Grumpy old buggers thread

[NavyDiver]

EU rulz might make it a bit more likely we have buttons to quickly do things in our cars. My current one has a touch screen and it drives me nuts at times. I want buttons

It’s a cost-cutting automotive trend that has turned into an epidemic and one that could now be thankfully nipped in the bud. Yes, we are talking about the onslaught of touch screens and the gradual disappearance of physical controls in new cars. It’s no secret that integrating functions into a touchscreen saves money, but putting crucial functions at the mercy of touch controls has also infuriated car buyers. “New Euro NCAP tests due in 2026 will encourage manufacturers to use separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes-off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving,” said Matthew Avery, Euro NCAP Director of Strategic Development.This includes a minimum requirement of proper buttons for indicators, windscreen wipers, hazard warning lights, horns, and SOS functions. It’s worth noting that these changes will not make physical buttons mandatory for a 5-star safety rating but will encourage their use through a scoring system.
Furthermore, ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg told the media, “Physical buttons or stalks to operate these key vehicle controls will be encouraged through scoring, with manufacturers awarded points for the prioritisation of physical controls.”

[Tins]

EU rulz might make it a bit more likely we have buttons to quickly do things in our cars.

Good. Screw screens. Some cars it's like driving an IMAX theatre.

[scarry]

Good. Screw screens. Some cars it's like driving an IMAX theatre.

Totally agree,there have been a huge number of recent complaints from owners,and motoring journalists about this in some brands.

VW is one company that has now done a backflip in most models and gone back to knobs and switches.

[JDNSW]

Mind you, buttons are not always perfect.

One that has stuck in my mind over the years - my boss in 1960 drove a Borgward Hansa. (Anyone remember them?) It had a row of (from memory, eight) identical white buttons along the bottom of the dashboard in the middle. Unlabelled! The driver had to know from memory which one did what.

[Tins]

Mind you, buttons are not always perfect.

This is a Land Rover forum, in case you have forgotten...

One that has stuck in my mind over the years - my boss in 1960 drove a Borgward Hansa. (Anyone remember them?) It had a row of (from memory, eight) identical white buttons along the bottom of the dashboard in the middle. Unlabelled! The driver had to know from memory which one did what.

Yes. And in the Hansa the buttons probably didn't do any thing at all..... Rather like my OKA really.

For years and years Mercedes Benz put all the main buttons and switches in the same locations, no matter the model. From a Beirut taxi to an S Class Limo you knew where things were. Now they've joined the screen mob, and their cars are the worse for it.

As an aside, the first time I drove an R Series Scania, after some time looking I had to ask someone where the gear selector was. Silly me, of course you twist the wiper stalk... Obvious really.

[3toes]

Buttons do not always win. The Valiant had a push button automatic in the sixties. Was removed after some government encouragement as it was confusing drivers

[Tins]

Buttons do not always win. The Valiant had a push button automatic in the sixties. Was removed after some government encouragement as it was confusing drivers

It wasn't a bad system . Had an AP-5 for a little while, didn't confuse me. Push the lever down for Park. No problem. Not sure I'd like to troubleshoot the mechanism though.

[JDNSW]

Buttons do not always win. The Valiant had a push button automatic in the sixties. Was removed after some government encouragement as it was confusing drivers

Shortly after they appeared, I was meeting my father at the Chrysler/Simca dealer in Granville, where his Simca V8 was being serviced. While waiting, I saw an apprentice lower one of the new Valiants on the hoist*. He then got in the driver's seat, started the engine, looked over his shoulder, and revved the engine. Nothing happened. He then looked at the dash and (engine still revving) pushed a button on the dash. The Valiant shot backwards, out the workshop door, and across the road, fortunately striking a gap in the traffic, and had started to mount the footpath on the other side before he got it stopped.

*I had looked underneath it while it was on the hoist, and what struck me was the lack of change underneath compared to the late 1930s Chryslers (an uncle had one at the time), a contrast with, for example, my father's Simca, which, underneath, could only have been a postwar car.

[Tins]

This is an interesting adjunct to the button thing. And, this is not about EVs, although I do wonder. I'm surprised the low voltage system doesn't control the windows (EDIT: maybe it does, but through electronics and not plain electrickery). But it's a worry that Tesla is heading down the 'put everything on the screen' route.

Of course, the driver being ****faced wouldn't help.

[Tombie]

This is an interesting adjunct to the button thing. And, this is not about EVs, although I do wonder. I'm surprised the low voltage system doesn't control the windows (EDIT: maybe it does, but through electronics and not plain electrickery). But it's a worry that Tesla is heading down the 'put everything on the screen' route.

Of course, the driver being ****faced wouldn't help.

Any modern vehicle can lose window control like that.

Hence glass break tools in all rows of my vehicles