Quote:
Originally Posted by dculkin
Car electronics have already gotten stupid, IMHO. I took my mother car shopping in 2000. She had her heart set on an Acura sedan. The one they gave us to test drive had the screen in the middle of the dash that handled the navigation system, the HVAC, and maybe some other stuff. Nobody in the car, not me, not the salesman, and especially not my mother, could figure out how to get the navigation system to stop giving verbal directions to us. It was embarassing. These systems are clearly inferior to manual systems and it pisses me off that they keep forcing this crap on us.
BMW has that big knob that is supposed to control everything. I've never tried to use it, but when it came out nobody could figure it out. It's crazy. Give me a lever or knob marked with red and blue to indicate hot and cold and another lever or knob with icons showing where the air is going. I will take that system over a computerized system any day of the week.
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When my adopted Dad was a young man, they had a system in place where a car salesman knew most of what he/she sold. You see the truck salesman and he knows the trucks inside and out. You tell him what you want to do and he tells you what you need. Fast Foraward to 91. I was buying a 91 Pontiac Firebird Formula. The salesman didn't even know as much about the options as I did. Why? Today he works for Pontiac tomorrow he works for Ford and the next day he works for Chrysler. My MB salesman has been there for more than 10 years and knows which car I am talking about and what the common features are and how to work it. Part of what you are describing is that the salesman doesn't really know the product inside and out. I worked at Best Lies for a while. I knew each and every computer inside and out and all the specs. Most of the others didn't. Guess who sold more product and service plans.
My 01 Excursion has what you are describing for vent controls. Personally, if I could have gotten an 02 with the electronic controls, I would have. I love the 210's AC control. No turning it up or down if it gets too cold or hot or how fast I want the fan to go. The wife has one temp and I have another.