Are cars easy to use?

S

sunny12

New Member
Hello everyone,

I'm a student at Virginia Tech, and I am part of a Chrysler research project which is focusing on making vehicles easier to use.

These are a few things I was wondering about:

1. Are warning lights or labels for buttons easy to understand?
2. Do you find anything in the car, like the radio or air conditioning, difficult or confusing to operate?
3. Are there features you don't like about your car?
4. How do you maintain your car?

Also, if you have any suggestions to make cars easier to use, feel free to post up!

Thank you for your participation! It really means a lot to me!

-Sunny
 
These gall dern new fangled cars have too much electronic crap on them and I want a vehicle with the dimmer switch on the floor where it is suppose to.
 
The AA and R.A.C say that almost eight out of ten motorists who break down do not know how to check there water and oil levels when they go to break downs.
 
This is simple and easy to understand:

simple-dashboard.jpg


This is not:

saab93conv- dash1.jpg


Suggestion for making cars easier to use:

Get rid of everything that does not directly involve driving the vehicle: stereos, CD players, DVD players, OnStar, GPS, onboard cell phones. Simplify controls for HVAC. Keep the wheel-mounted controls. Absolutely NO heads-up displays. Install speed governors.

In essence, go back to the Stone Ages of vehicle manufacturing so that drivers are not distracted by all the tech. As always, the tech has outpaced the human ability to process all of it while also driving.
 
If they make cars any smarter (sensors and automatic parking etc), people will lose their ability to drive them and I for one, do not want to be on the road with folks who do not have enough skill to park their own car. They've made them so complicated that if something stops working, they have to be hooked up to a computer at the garage to figure out what the problem is. That alone costs a lot a money. I liked it better when the average Joe could pop the hood, get out the tools and figure out what was wrong and then FIX it.
No computers involved.
 
I remember the cars my grandfather had....they were built like tanks, seemed almost indestructible, and had ZERO frills. I also like the dimmer switch on the floorboard where it belongs. I will say though, that I HAVE to have my a/c, lol. And, rkunsaw......I drive a FORD truck. Hubby has a Chevy truck. When we moved to the country, I told him we are really rednecks because we have 2 trucks in the yard! I love my truck!!
Cars now are nearly impossible for the back yard mechanic to work on himself, everything is computerized, so that you have to take it to a mechanic to be worked on......way to expensive for that. I remember my Daddy used to repair his cars all the time. I used to sit and watch him, and loved helping him bleed the breaks when I was a kid. AHHHHH the good ole' days!
 
Another thing that really is aggravating is when new cars have wipers that are only available from the dealer at a stupid cost. I needed to replace the wiper on the back window of my hatchback and the only place I could get it was from the dealer as they made it in a size not available anywhere else. That stupid wiper cost over $35.00.

Gimme a break. Although I like my current car, I wouldn't recommend one to anyone else just because of the stupid things they did like the wipers. And... I bought the car new in 2007 and have had to do two major break jobs costing well over $2,000. I've had old cars in my younger years that only had the break shoes replaced, not the works. They just don't make cars as solid as they used to. Not sure I'll ever buy a new car again as it would probably be cheaper to buy an oldie and have it completely restored.
 
Tica.
Your problem is easily solved.
Just go to a Tat yard there are always brand new right offs you can get any part you like off. And it is cheaper too.
 
The original post on this thread was one of the weirdest ones I've seen on here since I joined. Nice of you all to reply tho. As I see it, anyone doing an actual research project would approach a much larger group than we are, and I seriously doubt this project exists. Someone has way too much time on their hands.
 
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Aaaah yes. Nostalgia.
I luvved my old '62 Beetle. It wasn't much more high tech this, and even I could 'fix' it. It went places I wouldn't think of taking a recent one.
I wouldn't use more than half of the buttons and blinkin' lights in newer cars, nor ever bothered to learn what they were for. If I want whizzbang entertainment and all the comforts of home, I'll just stay home. A tape player is as high tech as the one I drive gets.

I need a comfy seat, and whatever makes the thing go from A to B. I want it to start, go fast when I hammer it, and stop when I hit the brakes. Air con is nice, an on/off switch will suffice.
Unlike others here I grew up in a carless family. My Beetle was first car any of us ever owned. My parents never learned to drive.
My automotive knowledge ends at the tip of the ignition key. But I do like that 'Fred' up the road can do the maintencance on it, and that it gets that maintainence about once a year because that's all it's needed. It's an el cheapo German Opel rebadged. Now they seem to be pretty good at building 'real' cars that just go when I need 'em to.
 
LMAO, wrong age group to be asking indeed!

Yep! up until we bought a new GMC pickup in 2010, the Mister did a lot of the work on our vehicles, we take this to the dealer. He couldn't even put new mirrors on, they are heated and have the turn signals in them and extend out for when we pull our trailer. Anyway there was some computer stuff that had to be done and only a GM dealer could do it. We even asked our local mechanic about it first and all he said was .."Oh ouch! the dealer will have to do that".

And my husband is extremely mechanical, he put new engines in two of our older vehicles, all by himself.

Now it's hard or next to impossible to do anything with all the computerized crappola on vehicles. Dag Nabit!
 
Wow...the hostility on this thread, there are some of the luxury items on the new cars that I like....the backup sensors, the warning lights when something is wrong...especially with the tires, the seat warmers...now that is nice to these old bones, doors ajar warning...love my radio and cd player....now having said that I agree with TICA about the replacement wiper cost, I had to give $25 bucks for one wiper, also my door remote went out..replacement $100 bucks.....I'm using the key to lock and unlock..lol
 
Jackie22 said:
Wow...the hostility on this thread, there are some of the luxury items on the new cars that I like....the backup sensors, the warning lights when something is wrong...especially with the tires, the seat warmers...now that is nice to these old bones, doors ajar warning...love my radio and cd player....now having said that I agree with TICA about the replacement wiper cost, I had to give $25 bucks for one wiper, also my door remote went out..replacement $100 bucks.....I'm using the key to lock and unlock..lol
Click to expand...

It isn't hostility, at least I don't think so. The OP is asking a group of seniors about auto design and function - if that is indeed the question then they have to expect to get a lot of answers that are comparing new cars with older ones.

If the question were viewed in a certain light, however, it would seem that THIS group is being asked being we're old fuddy-duddies who can't chew gum and walk at the same time.

They're going to make a Forrest Gumpmobile! :playful:

But I think that, like my heavily-censured comment on marketing demographics in publishing, the auto industry might be looking to either focus on their senior market segment or wish to discover what consumers - ALL consumers, of ALL age groups - really want in a car.

The problem becomes that, like the examples of the $35 wiper blade or the re-sets for oil and battery changes, there is a huge amount of service dollars involved in today's cars. I used to maintain my '70's Dodge Dart with two screwdrivers and a crescent wrench, but those days are long gone.

In the name of safety they have installed dozens of new, complicated gizmos. That raises both the price and complexity level, but people will say "We HAVE to have our safety features!"

Well, not necessarily. Not if there were speed governors installed on cars to keep them going any faster than 70mph or so, or stricter licensing requirements. But those things aren't likely to happen because they go against the American grain of "I Deserve A Car, I Deserve The Right To Drive However I want".

All those features that you enjoy, Jackie - you realize that you paid extra for them (at least if you bought new) and that you'll continue to pay extra for their maintenance, right? I've also discovered that things that are too smart, too autonomous, can be downright dangerous in certain situations - usually once you come to depend upon them.

"The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
~ Scottie, Star Trek III

Therefore, manufacturers will NEVER go against both their own profit centers AND the buying public. They give us what we want, but in return we have to pay. And pay. And pay. If they sold a '70's Dodge Dart again they'd be in the red in no time. They've learned over the decades where the real money is, and they're not going to give that up.
 
SifuPhil said:
It isn't hostility, at least I don't think so. The OP is asking a group of seniors about auto design and function - if that is indeed the question then they have to expect to get a lot of answers that are comparing new cars with older ones.

If the question were viewed in a certain light, however, it would seem that THIS group is being asked being we're old fuddy-duddies who can't chew gum and walk at the same time.

They're going to make a Forrest Gumpmobile! :playful:

But I think that, like my heavily-censured comment on marketing demographics in publishing, the auto industry might be looking to either focus on their senior market segment or wish to discover what consumers - ALL consumers, of ALL age groups - really want in a car.

The problem becomes that, like the examples of the $35 wiper blade or the re-sets for oil and battery changes, there is a huge amount of service dollars involved in today's cars. I used to maintain my '70's Dodge Dart with two screwdrivers and a crescent wrench, but those days are long gone.

In the name of safety they have installed dozens of new, complicated gizmos. That raises both the price and complexity level, but people will say "We HAVE to have our safety features!"

Well, not necessarily. Not if there were speed governors installed on cars to keep them going any faster than 70mph or so, or stricter licensing requirements. But those things aren't likely to happen because they go against the American grain of "I Deserve A Car, I Deserve The Right To Drive However I want".

All those features that you enjoy, Jackie - you realize that you paid extra for them (at least if you bought new) and that you'll continue to pay extra for their maintenance, right? I've also discovered that things that are too smart, too autonomous, can be downright dangerous in certain situations - usually once you come to depend upon them.

"The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
~ Scottie, Star Trek III

Therefore, manufacturers will NEVER go against both their own profit centers AND the buying public. They give us what we want, but in return we have to pay. And pay. And pay. If they sold a '70's Dodge Dart again they'd be in the red in no time. They've learned over the decades where the real money is, and they're not going to give that up.
Click to expand...


Sorry about the use of the word 'hostility', you're right, that was somewhat too strong.

Yes, Phil, I realize that I paid for all the frills, I had the option of buying a striped down version when I bought the car, same as everyone.....granted, you do not have an option on the safety features, but there again, I appreciate all the built in safety.

I see what you are saying, but TO ME, better and safer are progress, I don't want to go back to screw driver repair cars.

Soooo...I guess I'll keep my heated seats...to each his own and all that jazz.
 
It might be a worthwhile experiment for the auto companies to come out with a basic car with the old type engines (not computerized), a set of tools and quick maintenance course could be the "options". I'd bet that if the price was right they would fly off the lots. My car has air conditioning and I think I've had it on once in 5 years. I'll wind down the window first. Come to think of it, I can't do that as it is push button. That's another thing they could do away with. I don't remember anyone ever complaining because they actually had to wind down a window.
 
Only wish I had some of those "HIYA" cards That Guy posted. Perfect for so many lamebrains that take up 2 spaces when finding one space is almost impossible sometimes. You can believe I take the time to post my own note on the windshield, no cursing, but I make my point.
 
Katybug said:
Only wish I had some of those "HIYA" cards That Guy posted. Perfect for so many lamebrains that take up 2 spaces when finding one space is almost impossible sometimes. You can believe I take the time to post my own note on the windshield, no cursing, but I make my point.
Click to expand...

That brings up another interesting point - I've seen cards like that, but with SuperGlue on the back. Once you put it on their window it's REALLY tough to get off.

That to me is going just a little too far.


Jackie, I understand about the heated seats - I had those in two of my GM vehicles and I wasn't complaining much at the time. But then the driver-side one went out on my Caddy and whoa, did it cost to get repaired! So I had to have a sit-down with my butt and find out if it was really worth it.

The answer was "No, just eat a few more pizzas and you'll have insulation", so I never got it fixed. I myself tried to fix it, but the electronics in that boat were enough to power Cleveland for a week, so after a few hours of tracing and testing and probing I gave up. Then my friendly local Caddy dealer told me it would be around $400 to fix the one heater.

But if I had excess money I would have probably thrown it at the dealer and told him to deal with it. Of course, with enough excess money I'd just buy a new car. :rolleyes:

So yes, I used to enjoy all the creature comforts as well, but at some point I said "No more" and became my presently-minimalist self. :D

I remember manual windows, manual transmissions, manual brakes and manual steering. And none of them required a manual. Now, the handbook for the stereos alone is 300 pages. But at least they save space by not publishing any vehicle maintenance manuals.
 
sunny12 said:
Hello everyone,

I'm a student at Virginia Tech, and I am part of a Chrysler research project which is focusing on making vehicles easier to use.

These are a few things I was wondering about:

1. Are warning lights or labels for buttons easy to understand?
2. Do you find anything in the car, like the radio or air conditioning, difficult or confusing to operate?
3. Are there features you don't like about your car?
4. How do you maintain your car?

Also, if you have any suggestions to make cars easier to use, feel free to post up!

Thank you for your participation! It really means a lot to me!

-Sunny
Click to expand...
When did you first learn how to use a glass? Did it get harder when the sippy cup was removed? Did it get harder when there was a handle put on it to drink beer? Yeah, it's something like that. You're asking people who have been driving cars for at the least three decades, more likely longer. Sure, they've changed over the years, but the basics still work. No, we didn't forget how.

It's merely harder to find the dipstick, the windshield wiper fluid reserve, and we can't fix them like we used to. (Computerization came along.) But, driving? Nope. Really hasn't changed.
 
Let's get back to the good old days .....


No thanks. New cars for me with a computer to control the fuel injection, timing, etc. Modern engines last longer, run more economically, start more easily, are more responsive, etc. Thank the Lord the carburettor has had its day !!
 
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