[Donkey Oatie]

As someone who didn’t know he had a heated screen on his Alhambra a few years ago…Have cars got too gimmicky? My X1 has more functions than I ever use. It takes for ever to reset tyre pressure sensors.now I read it has launch control …….!!? I still struggle with not having to use a key in the ignition. fair enough if it was keyless entry too but.. you have the fob in your hand to unlock, then you get in the car, put the key somewhere start the car and when you stop you have to search for the fob. I think most of the “features” in new cars are for the benefit of the journos who have to have something new to rave about. Bring back the Morris Oxford and Michelin maps.

Topic

[Philjb]

That’s true some features are pointless.

Quite a few are very helpful if you have reduced mobility or movement, the heated screen is a godsend for me in thick frost or snow, I couldn’t reach to scrape the front screen myself.

Ive has heated front screens on my last 4 cars.

Launch control is a gimmick and could see you with points on your license if pc plod caught you using it off the lights.

Revving engines excessively or spinning wheels are now frowned upon.

Fine if you want to take your car to Santa pod.

I had a Nissan GT-R when they first came out and you could only use launch control a set amount of times or you would void any warranty?

Strange how a few years later I had an Rs6 and you could use launch control as many times as  you liked? But believe me you didn’t need it.

I keep my key fob in my pocket, never put it down in the car, so I know where it is at all times.

 

 

[Winston]

I actually bought a couple of lanyards that arrived today for my keys.

I won’t wear it over my clothes as the medallion man isn’t really my look lol

But under a top is handy so I actually know where it is, and even if I do take it off with the nylon neck part I’ve actually got a better chance of not dropping or misplacing it

I agree that some of the new tech or functions just aren’t necessary

One thing I find anmoying my new Tiguan r line tech is I’ve got the dog with me which is practically every journey and I want to nip into the petrol station etc

Then on older cars there was always a button near the drivers door you could press to disable the interior monitoring, meaning he wouldn’t set off the alarm

But in the new one, the button is no longer there and you have to go into a menu, scroll down, blah blah find the relevant option and untick it

I’m sure in time it will become. 2nd nature but when the car has menu upon menu, ( some of them pointless ) it’s nowhere near as convenient as a physical button you can quickly press on ur way out the door while you go fill up for 2 mins

Progress is progress, but when it slows you downs and becomes a pain in the arse, I wouldn’t call it progress

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Philjb]

Will admit there just are far more settings on cars these days.

I noticed a friends non 4wd Tiguan you have to go through the infotainment system to change drive select.  But on my 4wd version you can press the centre mode button on 4wd selector dial, to change between sport, eco, comfort, normal and custom, much easier if you’re on the move.

 

I tend to use pay at the pump so don’t walk off and leave the dog in a locked car. I don’t think I’ve ever used that function on any previous car?

A function i thought was just a gimmick was the auto main beam, but after the first time I tried it I realised what a great function it is, so clever how it senses oncoming cars and turns the beam away so as not to dazzle other drivers, now I use it all the time.

 

[Winston]

I always use the disable interior monitoring button, well I did when my previous cars had one

I put the back seats down and have some blankets and king size duvet to pad it out to make a little mini camper van for me and the dog on our road trips

So if we fancy a sleep or rest and want the boot closed and car locked it was always handy having that button on the door

I must admit I was looking forward to getting my hands on the new car with all the personalised settings etc

But since having it a few weeks I haven’t bothered with any of it really, I think it’s still on the display that was set when I collected it

I had the same physical button on my previous car for drive select but I just keep this always on Sport and flick between Sport and Drive on the gearbox

The headlights and that feature you mention are good though, I still get flashed now n again from drivers coming towards me but I’m used to thay from my previous car and I’m more than happy to return the favour ?

I used the ACC on the journey home from Hull but that was 3 weeks ago and I haven’t used it since

I think I’ll have to read the manual to figure out how to use it again ?

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[JS]

“What’s that button for” ?

Lol a few years back I knew someone who had a convertible and tucked away in the boot was a big red knob “DO NOT TOUCH”  so yep he went and pulled it! Didn’t seem to do anything until he realised the electric roof no longer worked as all power to it was disabled. It can be costly being curious.

[Winston]

???

What a red neck going to the dealers to admit their curiosity got the better of them ??

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[vinalspin]

Whilst driving a hire truck years ago I was on a long boring journey and started fiddling with the centre of the steering wheel as it seemed a bit loose and it popped up quite easily so ~I took it off and turned it over out of curiosity, inside was a small piece of folded paper, interesting, opened it up and it had some writing on it, “Sod off you Nosey TW#T”, I almost wet myself laughing and then folded it back up and put it back in place for the next bored driver!

I still wonder how many people had that same cheering experience before me and after?   ?

[Winston]

@philjb

Hi,

I was just in the car using OBD11 on it for the first time

I activated the ambient colours, I tried the 10 and 30

Its a nice option to have even if its only on your AID and slight border on the main infotainment display, but I noticed when you activate it that it turns of your background lighting

Have you activated the colour ambient lighting and if so is there a way around losing the background lighting?

If you know?

Cheers

 

 

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Philjb]

@winston

No I’ve not figured that out myself, I read some USA versions have switchable colours through the headset.
Not sure why we don’t get the option?

It reminds me on my 2010 Focus RS I spent hundreds of pound turning the dash and interior a smd’s from white to blue.

Then realised I preferred white. lol

Now I leave it alone once you start to fiddle you spend your time switching back and forth.

Also in this good weather and lighter evenings I’ve not really needed to use the interior lighting.

[Winston]

I’ve saw a Russian tiguan where the guy has installed the multi colour version of the lights we have and it looks fab

But it involves a lot of faffing about, faffing that’s above my level of expertise lol

I’ve got one thing that it’ll try tonight when it’s dark and see how I get on

So I’ll report back with an update

Ha those were the days! I remember when I got a mk5 gti I did the same but got the brightest smd bulbs I could find for the interior ,(  went through a few fuses aswell ) and the big switch on had the effect of staring at the sun after an eclipse!

Absolutely blinding lol, what a tube I looked ?

But you live n learn eh

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Winston]

@philjb

Just a wee update…

So I nipped outside there when it’s dark and low and behold the white background lighting is on

I checked on the main screen and  it shows background lighting Off, clicking it toggles the lights on and off but it is always displayed as Off

Must be some conflict with having the 30 colour ambient lighting activated, but that’s nothing to worry about as the both work fine

Just coudnt test the background lighting today during the day obviously

So All good in the hood!

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Rico]

Winston wrote:

One thing I find annoying my new Tiguan r line tech is I’ve got the dog with me which is practically every journey and I want to nip into the petrol station etc Then on older cars there was always a button near the drivers door you could press to disable the interior monitoring, meaning he wouldn’t set off the alarm But in the new one, the button is no longer there and you have to go into a menu, scroll down, blah blah find the relevant option and untick it …. paw patrol to the rescue… its either get out the car lock via door handle, then either 1 or 2 presses on the remote lock button that disables interior sensors bud.

[Winston]

Magic thanks mate, I’ll give that a bash

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Rico]

HA ha you can tell I got a young kid to type paw patrol to the rescue after a dog comment, I went out to car, and tested, when you get out lock the car as normal touching handle then 2 quick presses of the lock button disables interior motion sensors. How you will tell you have done it right is the led in drivers door will stop blinking.

[Winston]

That’s great Rico, thanks very much for that info, I’ve found myself using the touch handle to lock the car as its so easy and simple

So I’ll be testing out that then double click method

Much appreciated! ??

Any of tips n tricks just keep them coming lol

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Rico]

carista app and dongle for it total of £50 cost, can change throttle response from pants I dont do what you tell me to and work on gradual response to normal direct response.. improves car drivability (not sure why its not this way from factory). Also add chirps to lock and unlock (which should be option anyway) as I have lost count the amount of times I have sat on the key and opened cars or boots lol. Fob to close boot and sunroof, indicators do 5 flashes instead of 3 on light touch for lane changing (another thing that should be std as i think 3 is pointless) and a few other minor items.. But be warned there are a few options in app you dont want to do.. If any of you with tiguans are passing near canterbury let me know and I will meet up with you and do it for you.   There are other things like getting video to play on std head unit from mobile via mirror link, or from usb on pro media. handy for when your stuck in car waiting for more that 30 mins.

[Winston]

I’ve got OBD11 and I did the throttle response yesterday, I can notice the difference so that’s a good one to do

I did a few other things I did c

Rear Drls are now on during the day

Activated the option to turn all Drls off I want

Activated the colour ambient lighting ( only on the Aid and little border on the infotainment screen )

Changed the theme on the Aid a few times between R, GTI etc, current have it on GTI

I activated the needle sweep and even though it said it was successful it doesn’t sweep when I start the car, no big deal but it would nice to have

Handy bits of kit to have for 50 bucks

 

When life hands you melons...,
Make melonade!

[Author]

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