Do you use all the Technology in your vehicle?

[Mike Nel]

I find it funny that people complain about the lack of technology in certain vehicles.

But it's the very same people who complain about all the alarms that goes off and then proceeds to turn them off.

So. Do you use all the Tech in your car? I don't

[jakeslouw]

Absolutely.

[Ricof4e]

I don't. Things like lane assist and adaptive cruise control, driver alert warnings and park assist just frustrate me.

Without sounding snobby, my preferred list of tech in a vehicle are:

1) Android auto;

2) Cruise control;

3) Climate Control;

4) TPMS;

5) Satnav;

6) ESP; and

7) auto lights (not auto dimming)

[Hedgehog]

I think its easier to say what I do not use

I have never used the HDC function

[Bugjuic]

Very mixed opinion on this topic.

If you talk about technology, do you refer to the safety aspect of things, or creature comforts.

Safety Aspect:
Traction Control, ABS, EBD, anti-roll etc. is most useful under normal driving circumstances, sometimes irritating off-road if it can not be deactivated. BUT! If every-one of those items have a bell or a chime, I will find that buzzer and smack it with a hammer! If you don't look at your dash often enough your vehicle is too light on fuel and you have to purchase a real 4x4, petrol of course .

Creature comforts:
Getting out of hand, the basic ones Ricof4e mentioned are about the most you need on a vehicle. Only buzzers that have to work are over-heating issues, hand brake left on(Toyota thing), Lights left on and TPMS. Seatbelt warning buzzers should be banned!

[iandvl]

My truck is very basic - the fanciest thing in it is probably the ABS. I prefer it that way. The only factory standard alarm / chime that might go off is if I exceed 20km/h with the diff-lock on. It gets annoying when charging dunes... There is another alarm, but that is for a coolant-level sensor and I added that myself following a burst water pipe. I have no need for cruise control, park distance control, hill ascent control, hill descent control, lane assist, rear view cameras or anything. Hell - I hardly ever even listen to the radio when driving.

The 4.8 the ex wrote off was much more larney and had some other bits and bobs like cruise control and similar. I never used it. Liana's Mitsu has all the bells and whistles. I never use them either.

[Ricof4e]

I get where you are coming from Ian. There is something very alluring about mechanical simplicity and strangely enough it gets more appealing the older I get.

For instance, when I was 25 I bought myself an NP300 and I constantly found myself yearning for some tech like cruise control, mp3 functionality etc.
Now that I am older I find myself yearning for something simplistic and rugged as the NP300.

I guess it is because of my move to the west coast. I no longer need something with unnecessary luxuries as I no longer need to drive 2000kms to enjoy a holiday at the coast. I now (in a few month's time) need something that I can go beach and dune driving with, something that can take me to the farm and back and something I can use to go overlanding with. At this stage in my life, all the arrows point towards a 79 cruiser I may see in my near 18-24month future.

I'd rather get a little sh1tbox in addition to the 79 that I can use as a daily runner.

But again, the appeal of a 79 DC that I can service and repair myself and that would last 10-15years, far outweighs any notion of something like a new gen Ranger or D-max or what-have-you.

[Ricof4e]

I think its easier to say what I do not use

I have never used the HDC function

How did you manage that with an auto-box?

[Hedgehog]

I think its easier to say what I do not use

I have never used the HDC function

How did you manage that with an auto-box?

Never had an issue in low range, and if slower is needed I feather the brakes.

I always found the HDC faster than what I wanted.. I have the idea that HDC was designed for HR use

The FJ's crawl control was very useful though

[PsyPhin]

I am a gadget and tech person and love the stuff, especially in the car and use it all the time. (Go ahead and swear at me)

Things I don't use:
HDC, its too fast at 8kmh
Auto Stop Start. Just feels wrong on a hill like I am not in control.
Sand, snow, mud modes. I feel 4L can do anything and the modes get in the way.

[Ricof4e]

I think its easier to say what I do not use

I have never used the HDC function

How did you manage that with an auto-box?

Never had an issue in low range, and if slower is needed I feather the brakes.

I always found the HDC faster than what I wanted.. I have the idea that HDC was designed for HR use

The FJ's crawl control was very useful though

Aah, I see.

In 4H I lock the Ford in 1st gear going down a hill - it descends slower than it does with HDC enabled.

Haven't tried it in Lo though.

[Ricof4e]

Very mixed opinion on this topic.

If you talk about technology, do you refer to the safety aspect of things, or creature comforts.

Safety Aspect:
Traction Control, ABS, EBD, anti-roll etc. is most useful under normal driving circumstances, sometimes irritating off-road if it can not be deactivated. BUT! If every-one of those items have a bell or a chime, I will find that buzzer and smack it with a hammer! If you don't look at your dash often enough your vehicle is too light on fuel and you have to purchase a real 4x4, petrol of course .

Creature comforts:
Getting out of hand, the basic ones Ricof4e mentioned are about the most you need on a vehicle. Only buzzers that have to work are over-heating issues, hand brake left on(Toyota thing), Lights left on and TPMS. Seatbelt warning buzzers should be banned!

On the issue of safety, when I get a cruiser I would prefer to die like a real man.

[Saxj]

I use all of the tech that came stock on the Jimny, except the airbags. But I did manage to use those on my previous one.

[HenriSteyn]

I don't know if the abs works on my Paj.......
I don't hear the seat belt gong anymore. Either my brain is ignoring it or I need new batteries in my hearing aids....
Wait, my wife would have complained already!
Other than that everything works well for me.

[jakeslouw]

I went out and had a look at the tech in the Tata...........there ain't any. Unless lights and brakes count as tech. Oh yes, a rear window demister thingy.
The radio comes on and one speaker is blown.

Then I jumped in the Jeep. There is ESC which I assume is an Escape Hatch, HDC which is for sissies and then some buttons on the steering wheel that do stuff. There is a radio with a HDD and an Aux port and a USB slot. The aircon works where you point the nozzles and gets as cold as the dial is turned. The Garmin plugs into the lighter hole. Apart from that there ain't anything.