The End Of Manual Transmissons

I always thought they were just a 12v outlet for your accessories and a cigarette lighter was just an accessory you could buy if you wanted.
I imagine back in the day a car having a built in cigarette lighter must have been exciting cutting edge new tech.

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decrepit said..
Part of my problem is that I've learned to distrust computers. Given the number of passenger planes that have killed all on board because the computer got it wrong. And back a few decades, a therapy x-ray machine killed a couple of patients, because again the computer got it wrong.
So I don't like being dictated to for no reason, by some programmer, a few years ago, and several thousand kilometres away, who thinks he knows more about what's going on on the road than I do.

And loto, I think formula was talking about new cars, not 25 year old ones. Personally I'd prefer a new 2006 commodore, that had more room and fitted much more gear in. Not quite as smooth to drive perhaps, but more practical

Agreed.

I know of a car that is drive by wire for steering - there is no mechanical connection and all steering feel is essentially faked by the servos.
A couple weeks ago, colleagues had a minor kerb strike that you would not think is at all damaging. Tyre and rim - fine. However the hub was broken and alignment seriously wrong. The computer detected it and corrected for it, so the car drove normally. That was indescribably dangerous as its eventually going to explode while driving. This stuff might be fine on a little Jap suburban street, but it ain't for 6hrs at 100kph.
If it was a normal old school rack n pinion steering setup, even the most inexperienced driver would have known it was up the sh!t and stopped.

I've recently had a new Juke as a loaner and the alarms for parking sensor etc has done my head in. It fkn brakes for me trying to park 30cm from an object. Overtaking on highway, then start to merge back across it lost its sh!t at me as I've indicated for a 'lane change' but something is next to me. Well it won't be 'next to me' in 0.5 sec time as its doing 70kph and i'm doing 120kph. The first time that happens it distracts you greatly with the alarms and takes your attention away from what you should be doing.

I'll be choosing my next new car based largely upon LACK of electronic aids. Stability control and ABS, yes. But lane departure warning that shakes the steering wheel every time you do a deliberate lane change with indicating, and doesn't recognise the edge of country roads is annoying and useless (it takes the Japanese creativity to make that special combo I think)

Yeah thats it Imax, if you are on a country road you just push a button and turn lane assist off, its not very complicated as some are making out.
Or maybe some people dont like the computer stopping their dangerous driving habits on the highway.

No dont do that. Pull over and hit the button if you have forgotten to turn it off.

I do have some concerns with some safety features . For example , side mirror blind spot alarms . Good if your goofing off , but it will train you to not turning your head properly before changing lanes. One of the first rules when learning to drive .

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Imax1 said..
I do have some concerns with some safety features . For example , side mirror blind spot alarms . Good if your goofing off , but it will train you to not turning your head properly before changing lanes. One of the first rules when learning to drive .

I think they need to add a feature to these. I have found people that seem to want to sit in my right hand 'blind-spot' and just sit there. I speed up, they sit there. I slow down, they sit there. I suspect they do this because they want someone else to watch the speedo and somehow they think sitting back there is safe??

Maybe an alarm that says 'hey you idiot, don't sit there'?

Most surprisingly, I had a motorbike do this. Are some people crazy?

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FormulaNova said..
..Are some people crazy?

Hey FN,

I don't wanna sound rude (well OK I couldn't give a ****e if I sound rude) but...

You've got 11,810 posts on these forums and you still ask that question ?!??!!!



pffffftt....even a child can see the answer. Do your own research. If you don't understand I am not here to explain it to you. Moron.

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lotofwind said.. >>>>No dont do that. Pull over and hit the button if you have forgotten to turn it off.

Yes that's the safe way, but how many people you know would actually do that?
The the philosophy behind computerised stuff is to take the irrational human out of the equation. This just puts the human back in big time.

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FormulaNova said..

decrepit said..

Imax1 said.. >>>>but it will train you to not turning your head properly before changing lanes. One of the first rules when learning to drive .

Yep, that's the danger, with a lot of "safety features" it diminishes the actual driving ability of the average road user. Things are bad enough here when people think that good driving is just a matter of following the rules, add relying on tech to that, and people won't be able to think for themselves.
Generalising, I think that's the way modern society is going, people don't want to think, they just want tech to do it for them. Carry on this way for a few more decades, and they'll be happy to let AI take over everything.

What's the story with people and roundabouts in WA? One thing that bugs me is that people here seem to indicate their exit way before they should and you never know if they mean 'that' exit or the one after. Was there some big TV ad about roundabouts or something as I feel that in NSW almost no one bothers to indicate (left) when leaving roundabouts, they just exit.

The first few times I was surprised that the other car exited after when I thought they would, but now I am forewarned.

Try living on Bribie Island where indicators and road rules are optional . Its best to stop at roundabouts and look to the left as well.
Its a special place for driving , some say spiritual

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decrepit said..

FormulaNova said..>>>What's the story with people and roundabouts in WA? One thing that bugs me is that people here seem to indicate their exit way before they should and you never know if they mean 'that' exit or the one after. Was there some big TV ad about roundabouts or something as I feel that in NSW almost no one bothers to indicate (left) when leaving roundabouts, they just exit.

The first few times I was surprised that the other car exited after when I thought they would, but now I am forewarned.

There's been some confusing messages here. first we're told not to indicate going in, only indicate going out. then we're told to indicate going in if we're tuning right then left as well. Some people think they have to stop at a roundabout. Most people treat it as give way to the right. But I think the rule actually says, first to the roundabout has right of way, but I find it safer, not to push this rule as people coming towards the roundabout on your right are only thinking about what's on their left. So you can be stopped at the entry with a stream of traffic coming from your right, theoretically you have right of way, because you were there before them, but it's not wise to push that.

Yeah, I know that it's whoever is on the roundabout first that has right of way, but man the number of people that have gotten angry at me because they think its whoever is on the right has right of way... I know I am in the right, but sometimes I just concede. Other times, usually when its one of those where the road I am on gets few chances, I do it as your supposed to.

There is this roundabout in Baldivis though that does my head in. It has a new lane created on the roundabout, after you have already entered it and cannot see it beforehand, and its for effectively doing a 180 turn, but you don't know its there until you are already past it. Normally you would just indicate right and leave at the correct exit, but they have created an orphan lane and you don't even know its there until its too late.

It also bugs me the amount of people that don't give way to both lanes on a roundabout. If you see someone giving way to both... it will be me!

Yes its funny you say that about roundabouts. There was a show on SBS a few years back, was all a bit tongue in cheek, to prove once and for all who are the better drivers young or old.
They had the 50 and overs V's the 25 and unders. The put both groups through the modern practical exam and driving test.
All 5 of the 50 and overs failed.
They showed the instructor lecturing one of the 55yr old telling him you didnt indicate once on any roundabouts and swerved between both lanes when going around it?? The old guy answered with " well they didnt have roundabouts when I learned to drive, so how would I know what to do"
There was talk awhile ago about once people get to around that age they should sit a quick driving test each year to not only refresh them on the road rules, but to also test reaction times and eye sight as they both can start to diminish at that age and most dont realize its happened.
Pretty good idea really, I'd be happy to do it when Im over that age, just for my own peace of mind.

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Imax1 said..

lotofwind said..
There was talk awhile ago about once people get to around that age they should sit a quick driving test each year to not only refresh them on the road rules, but to also test reaction times and eye sight as they both can start to diminish at that age and most dont realize its happened.
Pretty good idea really, I'd be happy to do it when Im over that age, just for my own peace of mind.

I believe they do in Germany . Not sure at what age . I also believe it's free unless you fail , then you have to pay to re do your licence .
Good idea . Not at 50 , ( cos I'm scared I'd fail ) , 70 ???
Remember most bad crashes are under 25.

Yeah true for the under 25's, but you cant die at that age.

I know people that I would be afraid to drive with them when they were young and I am sure they are no better as they get older.

I still remember my friend from high school that asked me to give him driving lessons. He would never indicate and would always tell me "I was going to" which confused the heck out of me. He also used to cut right across corners when turning right. Not indicating of course.

It made sense when I saw that that was exactly the way both his parents drove. My theory these days is that you pick up driving styles from your parents or whoever you see driving when you are young. The rest probably doesn't matter.

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FormulaNova said..

Imax1 said..
I do have some concerns with some safety features . For example , side mirror blind spot alarms . Good if your goofing off , but it will train you to not turning your head properly before changing lanes. One of the first rules when learning to drive .

I think they need to add a feature to these. I have found people that seem to want to sit in my right hand 'blind-spot' and just sit there. I speed up, they sit there. I slow down, they sit there. I suspect they do this because they want someone else to watch the speedo and somehow they think sitting back there is safe??

Maybe an alarm that says 'hey you idiot, don't sit there'?

Most surprisingly, I had a motorbike do this. Are some people crazy?

Welcome to WA . I think they do it to antagonise the living $#!t out of you .

Was really glad of excellent brakes an hour ago! Saw a SUV approach and intersection ahead on my left, it slowed right down at the intersection. Then pulled out right in front of me, luckily I was only doing the 50kmh speed limit. Managed to stop about a meter away from it. I think the driver only looked left not right!