in automatic mode, with screen sensors to detect mode/speed of operation and have limited separate control for flashing, window /headlamp cleaning............I don't like these large touch screens that distract the driver. I must admit I am surprised that type approval has been given for the info centres of the size and complexity of today when they tend to be fastidious about some many other things on the car eg area of screen cleaned by wipers etc.

regards
John

There us far too much unnecessary tech/toys in new cars.
It is a distraction in that it entices more “eyes off the road” to make adjustments and is, as pointed out, just a variant to mobile phone use whilst driving.
The myriad safety functions create a feeling of invincibility in that the car will get you out of a bad situation. Drive like an idiot ...the car gets you out of trouble so do what you like. There are some that should be mandatory such as ABS type systems. I drove a Nero hybrid courtesy car the other day just home and back to garage later. I found the display screen a distraction with its battery level monitor like a magnet and had to consciously ignore it.
Electric seats (adjustable and heated) . Why? Excessive tech, cost, weight. Lots of buttons on the steering wheel, it reminded me of an F1 steering wheel. Why? The ones I use on my Sportage are radio volume and cruise control. It has TPMS that might be useful. The phone link ones? Never. There is even an indication of which gear I should be in. Really? Same with the info computer. Instantaneous mpg? Multiple options for things I never use or need. Trip meter is ok occasionally. Miles left (range) based on petrol in my tank? Never used. On an EV that might be useful!

The Volvo effect.

Blimey TM is going downhill, 12 posts since I posted a "knob" gag... :

Are you pulling us up on that?

I must admit I started to question the need for many gadgets, refinements etc when Mercedes first introduced double glazed windows in the S class.....I do struggle with manufacturers producing inherently undriveable poorly balanced fast cars which requires a significant reliance on driving aids.

regards
John'