Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 12:18
I think your friends have a fairly typical attitude to a lot of practical people - they don't like the way car design is going - and in particular, 4WD design.
There's a loss of focus in what a 4WD is for, and what is important to end-users, in the latest designs.
The manufacturers are insistent that a 4WD now has to be full of complex electronics, a veritable sound and video room on wheels with stunning entertainment features, full of devices that totally eliminate any driver skills, so any idiot with a huge wad of cash can
rock up and become an instant "four-wheel-driver".
Systems that take away braking, steering, and slide control from the driver, thus eliminating any need to develop those driver control skills. Systems that turn your lights and wipers on and off, thus taking any selectivity of lighting or windscreen-wiping away from the driver. Systems that govern how close you can get to another vehicle and which apply the brakes if you do get too close.
In some forums, there is much angst and teeth gnashing over inadvertent "lane-changing flashing" of indicators when it's accidentally activated. The indicators are set up on numerous European cars, so that they go into "lane-changing-flashing-mode" with a series of flashes, and they think you're lane-changing when you're not - all because you accidentally bumped the "lane-changing" mode when you merely intended to flash your headlights.
The Japs have now confirmed they have full intention of making driverless vehicles. That is, you will climb into your new 'Cruiser, press buttons for your destination and sit back and "enjoy the ride" as the vehicle does everything you used to do.
You won't be able to do anything, except instruct the vehicle to stop, or go to another destination. Even at that, there will no doubt, be refusals to accept your directions, because the computer controls would deem your instruction "currently unsafe", and will only carry out your instructions after 236 sensors and 46 microprocessors, deemed it safe to do so. [;-)
I'm concerned about the total "dumbing down" of skills in our nations. We now have mechanics who have no idea on what's happening or what has gone wrong under the bonnet. They rely on a $250,000 diagnostic computer to tell them what part to replace.
We will end up with drivers who will not even have basic road skills, because all transport will be automatically regulated and computer-controlled. All traffic controls will be linked into every car, and if you have an "old car", it will not be allowed on many roads.
About that time, some youngsters will marvel over an "ancient HJ47" that they found, and wonder how to go about driving it!! LOL
AnswerID:
520836
Follow Up By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 17:27
Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 17:27
Ron, I can show them what a 'real' 4wd looks like ....
Seriously though, two things would possibly put someone off a new 200 series, and
Ross nailed one of them further up ....
Depreciation - solely the biggest cost in owning a new vehicle
The second IMHO is customization, the newer vehicles with the new sensors and crumple/collapsible frames aren't as easy to customise/modify as an old 80/100 series or the earlier Nissans.
If you want to by a mobile loungeroom off the showroom floor - great, but apart from a bull-bar and roof-racks, there's not a lot you can do to them without upsetting the electronic management guff...
FollowupID:
801401
Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 17:30
Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 17:30
I tend to agree with you there Ron, as I was reading your reply I remembered a bit of an item on our news radio this morning - it was about the increasing need for pictures to be used instead of the written word in explaining some workplace rules - apparently the ability to read/write is so poor in some sectors that pictures need to be used more.
FollowupID:
801402
Follow Up By: SDG - Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 18:12
Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 18:12
Anything like those pictures in
Cairns on the back of the
toilet doors? The ones showing how to use the
toilet.
FollowupID:
801407
Follow Up By: Ron N - Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 20:03
Monday, Nov 04, 2013 at 20:03
Robin, we've had pictures instead of writing on gauges of tractors and machinery since the late 1960's. It was supposed to be all part of the "global marketing" of machines, where people in 3rd world countries couldn't read English and would struggle to determine what a particular gauge was telling them.
Me, I struggle to determine what a squiggly illuminated symbol is telling me! - and I hate pulling out an owners manual, only to find that it contains 100 pages of instructions on how to read the squiggly illuminated symbols!! [:-0
I was sitting around the other night waiting for a truckie, in the stepdaughters Subaru Outback, and wanted to find out more about the SatNav and information screen. I was stunned to find a manual about 200 pages long, just for the on-screen operations!!
FollowupID:
801421