Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Ordinarily I’d agree with you but it’s the shit when the lights go on and off on their own.

automation makes things safer.

we are late to the party in applying this to cars, but better late than never.

for context:

Road traffic incidents continue to be one of the leading causes of death in the world. According to data from the World Health Organisation, approximately 1.19 million people are killed each year in road traffic crashes – one person every 23 seconds.

Between 20 and 50 million are injured. Globally, car crashes are the number-one cause of death for people aged between five and 29.

More than half of global road traffic deaths are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, making this a problem that continues to merit discussion, debate and action.

source - Dylan Campbell, some Australian motorist dude. I've not fact checked but it sounds about right.

automation

I read somewhere that Mercedes' automation is now a lot less dependent on human input than Tesla's.

In hire cars with auto dip beam lights I’ve always felt they dipped half a second later than I wanted, so now I blame them every time some arsehole in a brand new [Volvo: the new Audi: the new BMW] blinds me.

Now sat in Scarborough after the longest drive in the VRS (in my short ownership). 2 hellish hours to get from Croydon to the M25 (Friday afternoon was never going to be a good time), short stop and refuel (of the driver, with much KFC) then 4 hour smash to Scarborough including sunset Humber Bridge and Moors crossings, which were lovely. I didn't miss or think at any point "I wish I had cruise control". Auto wipers and lights however were very much out in force with a few biblical microbursts (I desperately need new wiper blades). One thing that was obvious with the VRS Vs the C Max it replaced is that I probably never got over 50% throttle the whole journey, and that was even with mrs_com having a go at me for hitting a "spirited 70" when joining the M108. I genuinely didn't feel I was gunning it or doing anything stupid but when she protested and I looked at the dash it said "96". Passing anything on the way was just so low drama and effortless. The difference in tyre/wind/road noise over the C Max is game changing. I didn't touch the volume knob at all on the whole journey. In the C Max we had to shout over either the road noise or whatever we were listening to (or both) to be heard on the motorway. Got pretty bad numb arse towards the end but I get that in any seat/chair after a couple of hours so I can't really blame the VRS seats. Plus, I still have 1/3 of a tank left (after there also being about 30 miles of Croydon driving between last full up and today) so was WAAAAYYYY cheaper than the train for the 3 of us.

This trip was a bit of a test of wills of the car and the three of us for future trips back to NI via the Hollyhead-Dublin ferry, which bodes well.

great update of real condition driving. props to your skoda. no big surprises but good to hear.

fuck auto lights and wipers though. these things that make driver less engaged/engrossed are negatives as far as i am concerned. Cruise control too

My observation is that with the cruise ensuring that I’m bang on 130kph that leaves me with more mental space to observe every that is going on around me, it’s not huge for sure but it’s a reduction in workload in one area that allows more focus in others. For five hour stints this makes a difference.

Yeah, driving for more than an hour at constant speed, you need cruise control. I love the ACC in the Audi, works brilliantly and does mean I'm not worried about drifting way over the limit. Here in Australia with our archaic 110kph limit on most freeways and long distances ACC is essential.

I’m bang on 130kph

This is where I notice it. Because we've got old school CC, in the UK you're permanently adjusting it and relentlessly overtaking, working out when to overtake, etc. So most of the time it's a distraction.

In France - set to 90kph until you enter 130, set to 130kph, forget about it until you hit the peage then hit the button when you exit.

Due to the bullshitery of French opening hours we had to rent a car and drive 500km from Paris (long story) . It had CC and it was such an effortless journey. Tbf that is also French roads and not just CC. But the Tesla people I've chatted to who've done long drives down France or to the alps have all commented how they feel less tired.

fuck auto lights and wipers though. these things that make driver less engaged/engrossed are negatives as far as i am concerned.

I really don't understand how thinking about the speed of your wipers and adjusting them when say your fast A road has hit a roundabout and they're going mental, followed by then having to increase the speed as you pull away so you have the best viability makes you more engaged with the important bits of a roundabout.

and I looked at the dash it said "96"

Sounds like you need CC 😄

I'd give it a go, but it would have been no use to me joining that road and passing the lorries.

Replaced the ageing cracked tyres with new rubber. Guys at the tyre shop loved the car 😂

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Just back from a trip through France, two 6 hour driving days, couldn't have done it without cruise. Presets at 90kph and 100kph it was perfect. This was in my camper van that has speed limiter hard programmed in to the ECU so cannot be removed. Had the CC retro fitted, worth every penny. Would have liked auto lights for tunnels where legal necessity, not for seeing. Auto wipers are a nuisance, barely have to use wipers after applying gtechnic G5 water streams off even in torrential rain and vehicle spray.

I've loved adaptive cc when I've had it in a hire car, but sadly never had it long term. Auto lights just make sense.
Following @stevo_com we scrappaged our S-max to Ukraine and I'm picking up a 2014 octavia estate on weds. Only an se model so not many bells & whistles but ulez compliant and will do the next few years of uni ferrying before I can bin it off for a fun car.

The discussion I'd automation making things safer for whom?

Last play I had with a car with gizmos found it made me lazy. No need to lock or open car. Playing with the cruise control distance and even the auto brake

When I went to back an older car was a bit of a shock.

Modern ISH cars I think you enter in the safe bubble of I can go faster as I have all these safety aids. People in general are shit drivers, so many can't keep off the phone FFS.

How about making people more competent while driving?

I think there's a big difference between stuff that helps, like cc, automatic lights and emergency braking. And all the human comforts stuff.
And then there's traction control that saves you when you stomp on the pedal in an overpowered car, or when you go into a bend twice as fast as is physically possible.
There would be no AMG Mercedes left in Berlin without that.

automation making things safer for whom?

everyone.

People in general are shit drivers

agreed.

How about making people more competent while driving?

good idea but very hard to achieve - it's easier and more effective to make the vehicles more competent.

So my old Audi was sold today. The buyer, a mechanic, called to collect it in this. It's not his - he was doing some work on it. Unfortunately I was at work and didn't get to see it close up (pic is from Ring door bell). Apparently one of three factory red cars and worth a significant amount of money!
Amused me that he appears and pays £450 for my Audi in it 😀

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Ford RS200. Probably worth 6 figs if original

Brings my attention to one of the first 5 things euromillions me buys would be an escort cosworth lux in mallard green.

Silly Old Ford’s are great

It's original. Value is over £300k - maybe £350k.
Slightly more that my Audi 😂😂

Don't think I've ever seen one not in the rally livery

Hmmm - expensive rare motor he's doing some work on and he's driving it around for personal use? Well dodgy.

Gotta do a road test I suppose