Old Guy and Car Tech

Feelslikefar

Feelslikefar

Senior Member
Location
Nashville, TN
Just getting around to questioning some of the buttons/switches on our latest car.
It's not new or top of the line, just a small SUV, but a big improvement from the 'Mini-Van'.

I realize that the people who designed it probably didn't have Boomers in mind when
they added all those things.
Know these cars are geared for the younger crowd who wants the latest tech stuff, but some of
it sure helps out this old guy just trying to get from one place to another.

Had to get used to placing my hands at the '9 and 3' position instead of '10 and 2'.
(my son told me it's because of the air bag)
Anyway, when you do the 9 and 3, you have many buttons to answer phone calls, control the
radio, etc. at your thumbs control. Pretty cool.

My phone automatically connects to the large screen on the dash, which can display GPS and a whole bunch of other stuff.
When I go to back-up, the display camera shows me what I might hit.

The outside mirrors have a little yellow light and chime that lets me know something is next to me in the other lane.

Found the buttons that open/close the moon roof shade that opens all the way to the back seat.
(Probably not a good thing to do for this cloud watcher...)

When my son comes over, I ask him 'what's that switch for?' (Car manual is about a inch and a half thick)

Point of this is, I'm trying to embrace the new tech stuff and I'm finding out I like it.

Old Dog, New Tricks.
 

Hey Old Dog. Good attitude for transition to modern driving. Hope when and if the time comes I can adjust to newer controls as well as you.

Me too on the change from '10 and 2.' Using the '8 and 4' method for my driving now. Strangely, feels more natural and adapting to it was painless.

Sharon bought me a complete GPS system for the truck last Father's Day. Have yet to break open the boxes. Overwhelmed by the digital age, I guess. Funny thing is I'd just bought a spiral bound paper road atlas. Old dog here too. Guess I'll use that as back-up.
 
Feelslikefar said:
Just getting around to questioning some of the buttons/switches on our latest car.
It's not new or top of the line, just a small SUV, but a big improvement from the 'Mini-Van'.

I realize that the people who designed it probably didn't have Boomers in mind when
they added all those things.
Know these cars are geared for the younger crowd who wants the latest tech stuff, but some of
it sure helps out this old guy just trying to get from one place to another.

Had to get used to placing my hands at the '9 and 3' position instead of '10 and 2'.
(my son told me it's because of the air bag)
Anyway, when you do the 9 and 3, you have many buttons to answer phone calls, control the
radio, etc. at your thumbs control. Pretty cool.

My phone automatically connects to the large screen on the dash, which can display GPS and a whole bunch of other stuff.
When I go to back-up, the display camera shows me what I might hit.

The outside mirrors have a little yellow light and chime that lets me know something is next to me in the other lane.

Found the buttons that open/close the moon roof shade that opens all the way to the back seat.
(Probably not a good thing to do for this cloud watcher...)

When my son comes over, I ask him 'what's that switch for?' (Car manual is about a inch and a half thick)

Point of this is, I'm trying to embrace the new tech stuff and I'm finding out I like it.

Old Dog, New Tricks.
Click to expand...
You like it ? OK, good for you, but a lot of that new stuff makes you a less safe driver, in my opinion. That "lane warning thing " is no replacement for actually LOOKING in the mirrors every few seconds. Same for the back up camera. Too much reliance on technology is a bad thing, I suggest. To me it is like the person who cannot operate a manual transmission vehicle in an emergency. Or who cannot figure out where "north " is without a GPS screen . Or who cannot find the oil filler point on their engine, or know what grade of oil their engine requires in the winter. Dumbing down the driving task is not a way to achieve safer driving habits.

Source, Driver trainer/examiner for the largest Ambulance Service in Canada, for 7 years. I trained and tested newly graduated Paramedics who were going to drive our Ambulance vans on the streets of our city ( 3 and a half million population ). I was certified by the Ontario Ministry of Transport as both a trainer and an examiner. I had the power to grant OR revoke driver's licenses of our employees ( over 1400 of them ). In 56 years I have yet to fill in an accident report, and I have driven over 2 million miles in all types of weather, here in Canada. Jimb.
 
Sure I like some of it and I'm old enough to have 'checking mirrors, look backing up' engrained
in my mind.

Probably the new driver relies too much on Tech, but I was speaking of older drivers.
Pretty sure most of us learned on a manual transmission and know some tricks about driving.

If it helps me, I'll choose what and when to use them.

Kind of like getting a cell phone when all the pay phones disappeared...:)
 
Feelslikefar said:
Sure I like some of it and I'm old enough to have 'checking mirrors, look backing up' engrained
in my mind.

Probably the new driver relies too much on Tech, but I was speaking of older drivers.
Pretty sure most of us learned on a manual transmission and know some tricks about driving.

If it helps me, I'll choose what and when to use them.

Kind of like getting a cell phone when all the pay phones disappeared...:)
Click to expand...
Do some online reading about "Can you drive a standard transmission vehicle " ? and be prepared to be very surprised.......,Less than 15 percent of adult Americans can drive a vehicle with a manual transmission today. Just one comical example. Los Angles County Sheriff's Bait Car Program ONLY uses cars with automatics, because the young thieves cannot drive a standard .

BTW here in Canada, pay phones did not disappear, they are still around for emergency calling situations. Every gas station, truck stop on the Trans Canada highway has pay phones inside. Every Toronto transit subway station and bus terminal has pay phones, too. Hotels, and office buildings also have them. JimB.
 
Technology for me is great. The dealership concierge explained a lot of the features for my 2023 KIA Soul but it took driving to actually test the features that are new to me. Really annoying was the auto engine shut off when stopped at a red light. That feature is supposed to save gas. At the front of the manual there are pictures that describe what the various buttons are for. Found the one that can disable that feature. But it has to be pushed each time.
 
Knight said:
Technology for me is great. The dealership concierge explained a lot of the features for my 2023 KIA Soul but it took driving to actually test the features that are new to me. Really annoying was the auto engine shut off when stopped at a red light. That feature is supposed to save gas. At the front of the manual there are pictures that describe what the various buttons are for. Found the one that can disable that feature. But it has to be pushed each time.
Click to expand...
doesn't it cost as much in Gas (fuel) to start an engine as it does to idle for a minute ?...I'm on the hunt for a new car.. now you've mentioned this I will be ensuring I don't buy a car with that feature.. we have traffic lights every few hundred yards.. that would drive me insane for it to cut out each time..
 
hollydolly said:
doesn't it cost as much in Gas (fuel) to start an engine as it does to idle for a minute ?...I'm on the hunt for a new car.. now you've mentioned this I will be ensuring I don't buy a car with that feature.. we have traffic lights every few hundred yards.. that would drive me insane for it to cut out each time..
Click to expand...
I agree, I can't stand that feature. When I test drove a Subaru the sales guy told me that feature can be shut off, not sure about other brands.
 
When I bought my 2019 Subaru, I told the sales person I did not want any of the new gadgets that pollute most new vehicles these days. He had a hard time finding one from another dealer but I got what I wanted. Those gadgets only drive up the price for something you may never use.

I got a loaner one time with all gadgets and it was sending me signals all the time and just annoyed. I was glad to turn it back in.
 
Wife's younger son, Mike, age 50, extolls the advantages of the "traction control " on his Subaru, to me. My reply was...That is what the driver is for......Controlling traction during Canadian winters. I showed him how to BACK up a hill, when his car could not go forward in any gear. I explained that the reverse gear is a lower ratio than any of the forward gears, therefore it won't slip as easily. He also didn't know about reducing tire pressure on the drive wheels in snowy road conditions, for better traction. OR how to put on snow chains properly. JimB.
 
Feelslikefar said:
Just getting around to questioning some of the buttons/switches on our latest car.
It's not new or top of the line, just a small SUV, but a big improvement from the 'Mini-Van'.

I realize that the people who designed it probably didn't have Boomers in mind when
they added all those things.
Know these cars are geared for the younger crowd who wants the latest tech stuff, but some of
it sure helps out this old guy just trying to get from one place to another.

Had to get used to placing my hands at the '9 and 3' position instead of '10 and 2'.
(my son told me it's because of the air bag)
Anyway, when you do the 9 and 3, you have many buttons to answer phone calls, control the
radio, etc. at your thumbs control. Pretty cool.

My phone automatically connects to the large screen on the dash, which can display GPS and a whole bunch of other stuff.
When I go to back-up, the display camera shows me what I might hit.

The outside mirrors have a little yellow light and chime that lets me know something is next to me in the other lane.

Found the buttons that open/close the moon roof shade that opens all the way to the back seat.
(Probably not a good thing to do for this cloud watcher...)

When my son comes over, I ask him 'what's that switch for?' (Car manual is about a inch and a half thick)

Point of this is, I'm trying to embrace the new tech stuff and I'm finding out I like it.

Old Dog, New Tricks.
Click to expand...
Suited me when I had an ammeter, rev counter, temp gauge, speedo, and fuel gauge. Had my current two cars 14 years and not a clue what half the stuff is for, other than something else to pay extra for and go wrong. Sorry, I do not need my bum warmed or the steering wheel, tyre pressure sensors bla bla bla.
 
Feelslikefar said:
Just getting around to questioning some of the buttons/switches on our latest car.
It's not new or top of the line, just a small SUV, but a big improvement from the 'Mini-Van'.

I realize that the people who designed it probably didn't have Boomers in mind when
they added all those things.
Know these cars are geared for the younger crowd who wants the latest tech stuff, but some of
it sure helps out this old guy just trying to get from one place to another.

Had to get used to placing my hands at the '9 and 3' position instead of '10 and 2'.
(my son told me it's because of the air bag)
Anyway, when you do the 9 and 3, you have many buttons to answer phone calls, control the
radio, etc. at your thumbs control. Pretty cool.

My phone automatically connects to the large screen on the dash, which can display GPS and a whole bunch of other stuff.
When I go to back-up, the display camera shows me what I might hit.

The outside mirrors have a little yellow light and chime that lets me know something is next to me in the other lane.

Found the buttons that open/close the moon roof shade that opens all the way to the back seat.
(Probably not a good thing to do for this cloud watcher...)

When my son comes over, I ask him 'what's that switch for?' (Car manual is about a inch and a half thick)

Point of this is, I'm trying to embrace the new tech stuff and I'm finding out I like it.

Old Dog, New Tricks.
Click to expand...
Happy to see another senior who benefits from the safety features on the newer cars. Your car sounds a lot like mine but I think these features are becoming pretty much standard on cars now, even the cars like mine which is in no way a high end car.

Using the buttons at 9 and 3 becomes second nature fairly quickly and we can do it while keeping our eyes on the road. The large screen make info available at a glance so that eyes are off the road for only a split second when necessary.

The fact is that as we age our ability to observe and react to things becomes slower and anything that can help keeps us safer and everyone else on the road safer too.

Changes are not for everyone, obviously, but the recent ones in cars have been positive for me. I really like my car. :)
 

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