Comments on: The Eight Worst New Car Features http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/ The usability blog of John S. Rhodes Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:48:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: kushko http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5868 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5868 How about a radio that stays on until you open the driver's door more than 6 inches!<br /> <br /> I had my car stolen and got a rental car. It took me at least 2 minutes to figure out how to turn the radio off in the rental the first time I stopped the car! Even the regular power switch didn't work.<br /> <br /> The worst "old" feature of many cars I hate is the location of the turn signal stalk usually too far to reach and still keep your hand on the steering wheel. The rented Cavalier had this problem, yet my 1988 Honda CRX and 1999 Dodge Caravan have excellent placement of the turn signal stalk...<br /> <br /> <br /> Kevin<br /> How about a radio that stays on until you open the driver’s door more than 6 inches!

I had my car stolen and got a rental car. It took me at least 2 minutes to figure out how to turn the radio off in the rental the first time I stopped the car! Even the regular power switch didn’t work.

The worst “old” feature of many cars I hate is the location of the turn signal stalk usually too far to reach and still keep your hand on the steering wheel. The rented Cavalier had this problem, yet my 1988 Honda CRX and 1999 Dodge Caravan have excellent placement of the turn signal stalk…

Kevin

]]> by: driptray http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5869 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5869 <p>Seatbelts are the worst feature ever to have been built into cars. They make the car occupants safer, therefore encouraging faster, more reckless driving, which reduces the safety of other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. <p>I'm serious. As somebody who uses a bicycle for regular transport, seatbelts have been a disaster. Seatbelts are the worst feature ever to have been built into cars. They make the car occupants safer, therefore encouraging faster, more reckless driving, which reduces the safety of other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

I’m serious. As somebody who uses a bicycle for regular transport, seatbelts have been a disaster.

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5870 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5870 <b>GM's always-on parking lights</b><br /> This is actually a good thing. In several European countries you are forced by law to always have the lights on. Apparently some studies have showed that this reduce the number of accidents. <br /><br /> <b>Toyota's back-up alarm.</b><br /> In a van made by Citroen (French car) the alarm sounds like bird song. That have to be one of the worst usability mistakes in car history. <br /><br /> <b>Belt Minder</b><br /> This is actually a Swedish idea. Volvo were the first cars to have "belt minders". But only as a small warning light on the dashboard. I guess it is typically for American car manufacturers to take a good European idea and turn into something totally useless and annoying :-) <br /><br /> <b>Pacifying features</b><br /> Radar-guided parking, intelligent cruise control and other pacifying features may not be dangerous by itself, but a collection of such features makes it easier for drivers to loose attention to their driving and they may not be able to react fast enough to unexpected events. The question that have to be asked in such cases: "Does the benefits of this feature out weight the disadvantage?". I would guess that many features wouldn't be introduced if that question had be asked. The only question car manufacturers is interested in is: "Will this feature sell more cars?". <br /><br /> --<br /> Kjetil Wikestad<br /> http://blogs.psykologi.org/wikestad GM’s always-on parking lights
This is actually a good thing. In several European countries you are forced by law to always have the lights on. Apparently some studies have showed that this reduce the number of accidents.

Toyota’s back-up alarm.
In a van made by Citroen (French car) the alarm sounds like bird song. That have to be one of the worst usability mistakes in car history.

Belt Minder
This is actually a Swedish idea. Volvo were the first cars to have “belt minders”. But only as a small warning light on the dashboard. I guess it is typically for American car manufacturers to take a good European idea and turn into something totally useless and annoying :-)

Pacifying features
Radar-guided parking, intelligent cruise control and other pacifying features may not be dangerous by itself, but a collection of such features makes it easier for drivers to loose attention to their driving and they may not be able to react fast enough to unexpected events. The question that have to be asked in such cases: “Does the benefits of this feature out weight the disadvantage?”. I would guess that many features wouldn’t be introduced if that question had be asked. The only question car manufacturers is interested in is: “Will this feature sell more cars?”.

–
Kjetil Wikestad
http://blogs.psykologi.org/wikestad

]]> by: Anonymous http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5871 Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.webword.com/wp/2004/07/14/the-eight-worst-new-car-features/#comment-5871 I think the engine is the worst feature. I mean, before cars had engines, they moved very slowly and were therefore very safe for both their occupants and any pedestrians and cyclists. I think the engine is the worst feature. I mean, before cars had engines, they moved very slowly and were therefore very safe for both their occupants and any pedestrians and cyclists.

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