Something is Broken in the Automotive Industry

[5.0ALM]

Oh, yes.
We see this unnecessary and pointless "tech" in all new models now.
"Safety" features that are more of a distraction and hindrance than anything else.

In 2025, the automotive industry and the car economy are facing significant challenges, including regulations and pricing, as well as technology and brands straying from proven concepts. We discuss why the industry is struggling to adapt and how it affects people.

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[Cz_Ziemniak]

2010 or 2015 was probably peak car.

The 90's were great for pure involvement, but the early 2010's had so many incredible cars that its hard to top.

E60 V10 M5's, S197s, Civic Type R's, C6 vettes, Camaros, all fantastic cars.

We truly never will go back to such a time, and thats a shame.

 

[BimmerDriver]

I remember reading an article many years ago about the Mercedes S class. This is their flagship model, and usually the newest latest and greatest tech shows up in that car first.

Most of the people buying those cars tend to be older and not only don't care about the tech, they don't know how to operate it.

I'm not going to watch the video (even though I respect those Geese guys, even if they are a bit savage) but I'll suggest that most of the tech that we see in cars is a matter of manufacturers trying to come up with new features to attract buyers, and just keeping up with the other guy. As for the safety features, don't you feel safer knowing that the idiot in the lane next to you playing on their phone has automatic braking to avoid hitting you in case they drop their breakfast on the floor?

 

[shubox56]

I couldn't agree more! Like our iPhone or Android cell, our cars have now entered the world of "planned obsolescence". it's only a matter of time before the tech within newer models will fail to be supported leaving customers with expensive repairs or no repair option at all.

Will there be a third party solution(s)? Possibly, but replacing outdated tech is no inexpensive task.

 

[Gojiras breath]

I think a lot of the changes are a result of the trend to autonomous driving. Electric steering allows computer to turn the wheel as evidenced in lane keeping system. Drive by wire, collision prevention (brakes), self parking, trailer assist, the 360 camera and adaptive cruise also. Those systems combined is basically self driving.

 

[Deleted member 64156]

G’day Mate!

Our EV’s both @ 30k+ miles have literally been maintenance free. The only thing done so far to both has been to replace the cabin filter and put on one new set of tires each. I believe EV’s are going to put the dealerships out of business since they rely on their service departments as a source of income to float them. FYI on an EV you don’t even need to use the brakes! Less moving parts makes for better reliability. And if you set up a home stage-2 charging station you’ll be all set and independent. Gas/charging station out of business!!! Done and Done!!!! Bring on the tech!!!! I predict we’ll buy directly from the factory and all those clowns of sales people and service workers will have to find real jobs, saving us consumers 10’s of thousands of dollars.

 

[Deleted member 64156]

I think a lot of the changes are a result of the trend to autonomous driving. Electric steering allows computer to turn the wheel as evidenced in lane keeping system. Drive by wire, collision prevention (brakes), self parking, trailer assist, the 360 camera and adaptive cruise also. Those systems combined is basically self driving.

All those systems that affect your driving experience can be turned off from behind the wheel. I really like the 360 camera and back up camera for getting into a parking spot cleanly with spacing to avoid door dings from other cars. Before this process could take a few minutes, but now I can accomplish the job in a few seconds. Also the accident avoidance tech has kicked in a time or two on the street and saved my bacon. And at the track all that is shut off easily from behind the wheel. On insurance policies, all these technologies are questions inquired about, and if are on our vehicles, then our premiums are lower.

 

[Yamazuki]

Oh how I'd love to poke this bear, but in the end I know it's just not worth the time or effort.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

Though my infotainment screen doesn't bother me as near as much as I had thought it would, I miss knobs for AC/Heat adjustments.

They blame phones for distracted driving, but then put a friggin ipad on the dash and I now have sub menus to navigate just to do turn the AC up.

 

[LouG]

G’day Mate!

Our EV’s both @ 30k+ miles have literally been maintenance free. The only thing done so far to both has been to replace the cabin filter and put on one new set of tires each. I believe EV’s are going to put the dealerships out of business since they rely on their service departments as a source of income to float them. FYI on an EV you don’t even need to use the brakes! Less moving parts makes for better reliability. And if you set up a home stage-2 charging station you’ll be all set and independent. Gas/charging station out of business!!! Done and Done!!!! Bring on the tech!!!! I predict we’ll buy directly from the factory and all those clowns of sales people and service workers will have to find real jobs, saving us consumers 10’s of thousands of dollars.

That's a tad harsh. I spent 5 years doing my mechanics apprenticeship on low wages while I was being trained in order to be a qualified, capable fixer of peoples vehicles.
I thought it was a "real" job. How stupid of me.
As for EV's reliability? Wait and see. Tesla hasn't done so well, and dead battery time will be coming up for a lot of the others.
Then see how much the few remaining Techs who didn't go to real jobs will charge you because they can.

 

[LouG]

I hate the modern safety nannies with a passion. Excluding ABS, none of us have the skill to modulate brakes properly in an emergency in traffic.
The last near miss I had several years ago would have been a real crash if my car had autonomous emergency braking.
If you need the nannies to save you, you f**ked up in the first place.
And, I don't need a bong to tell me the engines running, or a door is open. When I do, it'll mean I'm not fit to drive.

 

[Deleted member 64156]

That's a tad harsh. I spent 5 years doing my mechanics apprenticeship on low wages while I was being trained in order to be a qualified, capable fixer of peoples vehicles.
I thought it was a "real" job. How stupid of me.
As for EV's reliability? Wait and see. Tesla hasn't done so well, and dead battery time will be coming up for a lot of the others.
Then see how much the few remaining Techs who didn't go to real jobs will charge you because they can.

Not too harsh considering that two different dealerships on two different occasions adjusted our car’s alignment out of whack creating a dangerous handling car. Just last month my car was in for an oil change and I asked for the alignment to be checked. The tech said he didn’t have time to make any adjustments. I looked under the hood and saw that the adjustable camber plate had been moved. I drove straight to Big-O and we saw that they had f’d up the alignment maliciously. I have the alignment sheets from the dealership and from big-o as proof.

 

[Deleted member 64156]

Not too harsh considering that two different dealerships on two different occasions adjusted our car’s alignment out of whack creating a dangerous handling car. Just last month my car was in for an oil change and I asked for the alignment to be checked. The tech said he didn’t have time to make any adjustments. I looked under the hood and saw that the adjustable camber plate had been moved. I drove straight to Big-O and we saw that they had f’d up the alignment maliciously. I have the alignment sheets from the dealership and from big-o as proof.

As far as batteries go. If you are not willing to invest in a stage-2 home charging system then of course the heat damage from fast charging stations is going to ruin the batteries.

 

[Deleted member 64156]

Oh how I'd love to poke this bear, but in the end I know it's just not worth the time or effort.

What? Having a different opinion is offensive to you? I know there are a lot of hateful people on this forum. And I know if you have an opinion outside of what is expected, you are subjected to bullying. So thanks for showing some restraint even though your inclination is to be hurtful and/or belittling.

 

[LouG]

Not too harsh considering that two different dealerships on two different occasions adjusted our car’s alignment out of whack creating a dangerous handling car. Just last month my car was in for an oil change and I asked for the alignment to be checked. The tech said he didn’t have time to make any adjustments. I looked under the hood and saw that the adjustable camber plate had been moved. I drove straight to Big-O and we saw that they had f’d up the alignment maliciously. I have the alignment sheets from the dealership and from big-o as proof.

So damn everyone in the trade because you ran into two arseholes?
Hardly fair is it?
Anyway, points have been made.

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