Son has borrowed a Nissan Qashqai from the office and called round to show me.
Its a diesel with keyless, stop start and on big wheels. Not sure which model it is but lots of toys.
I was impressed with the display of the outside world plus the overlay guides like head up displays on fast jets. Views are driven by four cleverly built in small external cameras.
One in each door mirror, one above the rear number plate and the final one in the front Nissan badge. No wonder it has auto fold door mirrors ( that fold out when the drivers door is opened.)
If the engines has stopped, undoing the drivers seat belt starts the engine. I assume this is a reminder to press the stop engine button ?
How things have advanced compared with my old X type and how many features are being fitted lower down the food chain.
A taste of what I am missing especially as I have not hired a car for 5/6 years.
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To those of us with cars designed in a previous decade (one of mine first appeared in 2005, the other in 2002) it can come as a bit of a shock how much clever new stuff is taken for granted in more modern machines. My BMW has plenty of toys but no iDrive or navigation system - not that I have much use for them, but it makes a loan car that bit more of an adjustment.
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I doubt you will find a hire car with all those gadgets. Hire car tend to be from towards the bottom of the manufacturers range. Gadget laden cars tend not to be economic as hire vehicles and as you say customers find them confusing.
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Many of these gadgets detract from the basic task of driving. I suppose that automatic parking and all round cameras might be of use to an incompetent. Mirrors and eyes work for me.
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Ah but we incompetents will take all the helps we can get ON. Lacking your vastly superior technical skills and X ray vision I quite like the idea of being able to see if anything is in the blind spots when reversing. Just have reversing sensors at the moment and would not buy another car without them.
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I was not aware that their camera system has been around for four years.
I am surprised it has not attracted more publicity.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V06d1co4pk8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrPbJWtUb_Q
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I can understand the use of reversing sensors or a camera on vehicles with limited rearward vision. I cannot understand why they are fitted to a Fiat 500 though, you can almost reach out and touch the rear bumper! Although maybe as fitted to my relatives 500 they were an optional extra. Doesn't improve her parallel parking though ( unwarranted sexist comment)
Cameras are an excellent idea on larger camper vans, and I suppose are a valid safety feature. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for a camera if buying new, but would be quite happy to have one on a pre owned car which I bought. Even my new ( old) second gen Focus has 4 reversing sensors.
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" I cannot understand why they are fitted to a Fiat 500 though, you can almost reach out and touch the rear bumper! "
When you have reversed over your neighbours cat you will understand.
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Serious question.
Would reversing sensors pick up a feline which is walking across the back of a 500? Or any car for that matter.
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Obviously not the back of the actual car, and my relative would be most dis chuffed if a feline used the canvas roof on her 500 as a scratching post.
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I'm off to round up next door's cat for a practical test. I will let you know.
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>> Would reversing sensors pick up a feline which is walking across the back of a 500? Or any car for that matter.
No idea, but my reversing camera saw the wooden post that my parking sensors failed to notify me about.
Last edited by: VxFan on Fri 10 Jun 16 at 12:46
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It is all part of general dumbing down, some people will have one hell of a shock if or when the internet, mobile phone, and / or satnav systems go down for any reason. The car gadgets make people reliant and lazy drivers. A novel idea is looking into a space you are going to reverse into.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 10 Jun 16 at 13:19
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I aint got a 'smart' phone or a satnaff, but I do have reversing sensors ... me mince pies!
:o}
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. A novel idea is looking into a space you are going to reverse into.
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That's why I like this forum. You get valuable tips from real experts like ON
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Fri 10 Jun 16 at 13:39
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Too many cats round ear but it's toddlers you have to look out for. Lots of young mums passing at nursery time, usually pushing a trolley whilst the brat runs on ahead.
I have no chance of seeing one waiting for mum behind the Vitara with it's big spare wheel hung on the door. I always wait for half a minute and reverse out very slowly.
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Never had reversing sensors on a car before, but wifey's new Tiguan has them and I must admit I'm amazed how precise they are. The radio/nav screen shows a series of amber then red then thick red lines wrapped around the back of the car. With the thick red lines illuminated you're literally a couple of inches away from the object.
I was disappointed we didn't get a reversing camera - car was already built - but the screen shows guidelines that move with the steering wheel so it's just as good. An elderly neighbour opposite parks his car on the road slightly offset from our drive and the reversing sensors and guidlines mean we can usually get out in one go rather than having to shuffle about.
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>>
>> Too many cats round ear but it's toddlers you have to look out for. Lots
>> of young mums passing at nursery time, usually pushing a trolley whilst the brat runs
>> on ahead.
>>
>> I have no chance of seeing one waiting for mum behind the Vitara with it's
>> big spare wheel hung on the door. I always wait for half a minute and
>> reverse out very slowly.
>>
I mitigate this risk by reversing IN and driving OUT.
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>>I mitigate this risk by reversing IN and driving OUT.>>
I'd do the same, but I have to swing to the right and park diagonally.
If I tried to reverse in and do the same manoeuvre, the paintwork would be seriously damaged by the low garden party wall...:-(
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>>I mitigate this risk by reversing IN and driving OUT.
>>
I have not reversed in for the last 35 years.
This mitigates pumping fumes at the front of the house/ front door .
A precaution as SWMBO has mild asthma.
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I'd do the same, but I have to swing to the right...
I'm surprised there's anywhere left to go.
};---)
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>> That's why I like this forum. You get valuable tips from real experts like ON
>>
Happy to oblige. :-P
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Just as well had a bit of technology in your submarine or you'd have all been putting your flippers on to get out and push... :-)
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Auto pilot and also satnav decades before Joe public even knew it existed. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 10 Jun 16 at 16:03
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Not to mention HMS Inskip.
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Among others. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 10 Jun 16 at 20:31
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>> some people will have one hell of a shock if or when the internet, mobile phone, and / or satnav systems go
>> down for any reason.
There is a thread running on the pprune pilots forum about warnings of jamming by the military and mentions that they have the ability to disrupt the system and control the off switch. I would be absolutely amazed if there is not a separate, secure military system. ;-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 12 Jun 16 at 14:55
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The only time I ever kerbed a wheel was when parking a Hyundai Sonata (i45)in Central cape Town.
Despite (because of?) the warning sensors and 'predictive tennis court' rearview camera.
Why? Because some parking loon was dancing about the car, waving, making hand signals, causing the sensors to beep erratically, and I was so busy watching his antics to avoid reversing into him that I caught the leftside front wheel on a very high kerbstone. Sorry Hyundai.
On gadgets, though, it was interesting when we spoke to Hyundai and asked why they hadn't fitted a SatNav. After all, their cars here come 'full house' with all the bits and pieces imaginable as standard, with no options.
Their reply: Because the average in-car satnav system is obselete within a year, and most cellphones can do it better.
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There was a flurry of interest in Dacias. Maybe there still is. I get that. Straightforward cars at accessible prices. Toys are nice but most of the time you don't play with them.
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>>
>> On gadgets, though, it was interesting when we spoke to Hyundai and asked why they
>> hadn't fitted a SatNav. After all, their cars here come 'full house' with all the
>> bits and pieces imaginable as standard, with no options.
>> Their reply: Because the average in-car satnav system is obselete within a year, and most
>> cellphones can do it better.
>>
>>
Just spinning you a line I reckon. They put a very nice Satnav for other markets.
www.hyundaiusa.com/sonata/interior.aspx
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>> Their reply: Because the average in-car satnav system is obselete within a year,
Strange. I've never owned an in-car satnav myself, but surely these can be updated from time to time.
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>> Strange. I've never owned an in-car satnav myself, but surely these can be updated from
>> time to time.
Yes. MB were offering a "special deal" of an update for 99 quid about a year or so back. I availed myself.
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>> >> Their reply: Because the average in-car satnav system is obselete within a year,
>>
>> Strange. I've never owned an in-car satnav myself, but surely these can be updated from time to time.
>>
The Sat Nav in my X type is TEN years old and as far as I know has not been updated in function.
At least I have never seen an mention of it in the Jaguar forums.
It runs using a Jaguar DVD disk with the maps on it etc.
An OE map disk for the UK is about £200. The last/ final disk is for 2012 and there are no alternatives so it is now frozen in time.
So with that in mind maybe a connector to allow the inbuilt screen to show a PC, phone, stand alone Sat Nav display would be available or....?
I am told it is progress :-)
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Having spent a lifetime driving about, I don't tend to need the sat nav as a map much as I know where most places are and how best to get there. Handy enough in cities though where you might be trying to find a location you've not been to before and a whole lot easier than trying to follow a printed A-Z or whatever.
What I do find very useful is the traffic jam info the modern systems provide. Knowing in advance that there's a blockage ahead which you can then try to avoid is very handy.
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>>An OE map disk for the UK is about £200. The last/ final disk is for 2012 and there are no alternatives so it is now frozen in time.
I thought of having a fitted satnav when we get around to replacing our current barge, but I don't think I'll bother now. Seems more logical to stick with road maps and smart phone, or possibly a £99 satnav from Halfords, for all the use it's likely to get.
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My thought too, CS. Navigation is the one significant extra that Dr B, the first owner of my 2012 chariot, neglected to specify, and I don't miss it. Most of its journeys are to work and home, and I know where those are. When I do need to go somewhere new - a cricket ground, for example - I'd rather plan my waypoints online first, scout the approach on Streetview and set off knowing exactly what to look for; easier to concentrate on the driving that way.
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We just bought a sat nav with lifetime updates. Don't use it a huge amount but it's very handy when we do use it. I can't say I've got a brilliant sense of direction.
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>> We just bought a sat nav with lifetime updates.
I bet you didn't pay much more for that than Duncan paid of his 'Special Deal' update.
;)
Last edited by: smokie on Sun 12 Jun 16 at 17:10
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I bet you didn't pay much more for that than Duncan paid of his 'Special
>> Deal' update.
>> ;)
I think it was about £125.
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I would say that the SatNav is the biggest advance in the promotion of marital harmony in the last 100 years.
How amazing it was when I discovered I no longer had to endure the frustration of not knowing where I was in the middle of a strange city and sitting next to my wife who had a map on her lap but was unable to read it. Tom Garmin I salute you!
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I trust that your good lady doesn't read your posts, CGN?
Last edited by: Clk Sec on Sun 12 Jun 16 at 11:32
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She doesn't but she would agree that she is hopeless at map reading and does not miss the role of navigator in any way, in particular my demands of "Left or Right - just tell me- You've got the map!"
I just love the lady with a slight lisp who lives in my Garmin and so does my wife!
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Nissan Qashqai - WillDeBeest
