The tech is brilliant most of it improves driving immensely. I used to drive a Vauxhall Combo van P reg Merit trim no aircon the damn thing didn’t even have power steering in a flipping van ffs. My first car was a Renault 11 sure it had gadgets like digital dash (even in 1985 lol) but no power steering and definitely no aircon.
I think for me the poverty spec of cars from the past like my dads Austin Montego no electric anything in that not even fuel injection and my experiences with growing up in cars with nothing like my Mk1 Golf, Renault 11, Combo van etc I really appreciate the luxuries now even the accursed lane keep assist has its place (just not on C roads).
If I were buying to own one maybe i’d think twice about more stuff to go wrong but when it’s not my car I don’t care I want every gadget possible especially after being spoilt with adaptive cruise control I use that every day. the 10m turning circle via the 4 wheel steer I know for a fact that would be very useful for me at least.
I get why some feel less tech is better but I wonder how many will feel the same way about a lot of these gadgets where you say just give me sat nav and parking sensors, in a few years will it be auto park added to that list as the tech proves itself? I think we all have a bit of rose tinted glasses for older cars being more reliable but imho that’s not true my Renault 11 had a design flaw that warped the carb if it got too hot and then sucked air in and would run with the key off lol. I had a brand new Ford Focus in 1999 as a company car and after 24 hours it needed a new battery, then new wiring to the HVAC as they forgot a grommit at the factory, 12k it needed a new turbo (tdi engine), endless aircon compressor rebuild kits that never fixed the problem until I had a strop and they changed the whole compressor which finally fixed it, and loads more before a new short block at 75k when shell bearings failed and nearly put a piston thru the head.
Honestly even without gadgets cars are just money pits which is why I never want to own own again
I got stuck behind an old guy parallel parking an XC90 2 days ago somehow he ended up 90 degrees across the parking space instead of in it and then proceeded to crash up and down the pavement to try and get straight instead of starting again, he could’ve driven 400 yards away and used a car park but that’s another matter if tech can help with situations like that i’m all for it, he blocked the road in both directions for around 5 minutes before parking across the pavement blocking it lol.
I see people moaning about cars they have every day, we’ve seen on here people moan about the ride on the Enyaq Sportline being to hard and crashing over potholes for example, reviews have said if anything the car is soft and wafty softer than the BYD and Tesla in road tests so there’s that.
I must go test drive one soon just for a laugh, see if I can get the skinny on Motability from the dealer as had inside knowledge from there before as my son did his work experience at that dealer so maybe if they know anything…..
Be interesting to see what mainstream stuff comes along in the next year. I’ve seen a couple of Jaecoo SUVs around Norfolk they’re huge not BEV tho so not for me.
All the best everyone