any cars without infotainment and no screens

Richard53

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

...if you're lucky, a lot are touch screen operated now. Downright dangerous IMO as you have to take your eyes off the road and look at the screen to adjust it on the move. With knobs and buttons you can do it by touch alone.

Also, you are trying to touch a small area of the screen with your arm outstretched. You can't do it by touch - you have to look where your hand is, and I sometimes have to brace my finger against the dash so that I can touch the precise area of the screen I want, as my arm is wobbling. Try to write neatly with a pencil held at arm's length and you will see what I mean. Well-designed buttons which can be identified and pressed in the dark are the height of good design.

But ... screens are shiny and cheaper, so ...

gabitzul

My 2009 Merc W204 with optional Comand entertainment screen uses a 7" LCD which folds into the dash when not in use. Google it. Very neat.

Edit: LINK to an image

Mercdriver

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

...if you're lucky, a lot are touch screen operated now. Downright dangerous IMO as you have to take your eyes off the road and look at the screen to adjust it on the move. With knobs and buttons you can do it by touch alone.

That was the reason I didn't get the XF. With multi menu touchscreen you have to move between screens and select on the screen itself. My CX5 has a touch screen which I use to input the address on satnav while parked up and that'd the last time I touch it. Muscle memory tells me where all the other buttons are, but muscle memory won't help with a touchscreen.

NaughtiusMaximus

Here's my car tech prediction:

In 5 years or so, when touchscreens are standard on even the most basic of cars, physical switches will make a major comeback on high end cars and higher spec models of more mainstream cars as a way of differentiating them from the herd.

A comparable situation is opening sunroofs, a standard feature on all but the most basic cars in the 90s, supposedly rendered obsolete by aircon and a rare sight on new cars sold 10 years ago. They're now becoming more and more common again either as an option or part of the spec for the top of the range versions of many models as manufacturers have twigged it's something a lot of drivers are prepared to pay a premium for.

EssexExile

Strange thing, fashion. I liked the panoramic glass roof on my old car but the new car has one that opens. Well, they say it opens, I haven't tried it & I doubt I ever will!

NaughtiusMaximus

EssexExile wrote: »

Strange thing, fashion. I liked the panoramic glass roof on my old car but the new car has one that opens. Well, they say it opens, I haven't tried it & I doubt I ever will!

I'm the opposite of you, I love an opening sunroof but think a sealed panoramic roof is completely pointless.

DoaM

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

I'm the opposite of you, I love an opening sunroof but think a sealed panoramic roof is completely pointless.

It gives you the sunburn but without the cooling air flow.