Last year, as a surprise when we were on holiday, SWMBO rented a Mercedes EV with almost every function controlled from a touch screen.
I was not at all impressed with the touch screen.
The facelift Golf GTI has gone back to buttons on the steering wheel after customer feedback, and I was optimistic that this might be the beginning of an industry trend that touch screens have been overdone and a return to essential driving controls as physical buttons was needed.
I was very sorry to read that MB certainly don't see things that way:-
MBUX Hyperscreen is one of the highlights in the EQS. It represents the emotional intelligence of the all-electric upper-class model: the large, curved screen unit stretches almost the entire width from the left to the right A-pillar. In addition to its sheer size, the high-quality, detail-loving design also provides a “wow” effect.!!
We all know that it’s illegal to touch, hold or use a phone, sat nav, tablet, while driving and even when
stopped at traffic lights
queuing in traffic
supervising a learner driver
driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving ("Stop/Start")
holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode
It seems absurd that one can, and in many cases must use a (mega) screen on the car to perform basic or essential functions.
This is particularly absurd when that mega screen mirrors the screen on one's mobile 'phone enabling one to use all the functions including making calls, using a sat nav app. etc....
12th Jan 2024 11:27 am
MrTed
Member Since: 06 Jan 2023
Location: Rickmansworth
Posts: 190
Agreed! Tactile feedback and muscle memory to turn dials and click switches is far safer than hunting around a touch screen.Discovery 4 HSE late 2015 Euro6
Jaguar XF Portfolio (PX'd for above)
Mitsubishi Galant V6 (PX'd for above)
Instagram: @mrtedgfx
12th Jan 2024 11:46 am
MrTed
Member Since: 06 Jan 2023
Location: Rickmansworth
Posts: 190
....and if a salesperson at Mercedes quoted the 'emotional intelligence' remark at me I would turn around and walk out of the showroom laughing Discovery 4 HSE late 2015 Euro6
Jaguar XF Portfolio (PX'd for above)
Mitsubishi Galant V6 (PX'd for above)
Instagram: @mrtedgfx
12th Jan 2024 11:52 am
Scott #55
Member Since: 15 Apr 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 1683
SWMBO got a new(ish) Evoque recently, with the one-panel-fits-all controls. It's far too easy to switch on hill descent control when trying to change the cabin temp. And I have no idea what the various options are for climate etc, or how to access them.
My D4 is now 14 years old, but the old knobs-and-dials interior is a hell of a lot easier to use, and offers pretty much the same functionality.
12th Jan 2024 12:48 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
Agreed about safety, there is no substitute for a button. There is a very, very good reason why all the important controls in a commercial airliner are still tactile, chunky switches with good positive action and visual and audio feedback. My brother flies Dreamliners and whilst the tech inside the flight deck is truly extraordinary, unlike anything before it, you'll find all the safety critical and regularly used controls have their own dedicated button, dial or switch.
Something that serves your muscle memory well, with feedback, is essential.
I love the chunky buttons on the D3. I have a BMW i4 with a wrap-around touch screen that controls everything. The tech is impressive, but I can confidently say that it is way less safe on the road. In the D3 I can adjust heating, seats, radio, etc genuinely without taking my eyes off the road. In the BMW its a very different story, having to distract my eyes consistently.
That said, the one thing I really do love a lot in the BMW is the heads-up display. It has speed, speed limit info, nav directions, call status etc on it. Fully user-adjusted and I find it immensely helpful.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 04 Jan 2023
Location: North Essex
Posts: 676
When I was looking to buy the MG5 I did watch a few reviews on it.
Almost all were in favour of the proper switches used in the driver "cockpit" vs the feel-less screen touch controls with options often buried in sub menus.
On the negative side they though the grill was dated despite being the same as many other cars on the market with chromed horizontal bars.A visitor from the dark side, my other vehicle is an is still an EV. Strictly speaking its SWMBO.
12th Jan 2024 5:14 pm
Shaun R.
Member Since: 13 Sep 2016
Location: Warlingham, Surrey
Posts: 145
DIY Ace wrote:
In the D3 I can adjust heating, seats, radio, etc genuinely without taking my eyes off the road. In the BMW its a very different story, having to distract my eyes consistently.
Same here, even more so with my D2. I often drive the D4 with the screen saver on as I find it distracting at times.
12th Jan 2024 11:26 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14385
I prefer buttons to screens. Driving my daughter's D3 and operating the controls is a lot less distracting and safer than my Defender. Same with my wife's T-Cross.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
12th Jan 2024 11:40 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8134
SWMBO has an Evoque 24MY with the Pivi Pro centre screen that has no physical buttons. It's a thing of beauty but the old upper/lower screen with the large rotary dials with multiple actions if pressed/pulled/rotated were much easier and intuitive to use.
Now have to dive into menu's with screen buttons too close to each other and easy to press wrong one following a look, line finger up, stab, look back and it's wrong screen button hit
16th Jan 2024 5:38 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Forget touchscreens, even buttons, I still prefer winders.
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Great ……. another mod for the D4.
I’ll add that to the list: wind up windows, wind up seats, wind up radio …. oh and wind up post.
16th Jan 2024 6:51 pm
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1729
just get yourself a series 3 LR Ronp.... so analogue even the owners manual is on slate2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
17th Jan 2024 7:56 am
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 398
Even these new-fangled wind-up windows are too slow on dusty roads. When you come round a corner and meet something coming the other way you can only get the windows half-way up before the cabin is full of dust - the old sliding windows were so much better, just a quick flick and it was shut! Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
17th Jan 2024 9:03 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15263
Now that is a dashboard.
They certainly don’t make em like they used to.
Got some real soul versus these touchscreens in modern day automotive appliances.
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