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kingdragonfly

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#250831 27-May-2019 18:45
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When I was growing up I remember "Landau Tops" were a thing. Basically it was vinyl put on a roof for "style."



I've learned that a number of high-end cars, mostly German, have "active sounds design"

Basically your car's speakers and audio system "enhance" the engine noise. From Wikipedia:

Active sound design (ASD) is an automotive audio application in which the car engine's sound is generated based on various engine parameters like speed and throttle input. This technology is implemented in "
  • BMW M2, M3, M4 and M5
  • Renault Clio
  • Ford Focus ST
  • Audi SQ5
  • VW diesels (to make it sound like a petrol engine)
  • Skoda Octavia vRS


It's the opposite of "active nose control" because it actually makes the interior of the car noisier. How stupid is that: pay big money for a quiet car, but have the audio system pipe in fake engine noise.

Someone went to the trouble of hacking the module to make a BWM sound like a Rolls Royce Ghost.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/bmws-sound-design-system-hacked-video/

Here's a NZD $2,000 after-market kit to add a fake V8 sound to a Ford Mustang VI. Again you the people inside the car will hear the fake V8, even with fake misfires.



https://www.active-sound.eu/it/ford/mustang/mustang-vi/complete-kit-active-sound-with-soundbooster-and-app-control-ford-mustang-vi

At least the Renault Clio let you choose the fake engine noise, including a past 1969 Renault Godini, a 1971 motorcycle and future 2038 model.



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mudguard
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  #2246653 27-May-2019 19:47
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I would go with touch screens, and multiple rows of buttons with no tactile difference.




tehgerbil
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  #2246656 27-May-2019 19:57
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[Tongue in cheek] Cigarette lighters.


vexxxboy
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  #2246664 27-May-2019 20:17
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rain sensing Windshield wipers , what was the point.





Common sense is not as common as you think.




Oblivian
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  #2246670 27-May-2019 20:33
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Lexux was one of the first to do it. The LFA has not only been tuned in a science lab, but they filtered the surge tank and firewall for the best sound inside. Guess others have just followed with audio version

 

https://archive.yamaha.com/en/news_release/2009/20091021.html 


xpd

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  #2246674 27-May-2019 20:54
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Massive spoilers on cars that will never see a race track let alone go over 100k.

 

 





       Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

 

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Dial111
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  #2246678 27-May-2019 21:03
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Stretched wheels *shudders

Aredwood
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  #2246687 27-May-2019 21:16

mudguard:

I would go with touch screens, and multiple rows of buttons with no tactile difference.



Also thumb wheel type controls. As you cant tell by feel what setting the control is set to. Yes Mercedes I'm looking at you.

Climate control on anything that is not a luxury car. As such systems often have poor temp regulation. And they cant measure and compensate for whether you are feeling hot or cold. And some cant even measure and compensate for the air temp inside the car.

Car HVAC systems that dont allow you to set 100% recirculation. Or which will switch off recirculation by themselves. Always happens when you are driving on gravel roads, following a cattle truck, badly tuned diesel, someone who is blowing cigarette smoke from the car in front etc.

Yes Mercedes, I'm (again) looking at you.

I have modified or completely bypassed most of the control functions on my Mercedes Vito HVAC system. Now it actually does what I want it to do.





 
 
 

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Dingbatt
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  #2246699 27-May-2019 22:18
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A sunroof.
Why do some manufacturers insist on putting an electric sunroof in their top-of-the-range vehicles? Particularly when it lowers the roof lining about 3cm and leaves me with my head brushing against it.
Just something else to leak eventually.

@vexxxboy I quite like my rain sensing wipers and auto headlights. But the latter has caused problems when I drive another car and forget to turn the manual lights off.




“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


Delphinus
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  #2246702 27-May-2019 22:32
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@vexxxboy I quite like my rain sensing wipers and auto headlights. But the latter has caused problems when I drive another car and forget to turn the manual lights off.

 

Also love my rain sensing wipers and auto headlights.

frankv
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  #2246740 28-May-2019 07:12
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+/- Buttons for temperature or audio volume control. Rotary knobs are so much more user-friendly.

 

 

Hidden bonnet release (e.g. Mondeo had a keyhole hidden behind the front Ford badge).

 


kingdragonfly

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  #2246749 28-May-2019 07:30
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Dial111: Stretched wheels *shudders


I didn't know what stretched tires were.

https://www.thevehiclelab.com/stretched-tires/




GV27
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  #2246750 28-May-2019 07:32
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xpd:

 

Massive spoilers on cars that will never see a race track let alone go over 100k.

 

 

I have a car with a massive spoiler - it was a factory fitted piece of equipment. The only reason it was there and as high as it was was so the rally team could say their rally car was the same shape as the road car, but that's because it actually does something functional with the air that passes over and under it. From memory, at the time it was made, there were only four cars with factory wings that actually did something - the rest were for show. 


jonb
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  #2246757 28-May-2019 07:50
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I wrote this one in the small things that annoy thread.. car alarms that beep pretty loudly when you lock or unlock the car. Especially unlocking, can there be any point to that? Was camping once and some late arrivals were constantly locking and unlocking their G-wagon and every time the horn sounded. Fuming .

mudguard
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  #2246783 28-May-2019 08:08
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jonb: I wrote this one in the small things that annoy thread.. car alarms that beep pretty loudly when you lock or unlock the car. Especially unlocking, can there be any point to that? Was camping once and some late arrivals were constantly locking and unlocking their G-wagon and every time the horn sounded. Fuming .

 

 

 

I've had a few Holden rental cars, and there is an odd combo, like turning the car off, opening a door partially then closing it again. Like I have to do when the bluetooth hasn't automatically reconnected, and it gives a rapid succession of toots. I think it must be a reminder not to leave the key in the car as it has proximity key. 

 

But annoying. Spoilers and auto headlights/wipers I don't mind. In my car there isn't really a natural off for the headlights, it's either on, or auto, which I find annoying. 


Handsomedan
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  #2246806 28-May-2019 08:46
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kingdragonfly:
Dial111: Stretched wheels *shudders


I didn't know what stretched tires were.

https://www.thevehiclelab.com/stretched-tires/



 

One of my pet hates...they only stretch them so they can fit wide rims on the car and still have no tread protruding from the bodywork...that way they don't have to actually modify the car's exterior panels to fit wider wheels. 

 

Not only do they look stupid (in my opinion) but over-stretched tyres can simply come off the rim under pressure when cornering. They're simply not designed to be fitted this way. 





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