Car gadgets -when will it end

I've got a cup(bottle) holder that matches my paint job, a built-in tire inflation system, adjustable suspension dampening that can be changed during travel, over-sized rubber that is nearly undeflateable short of intentional puncturing, all-terrain, 21 speed manual, zero emissions, and keeps me buff and in great shape. :D
 
Ya know, I think I have a similar model. Aluminum hand-welded frame like a high-performance race car, hydraulic brakes, and a similarly adjustable suspension. Mine is the 24-speed model, but performance-wise it's a bit sluggish. :)

-Bob
 
pcnorton said:
A car that sense you are going to slow in the Left lane and pulls over automatically to the other lane.

Or a car that senses other cars in front of you and shut the brights off. Or one that senses rain/poor visibility and turns the headlight on.

Or one that just sense you are an idiot and dont start.:D



Paul
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Auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers are fairly common. (Heck, my 10-yr old Grand Cherokee has automatic headlights) Auto-dimming highbeams are also available on some newer luxury cars.
 
Yeah, my zero-to-60 time is awful. I don't know if I've ever even gone 60. I can beat most cars off the line at a red-light for the first 15-20 feet though.
 
My stepfather is a flyfisherman. So, when I was visiting once, I saw one of his flyfishing catalogs on the table and decided to leaf through it to see if I could find a Christmas gift for him. And what did I find but a fly tying vice that attaches to your steering wheel. So, next time you see a car swerving in traffic, don't assume it's a woman putting on her makeup. It may be a guy tying up a fly.
 
Citroen had that trick suspension early in the 1950's. My Dad had a DS19 when we moved to Tucson. The local Citroen shop was owned by a Hispanic guy and his chief mechanic was a member of the Navajo Nation.
 
hikeeba said:
I'd like to see:

Automatic jacks that will allow the car to be raised and lowered for maintenance and can also be deployed quickly allowing the car to jump over obstacles.

Special grip tire treads that deploy from a compartment in the wheel well and cover the existing rubber lending tank tread-like traction in mud/snow/vertical driving situations.

A bullet-proof/crash-proof passenger compartment that can be sealed air/water tight and that is supplied with about an hours worth of supplemental oxygen. This will allow the occupants to survive serious wipe-outs, thwart gunfire, and drive underwater. Throw in a periscope, too.

Special headlights that improve vision at night, in storms, and under water.

Giant circular saw blades that deploy from the front of the car, allowing a driving path to be cleared through woods and/or brush during an off-road/off-track excursion.

A small, flying vehicle that can be launched from the vehicle and flown via remote control. The vehicle, no larger than a sheet of paper, can be equipped with various surveillanceand/or messaging equipment. With the touch of a button, the unit can be sent 'home' with a message, if needed.

And for those rare instances when one needs to clear obstacles with some distance, tiny wings that deploy from the underside of the car on each side, allowing the car to gain a little lift when jumping over obstacles, thus allowing for a greater distance to be covered during the jump.
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How about the Mach 5 from Speed Racer. That was one of my favortite saturday morning cartoons of the day back in the 60's.;)
 
I have a '95 SAAB 900 and my friend has an '86 F150. His is great in simplicity, durability, and price and ease of repairs, mine is great in creature comforts, reliability (fuel injection), driving, and fuel consumption. I could be happy owning either an old, simple American car like his, or a newer, more complicated but reliable foreign vehicle like mine, but I sure would like to see the two start blending more. The more electronically controlled cars get, the more ground dealership mechanics get and the more ground DIY'ers and local shops lose.

My car has a lot of really thoughtful amenities, but I rarely use all of them. Newer cars have many more and I'd NEVER use all of them. I agree that by and large car manufacturers are adding superfluous complications, but that market is being driven by those who want a lot of luxuries in a mid-priced vehicle and who will never themselves open their hood anyway. Despite the fact that my 12 year old car has never broken down on me, whenever I'm doing any routine maintenance, I envy my friend's giant engine bay that literally has room for a person to get into (he has the 4.9 I6), but then whenever we go on the highway in his truck, you can actually see his fuel gauge slowly but surely move. There's a delicate balance between these different types of practicalities. Maybe some car manufacturer will figure it out again.
 
Bufford said:
What I would really like to see are tires that really don't go flat anymore, and for someone to come up with a hybrid full size pick-up that really does get good gas milage like 40-60 mile per gallon instead of these 10-22 mile per gallon guzzlers we have today.
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get a single wheel Dodge diesel with a 3.XX axle ratio 6 speed manual then put a chip in it for saving fuel.

you will get 20+ miles per gallon.

one reason that the trucks don't get mileage is they are made to work. that means hauling that means low gears in the rear end. if you want mileage get a car.

you want your cake and eat it too.
 
i hate all car gadgets, with the exception of maybe a nice stereo and reasonable speakers.

i was so upset to recently purchase my base model 350Z and find out they come standard with power windows/mirrors/auto AC control. one thing i liked about my old grand am was everything was mechanical, simple, and reliable.

i think the new concept of heated/cooled cupholders are the most asinine thing i've ever seen. same goes with heated seats (i would fall asleep at the wheel in an instant).

and speaking of cupholders, my 350z has six of them. it seats two people. ???




i still like my new car though. ;)
 
and speaking of cupholders, my 350z has six of them. it seats two people. ???
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Hahahaha!!

i was so upset to recently purchase my base model 350Z and find out they come standard with power windows/mirrors/auto AC control.
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I suspect that is economy-dictated. I bet it's cheaper to make every 350Z more similar. Also easier to keep dealers stocked and less money invested in inventory if there are fewer model variations (compare to the Honda S2000 in which there are no feature options at all - every car is identically equipped). Assembly time is reduced since power windows and locks are easier to install and there are fewer parts. Power windows are also easier to repair and perhaps lighter-weight (critical aspect for a performance vehicle).

Just some possible explanations...
Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
Ford Superduty Now has a F-450 version, tows 24,500 lbs !! You can tow your whole house !!
 
Thats what I say about automatic transmission, there isn't a point when my manual works just fine.
 
Bufford said:
Let see some pics of this.
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My F350 has a 6.0L powerstroke deisel, 3.73 gears and a 6 speed manual transmission. Despit being 4 wheel drive, and hauling a loaded toolbox and junk all around it averages 17mpg (hand calculated) in mixed driving and will do better on the highway. No chip or any nonsense like that needed.
The 5.9L cummins that dodge uses is generally more efficient than the powerstroke, and a 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive truck would weigh alot less than my 1 ton tank :D You won't get great mileage, but its possible to hit 20+mpg.

The technology is there to make very efficient diesel vehicles. Unfortunately everytime we start to make some headway the stupid EPA chokes them down again.
 
Midget said:
i think the new concept of heated/cooled cupholders are the most asinine thing i've ever seen. same goes with heated seats (i would fall asleep at the wheel in an instant).
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You obviously don't live in the northeast;) When it's 0 out the heater in my car can take to 10 mins+ to warm the whole car up, but damned if my ass isn't toasty in 30 seconds!:D
 
hikeeba said:
I'd like to see:

Automatic jacks that will allow the car to be raised and lowered for maintenance and can also be deployed quickly allowing the car to jump over obstacles.

Special grip tire treads that deploy from a compartment in the wheel well and cover the existing rubber lending tank tread-like traction in mud/snow/vertical driving situations.

A bullet-proof/crash-proof passenger compartment that can be sealed air/water tight and that is supplied with about an hours worth of supplemental oxygen. This will allow the occupants to survive serious wipe-outs, thwart gunfire, and drive underwater. Throw in a periscope, too.

Special headlights that improve vision at night, in storms, and under water.

Giant circular saw blades that deploy from the front of the car, allowing a driving path to be cleared through woods and/or brush during an off-road/off-track excursion.

A small, flying vehicle that can be launched from the vehicle and flown via remote control. The vehicle, no larger than a sheet of paper, can be equipped with various surveillanceand/or messaging equipment. With the touch of a button, the unit can be sent 'home' with a message, if needed.

And for those rare instances when one needs to clear obstacles with some distance, tiny wings that deploy from the underside of the car on each side, allowing the car to gain a little lift when jumping over obstacles, thus allowing for a greater distance to be covered during the jump.
Click to expand...
There is such a car. It's called the Mach 5. It's not even new; its been around for years. It's too bad the car is Japanese, not American.
 
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