[Mgs] Ridiculous nw cars

Barrie Robinson barrob at bell.net
Tue Mar 10 13:50:39 MDT 2020 

One of my most favourite car trips was from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore in 
a TR2.   Wind in my hair, sun beating down on me, totally devoid of 
useless information and just a simple dial for revs and speed.   No 
flashing screens , no awkward pointing at a glass plate, no googled eye 
searches - Just joy of the engine noise and driving.   All this while 
not worrying about the terrorists pinging at me - well.it was 1953 
during the "Emergency" (not described as war for political reasons).   I 
do feel sorry for those having to drive in a "modern"car !!!

HOWEVER, I do have tach(one wire connection) and speedo(GPS fed) from 
SpeedHut in my MGB GT V8.

Barrie

On 3/10/2020 3:02 PM, Max Heim via Mgs wrote:
> As a designer with experience in human factors design and UX design, I 
> can state that digital numeric speedometer displays are completely 
> inappropriate. The constant flickering of numerals (64,65,66,65) 
> conveys zero information and distracts the eye from the road. 
> Personally, I think they should be banned. With an analog needle (or a 
> digital representation of an analog needle), these tiny variations in 
> speed are unnoticeable, and one can actually check the current speed 
> with peripheral vision detecting the rough angle of the needle, 
> without having to consciously parse individual numerals. The old LCD 
> displays were the worst, because all these numerals look the same at a 
> glance: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9. Also 1 and 7. But it doesn’t matter how they 
> gussy up the numeral font, it’s just a bad idea.
> The same goes for every instrument. Which display conveys more useful 
> information with less concentration required? “F”, or “17.9gal remaining”?
>
> Touchscreen controls are another abomination that shouldn’t be allowed 
> in automotive systems that are active while the vehicle is in motion. 
> You absolutely have to take your eyes off the road to manipulate them. 
> All active vehicle controls should feature tactile feedback, so they 
> can be operated by touch. The classic headlight push/pull knob is a 
> great example that has yet to be improved upon. The rotary stalk 
> switch on more modern cars is actually a step backward, because the 
> direction of rotation needed is not obvious.
>
> --
> Max Heim
> '66 MGB
>
>
>
>> On Mar 10, 2020, at 11:35 AM, Dan DiBiase via Mgs <mgs at autox.team.net 
>> <mailto:mgs at autox.team.net>> wrote:
>>
>> Ok, I'm going to represent the non-Luddites among us ;-) ... I love 
>> new technology and the possibilities it brings. My daughter has the 
>> newest car in our family, a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 75th 
>> Anniversary Edition, and it has every bell and whistle (and some 
>> sirens, too) available at the time. Top of the line AWD system that 
>> is settable for various surfaces (or auto), heated everything, cooled 
>> front seats, engine stop/start, gigantic screen with plenty of info 
>> available, etc. The only thing I dislike (besides the mass) is that 
>> the programmable instrument display only has a digital speedometer 
>> (for some reason, I have a hard time holding a constant speed with 
>> that thing).
>>
>> My next car will be a Tesla, either a Model 3 or a Model Y (which I 
>> prefer). I have a deposit on a Cybertruck (which I'll probably roll 
>> over to the Model Y).
>>
>> Dan D
>> '76B, '65B
>> Central NJ USA
>> http://dandibiase.cbintouch.com/
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 10, 2020 at 9:56 AM Barrie Robinson via Mgs 
>> <mgs at autox.team.net <mailto:mgs at autox.team.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>     -- Hello folks,
>>
>>     I have this gripe about new cars and this is the only big
>>     platform I have on which to sound off.   I do have my own Aston
>>     Martin Feltham Club but that is only 150 members.  I am getting
>>     exremely puzzled as my 2003 Golf is getting a bit sad although it
>>     still goes like a rocket. There is a little rust and one of the
>>     courtesy lights does not work.   However, whenever I have a look
>>     at new ones they are gadget rich and the dash is becoming like
>>     one from a 737.   Why on earth does there have to be a rear end
>>     crash avoiding system (used to be rear brake lights) as well as
>>     an unwanted-lane changing warning (used to be keeping eyes on the
>>     road) to say nothing of bluetooth (where is yellow and red?),
>>     Spotify (dog treatment?), Hands free telephone (used to be
>>     concentration on the road) and the dreaded in your face screen
>>     which like today's TV and Internet is intent on delivring
>>     information you don't really need (when did you last ponder over
>>     your oil temperature?).    So instead of forking out $30-40,000 I
>>     am going to have the Golf all tarted up and enjoy another 170k
>>     kilometers.   The only regret will be - it does not have a
>>     powered rear end tailgate - but maybe I could get that
>>     retro-fitted!   And in this day and age electonic/electrical
>>     gadgets die first ($$$$$)- and Lucas smoke is unattainable now.
>>
>>     I like my MGB GT so much that maybe another as a 'family' car
>>     could be an alternative - but not 100% restored just road worthy
>>     and oiled up to the hllt to counter winter driving conditions.
>>     Trouble is I would want to drop in a Rover V8 as the engine bay
>>     was made for it on later cars - and the broom broom is so much
>>     better. Or I coul find a Golf owned by a little old lady with a
>>     tiny mileage.  OMG, I am a little old man (I will not get a sex
>>     change) with a low mileage Golf !!!!  Oh sherbert - now what do I
>>     do?
>>
>>     Barrie
>>     _______________________________________________
>>
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>
>
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