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A lot of people agree with that. It's just an example of new technology being adopted without proper usability testing.

It's odd that the safety experts load cars with bells and warnings (like the annoying seatbelt chime), but ignore the risk of taking your eyes off the highway to locate some tiny icon buried in layers of touch screens.

And we should be able to fix them ourselves...Oh, I just love my incredible 1967 Volvo...

And put lighters back in cars.

Yes, it's much safer with buttons because you can feel them while driving but with a touch screen you have to take your eyes off the road to make any changes.

A lot of us agree. I don't have to take my eyes off the road to feel for and find a physical knob, but a touchscreen puts us all at risk.

Let's just make everything mechanical like in 1920.

i agree

Do it like BMW. A mouse

"Hey! It looks like you're driving a car! To make this process go smoother, just install our app, register for an account, confirm your ID, upload a photo of your driving licence and borth certificate, add your inside-leg measurements and credit card details and we'll be on our way in no time!"

Yeah I want that too ... but we can't have it, because car makers can turn more profit by dropping buttons and using touchscreens that no-one wants. Like self-checkout in supermarkets ...

toggle switches and actual gauges to tell you what the equipment is doing.

I never owned a car with any touch screen on it.

Thos is why I refuse to buy anything with a push-button transmission etc

Meh. Buttons are okay. Screens are okay. The best solution is a mix.

Hear hear! 🏎️

Touchscreens in cars are a terrible idea.

I’m more concerned about the cost difference between a whole screen replacement vs just the button/dial that failed. A bit like why I went for a 2011 Mac Mini (Intel days) plus monitor rather than an iMac.

My daughter just got a new car and I don't think I'll ever be able to drive it. Too many bells and whistles.

How many people are in a tax bracket for whom that's a consideration? Sounds more like a privilege problem.

That’s right. I want big knobs to turn without having to look at an itty bitty menu

It was never about convenience, it was always about the car maker (Tesla) cheaping out

Agree.

Yes! My son and I were ridiculously looking for the control for the headlights on his rental the other day. Nowhere visibly near the steering wheel. We needed to go onto the touchscreen and figure out which prompt had an icon for the lights. 🙄

Amen to this.

Aha. I thought that original post was from someone who never experienced a car with a screen for anything more than a quick drive as a passenger. Driving my Model Y, the only time I'm aware of the screen is when using navigation. And don't tell me you can really use those buttons without looking.

I totally agree, and you should be able to fix it without needing access to software costing $$$$.

Agree. I had to rent a car with a touchscreen and it suuucked. Im able to adjust whatever I need to on my car wth physical buttons, but it does have a touchscreen.

Absolutely! I love my 2002 Ranger P/U, bought brand new and still running strong. Doesn't track me or talk to me or do any of that computer shit. But I can play a CD or the radio and it gets me from point A to B and home again. The only repair - the fuel pump. Gawd, I LOVE my truck!

Yeah I hate my Rav4 screen that gives me a safety lecture every time I start it up. Go fuck yourself

I think TV remotes should have a volume KNOB!!

My car has a manual window crank. Just like I want.

Yes. That makes sense!!!!

Having owned both extremely analog and extremely digital cars I think people over index on preferring what's familiar. Neither way is better or worse, you just adapt and it's fine.

I have that opinion for everything tbh. Bring back cell phones with proper buttons. My mom has a coffee maker with a touch screen interface and it irritates me to no end.

I also don't want a car that sends data to ANYONE, not even the manufacturer.

I don’t know… have you seen these? www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBMd...

Yes. It was a monster that got 9 miles to the gallon and had a 22 gallon tank. If I had it here in California, it would cost $120 to fill it up.

I'm a software engineer and it's too complex for me.

Mazda agrees with you and removed touch screens from all thier latest generation of cars

All cars should carry a starting handle: in case of a flat battery, and for defence against road ragers.

An opinion shared by the Chinese Govt. All Chinese vehicles ( some of the largest selling cars on the planet) must now have physical buttons/switches for certain key functions.

And a parking break that will give you a leg workout lol I always feel so insecure pressing a button for my parking brake.

On a 3 mile trip to the grocery store, I will change radio stations at least 20 times. I'm still holding out for proper knobs buttons, and levers.

Amen

My Mini Cooper had toggle switches; that was a cool retro look.

My drive my car. A car will never drive me. Modern vehicles are bloated iPads on wheels with personal privacy issues.

I have a Lexus that the touch screen went out and I couldn’t adjust the fan in the AC

I loved those! With the panel that slid and showed 40 other buttons

I'm not fond of touch screens at all. Only on a phone it makes sense. I also absolutely hate apps for just about everything.

And individual windscreen wipers should be operable (I was lucky enough to have an Austin 8 with two wipers) and they shouldn't be operated by the wind moving the arms when you've got the windscreen opened upwards. On sunny days I would tape the wipers so they didn't move.

Why not horse and buggies?

Why I keep my 2008 Buick Lacrosse: • No screen • Knobs and buttons • GM repair guy told me post-2008/recession, GM cars are crap-made. Cheap metal, etc. • Repairs are cheaper than a new vehicle • It’s my favorite color • My car was made in Ontario, Canada.

Cars should be entirely MANUAL! Not an iota of electronics or codes or "connectivity" etc. Just turn the key & go.

And car manufacturers are back-pedaling on touch screens already. The simple reason is airplane cockpits have them for critical things, so do industrial machines. You need to be able to feel buttons without looking. Touch screen is for non-critical things only, like radio.

Slowly but surely, the touchscreens will disappear. It's a matter of safety.

The EU and China have already change laws on cars to reintroduce knobs first viral functions to reduce in-car distractions.

Amen! I like my switches and knobs, too.

Crank windows are better. No electric stuff

👍

(also i own an MGS5 EV– you’d be surprised how many real buttons, dials, and switches there are!)

Door handles. I am NEVER buying a car without physical door handles again. I fucking hate it. They worked fine for years and now it is such a PITA for passengers.

My strongest car opinion is that Elon Musk should be banned from entering the country.

And a clutch with 4 on the floor

The touch screen should not accept inputs while the vehicle is in motion, therefore anything that might be adjusted while driving should have a physical control to do so.

🔥🔥🔥💜❤️💜

Levers (eg for changing gears, for turn signals ) are far better than physical buttons or dials. Anything is better than a touchscreen.

you speak the truetrue

Eh, I loaded about 3500 songs onto an SD card on my phone, it connects automatically to my car stereo via Bluetooth and I have a low resource overhead player app with a good shuffle feature. Don't need any data connectivity, always works and if I don't hear music it means I forgot my phone.

Seems much safer.

You know how much fun I had pulling out a knob to turn on my headlights? /And twisting it could make them brighter or dimmer?!/

These stupid touch screens force you to take your eyes off the road--a lot--and for a long period of time. A second could make a difference in a tragedy.

Roll down windows 😊

I agree, and that’s part of the reason my chose my Ford Maverick. It has a screen, but knobs for everything that counts like lights, radio, and the heater. 

The computerized system in my car kept flashing warning lights. I had a diagnostic done. Said I needed a part replaced. Replaced the part, twice. Then had to have another diagnostic done. Bottom line, 1200.00 and much aggravation later all I needed was a gas cap replacement, 25.00.

I hate that my new Hyundai makes be 'sign in' to my car! I certainly don't need or want that. I love everything else about my vehicle. I would have declined that 'option' but it wasn't available. But we're definitely getting carried away with tech!!

100%

Like the screen and keyless start personally.

Lot cheaper to fix!

What is a touchscreen? – 4Runner owner

En no. Would not like to operate my podcasts or navigation with physical buttons. Mostly voice controlled. Important operations are there front and center on the screen. Whenever Inget into an other vehicle I always have to search for obscure buttons with symbols that mean mean nothing.

Yes yes yes yes yes!

My fear is all screens freeze!!

I miss white wall tires and metal bumpers.

Completely agree, we have rules about using touchscreens for this very reason...

We loved our old 2013 Outback but opted not to buy an Outback this year after reviews saying the screen is “laggy”. And that some controls are only in the touchscreen.

that's why watching Space X flights scares me.

The dashboard of my 20 Y/O Bonneville GXP.

I want my bumpers back too!!

My strongest opinions are, it should be fun to drive, looks good and is reliable. I could seriously care less about buttons v. Touchscreen.

And levers. If it can be reached it should have a lever and not a motor or it should have both.

Yup, the touch screen is broken so not going anywhere. Plus, you know the rules around not interacting with a mobile device while driving...not sure how this really differs...

Ahhh...that long expired analogue car.

Agreed and the following annoyances also: the TPMS system. The automatic engine kill when you stop The auto emergency brake. And last but certainly not least auto lane shift correct. I’m driving the car NOT you! Don’t be jerking the steering wheel around.

You do not.

And carburettors instead of computers.

When I was a kid my dad's old pick-up had a really old version like that and an 8 track player!

I’m still driving my 2004 Civic. Old school.

I hate all touchscreens. In all contexts. And having to use one while driving a car down the road is insane. I should not face the choice of pulling over to change the HVAC setting or risking hitting something with the car.

I hate touch screens on kitchen appliances.

Also, China or now limiting technology in cars due to the risks.

Just bought a 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage. Standard and basic. Love it. 47 miles to the gallon. (Sorry, couldn't afford an EV at the moment.)

Watching elders navigate the redonkulous tech hoops makes me so sad. In 2021 I had farmer’s lung (thought it was Covid). I had to sign in for the co-pay while in a triage gurney. Like, I can barely breathe don’t make me log into a patient portal you can bill me later.