This is just ridiculous!

[Jantrix]

I guess its better than baseball cards in the spokes.

[johnbuzzed]

It seems like the technology is added merely because it can be done, almost to the point of overkill.

[Harry P.]

It seems like the technology is added merely because it can be done, almost to the point of overkill.

That's exactly my point. Technology for technology's sake, not because of actual need.

[cartpix]

They have?

I've never heard of it until seeing the story this morning.

They even did it with the Mini S but I think they did it with the real engine sound. Luckily, they stopped doing it, before I got mine.

[Brett Barrow]

A lot have cars have been using active noise cancelling where the sound wave is manipulated to be 180 degrees out of phase, then the two sounds effectively cancel each other out. If you change that so the sound wave is in phase it will amplify the sound. That's likely what a lot of these engine sound enhancements do. But pre-recorded sounds, or even sounds from a different engine? That is a bit ridiculous...

I will say it would be nice if all those Fast and Furious-style ricers with fart-can mufflers that tool around my neighborhood at all hours of the night had something like this where the sound was just confined to the cabin so only the driver could hear it.

Man, I feel so old for saying that. You &@%$ kids get off my lawn!

Edited June 9, 2014 by Brett Barrow

[mcandela]

On the 2011 -up mustangs is really easy to get rid of this. Add a KN cold air kit or add some Flowmasters to it. No more hoses sounding off, jaja.

[Zarana-X]

I often see the i8 being driven around at work (BMW GB) and the noise really doesn't match the looks. It sounds like a cross between a VW beetle and a lawnmower. Of course when the engine is not in use, there's almost no noise at all. I think they have to make it make some sort of noise for road safety reasons, or you'd never hear it coming. Which doesn't excuse them piping sampled engine noise into the cabin.

I drive a 1996 Toyota Tercel. The thing is so quiet, I have people walking (staggering) in front of me all the time in parking lots.

Makes me miss my VW, where people would run from it.

[Mark]

From what I've read, carmakers today offer a lot of cabin electronics as that is what the market (esp. younger buyers) demands. I can understand that, I usually like my cars loaded, and I suspect very few people today would buy cars as stripped down as were once offered...a car maker wouldn't sell very many cars if they were equipped with manual windows, manual seats, AM radio, etc.

That's the corporate line that they like to throw around, but in my commute I see a bunch of basic vehicles like the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and early Ford Escapes. Ford was selling Rangers up until the end; they realized people were buying them not necessarily wanting a truck, but rather a vehicle without a lot of expensive garbage on it. Say what you will about Chevy Cavaliers, but GM never had any trouble selling them either. The loaded cars sell because most people buy on impulse, want it NOW, and so they have to take what is on the lot. So the dealers put only loaded vehicles on the lot. "It's only ______ more per month anyway", is the rationale for dealers and most buyers. If you don't want power seats (who needs them when you are the only driver?) or a sunroof, you have to place an order and wait. I had to order my truck because I didn't want four-wheel drive or an extended cab, and all they had on the lot were high-end trucks. I've ordered the two trucks and one car that I bought new anyway...if you're spending the money, get exactly what you want, without paying for anything you don't want.

[bbowser]

That's the corporate line that they like to throw around, but in my commute I see a bunch of basic vehicles like the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and early Ford Escapes. Ford was selling Rangers up until the end; they realized people were buying them not necessarily wanting a truck, but rather a vehicle without a lot of expensive garbage on it. Say what you will about Chevy Cavaliers, but GM never had any trouble selling them either. The loaded cars sell because most people buy on impulse, want it NOW, and so they have to take what is on the lot. So the dealers put only loaded vehicles on the lot. "It's only ______ more per month anyway", is the rationale for dealers and most buyers. If you don't want power seats (who needs them when you are the only driver?) or a sunroof, you have to place an order and wait. I had to order my truck because I didn't want four-wheel drive or an extended cab, and all they had on the lot were high-end trucks. I've ordered the two trucks and one car that I bought new anyway...if you're spending the money, get exactly what you want, without paying for anything you don't want.

This is it exactly! The dealers (and manufacturers) have much higher margins on the loaded vehicles, so that's what they stock. Buyers take all the BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH they don't want because it's the path of least resistance. Can you even buy a car without power seats, door locks, windows, mirrors, ad nauseum?

[Harry P.]

One of the newer gadgets that strikes me as especially goofy is self-closing minivan doors and/or rear hatch. I mean, come on! Are we now such slaves to technology that we need a system to close our vehicle doors automatically?

You can make an argument for power windows, especially if you are the only one in the car and you want to open/close the windows on the right. You can make an argument for power steering, power brakes, maybe even power seats (a weak argument). But power door closers? What next... power glove box door? I mean, it's such a hassle to bend over and do it manually...

[Fabrux]

I was watching an episode of Top Gear the other day and Jeremy was driving a French hot hatch (can't remember if it was the Renault or the Peugeot) but it had the option of picking from a bunch of different engines to pipe through the sound system.

[gbdolfans]

I can barely remember going to a dealership with my mom and dad.We would sit down and going through a booklet,pick out what you wanted on your car.Colors,options etc.You would make a down payment and they would male your car ship it to dealer and we went and picked it up.

Now you just pick one on their lot and pay for options that you don't need or want.

the auto companies put all that on cars because the consumer wants all those things that cause a distraction to driving.

They make options that cost very little to put in,charge you a HUGE markup,then give you a couple of hundred dollars off

[Ace-Garageguy]

... I think turning the radio on via the "ON" button on the radio makes a whole lot more sense than turning it on via some silly electronic process...

When you make a function simpler or more intuitive, that's progress. When you make a function more complex and less intuitive, that's not progress. That's gimmickry.

Yes indeed, agreed 100%.

I DO think that when speech-recognition is sufficiently developed to understand and respond as accurately as an intelligent human who's actually paying attention, that "voice command" can have a positive effect on reducing driver "load", but it's not there yet.

Yes, and power-door-closers really annoy me in principle. I mean, do all yuppie soccer moms have broken wrists?? Just more weight and more stuff to break.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[English Jules]

Being an anti-progress old fart, I fondly remember when BMW made honest, simple sports coupes for people who lived in reality and enjoyed the driving experience. Cars like the 2002. They weren't about impressing the lower-level yuppie middle-managers...they were DRIVER'S cars. Alas, no more. Just another bloated, overpriced and over-teched status mobile.

With PRETEND engine sounds.

i had a few mid 90's 5 series, inc tourings. great fun to drive, always had RWD and a lot of 70s Toyota Celica's, simple and fun.

[Rob Hall]

i had a few mid 90's 5 series, inc tourings. great fun to drive, always had RWD and a lot of 70s Toyota Celica's, simple and fun.

I like the old BMWs...miss my '96 M3, was a lot of fun, straight 6, simple and great on twisty mountain roads...no iDrive or other nonsense...

[Ace-Garageguy]

i had a few mid 90's 5 series, inc tourings. great fun to drive, always had RWD and a lot of 70s Toyota Celica's, simple and fun.

The last BMW I drove was an E39 M5. If it had fake engine noises, it sure as jell didn't need them. Its V8 sounded like a V8, and it went like stink.

Edited June 10, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Craig Irwin]

These are the reasons I hate new cars.

[charlie8575]

One of the newer gadgets that strikes me as especially goofy is self-closing minivan doors and/or rear hatch. I mean, come on! Are we now such slaves to technology that we need a system to close our vehicle doors automatically?

Well...considering a lot of the people who drive minivans are petite soccer moms, the power gate makes a lot of sense. The doors can go either way.

My mother isn't petite, but is only 5 feet tall, and for her to even reach the t/gate on a PT Cruiser is a bit of a stretch.

Charlie Larkin

[johnbuzzed]

Another thing to remember is that all those gadgets, gimmicks, etc just contribute to the "What can possibly break on my car?" factor. And, all that stuff adds weight to the car. I can understand power windows, locks and seats- maybe even outside mirrors- but the rest of the stuff is just silly add-on-to-the-cost BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH.

[Tom Geiger]

And power accessories are just the tip of the iceberg! Now we have cars that park themselves, cars that brake if you don't (which I think is actually a good idea, it certainly would've helped Tracy Morgan situation) and even cars that drive themselves are in our future so we haven't seen any end to complexity ! So I guess three on the tree is out of the question!

[johnbuzzed]

So is the manual spark advance as found on those old Fords.

[Danno]

The real money-maker in electronic gee-whiz features is in the servicing. The more complex the cars get, the less chance anyone can service their own car, and the less chance a non-dealer mechanic can service or repair it. Thus, more dependence on the dealer for every little thing = mucho more dinero for the dealer and manufacturer.

Diabolical.

[1972coronet]

As much as I love my 2013 Civic , there is too much "nanny" about it ; chiming noises which command me to put the seat belt on ( QUIT already ! I'm only driving around the apartment complex ! ) ; annoying screen with back-up camera display and other displays ( no , I don't care if some-one sent me a text message while I'm driving ! ) ; and , the latest annoyance (not limited to the Civic) : "T.P.M.S." !! Okay, one of the tyres is low on its recommended pressure ; but which one !?!?

You can have your BMW's ( I do really like their older vehicles , and would gladly take a European-spec M6 Alpine ! ) and other fancy "incredible lease opportunity" college boy rides . I'll stick with the K.I.S.S. principal , and will continue to enjoy my 1972 Dodge for what it's worth : no computers , no smog equipment (not much of it to begin with , and what was there has been removed ) , no radio , no heater , no nothing . Just a well-worn 318 V8 which produces real engine sounds !

iDrive . Puh-leeze !

[Joe Handley]

My 200 has TPMS on it and that set up works nicely! Once I select the screen on the cluster it will give me an estimate of each tire's pressure and will automatically self adjust after a tire rotation, just got to drive at a consistant speed for little while so the onboard computer can figure out where the tires are now. What I despise is the stability control on tje car, it's sometimes to easy to set off and there is some thought that it might be causing slick road stability issues with the cars in conjuntio with the toe it on slick, winter roads. You can thank Ford for both of those too, if they just built the first decades worth of Explorers so the didn't roll do easily and reccomend tire pressure lower that Firestone felt safe for the tires, we wouldn't "need" those

[Ace-Garageguy]

What I despise is the stability control on tje car, it's sometimes to easy to set off and there is some thought that it might be causing slick road stability issues with the cars in conjuntio with the toe it on slick, winter roads.

Ummm...so the "stability control" is causing "stability issues". Wow. That's some serious progress and a much better car than folks had before, eh?

As far as TPMS goes, I guess it's just entirely too hard to walk around the car once a week with a tire pressure gauge, actually bend over, screw the little caps off and check the pressures? Man, that kind of effort is so exhausting, and WAY beyond what anyone in the 21st century should have to deal with !!!

A brave new world, indeed.