[TodmordenLad]

Was passing my local Audi dealership and stopped to take a look at the new Audi A5 Avant.
Very nice looking thing in the flesh, although it's grown somewhat! Inside, however, there isn't a physical button in sight. Screens galore , with one for the passenger too, ffs. I'm know I'm getting ancient and probably out of touch but I find this a real turn off. I remember my first Saab, which was a masterclass in ergonomics. Anyone else lamenting the onward march of "progress"?

[boba-fett]

We have the Range Rover, and its all touch screen. just to turn the heater blower up is a faff. I hate it and more importantly its distracting.

[Alscoob]

They'll nick you for messing with your mobile on the go, but its okay to set the aircon, turn the heated seats up, alter the fan and enter your new sat nav destination on the bigger screen on the go, especially when the voice activation doesn't understand!!

Knobs is what is needed the more the better as you know where your knob is and you don't have to look at it to operate it....... (steady.. you know what I mean)

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

They'll nick you for messing with your mobile on the go, but its okay to set the aircon, turn the heated seats up, alter the fan and enter your new sat nav destination on the bigger screen on the go, especially when the voice activation doesn't understand!!

Knobs is what is needed the more the better as you know where your knob is and you don't have to look at it to operate it.......

I nearly went straight into a car which stopped this morning without indicating whilst I was changing radio station on the touchscreen. Audi Presense saved the day, in this case by applying the brakes. Its a great bit of tech. The touchscreen isn't.

[KRS_SN]

Touchscreens are senseless. The idrive know is my go to. Climate control button's absence is a pain i have to take my eyes off the road to increase fan speed and click through menus to do that which is ridiculous.

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

Touchscreens are senseless. The idrive know is my go to. Climate control button's absence is a pain i have to take my eyes off the road to increase fan speed and click through menus to do that which is ridiculous.

It is.
I was watching the Harry's Garage review of the new M5 last night. The dashboard! What a total nightmare! Silly amount of ambient lighting, which changes colour based on drivetrain settings, and touchscreen for everything. As tasteless as a modern Merc, and that's saying something.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

It is.
I was watching the Harry's Garage review of the new M5 last night. The dashboard! What a total nightmare! Silly amount of ambient lighting, which changes colour based on drivetrain settings, and touchscreen for everything. As tasteless as a modern Merc, and that's saying something.

The word is ambient but not to take over the visual field jarringly! Yanni totally liked it in a carwow video which says something...

[335dX]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

The word is ambient but not to take over the visual field jarringly! Yanni totally liked it in a carwow video which says something...

Yes, whilst successful at popping stickers on cars and making rich people pay lots of money for them and 'influencing', i feel he has exactly 2 brain cells, both trying to come third.

As for touch screens in cars for any other than radio and navigation, they should be consigned to history just like yanni.

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by 335dX

Yes, whilst successful at popping stickers on cars and making rich people pay lots of money for them and 'influencing', i feel he has exactly 2 brain cells, both trying to come third.

As for touch screens in cars for any other than radio and navigation, they should be consigned to history just like yanni.

I'd never heard of this bloke Yianni. Looked him up and watched him for a couple of minutes. That was sufficient. What a plank. .

[bishbosh]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

I'd never heard of this bloke Yianni. Looked him up and watched him for a couple of minutes. That was sufficient. What a plank. .

Yeah, he often goes head to head with Mat Watson, seems to have made his money cling filming cars.

Edit: I also believe he had a Tesla Cybertruck that was impounded as illegal to be used on the road here.

But back to the A5, I had to have a look at the interior.
How many screens does one need? Tech for tech's sake.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by TodmordenLad

I nearly went straight into a car which stopped this morning without indicating whilst I was changing radio station on the touchscreen. Audi Presense saved the day, in this case by applying the brakes. Its a great bit of tech. The touchscreen isn't.

The irony with the A4 (as I found out the other day) is that you can't touch the sat nav while the car is moving, but everything else on the touchscreen is fair game.

With our new Focus, everything is on the screen. To turn the fan up or down you have to find the little icon at the bottom of the screen (it's tiny), touch that, then wait for the 'fan screen' to load, then touch a stupid fake 'slider' icon and concentrate as it's not easy to operate. Takes about ten seconds of not looking where you are going just to adjust the fan!

[Pond]

Oh and another thing....
Most cars have a 'user manual' built into the computer instead of a book.
So how are you supposed to find how to use the screen when the only instructions are within the screen, which I don't know how to use?

[TodmordenLad]

[QUOTE=Pond;31859514]The irony with the A4 (as I found out the other day) is that you can't touch the sat nav while the car is moving, but everything else on the touchscreen is fair game.


You can talk to it though 😂
I never use the audi's sat nav anyesy, always use waze because it offers the benefit of speed camera and police presence warnings
The Focus' screen "solution" sounds like a nightmare

[bishbosh]

I'm in the process of trading in my 335d, it's age is starting to show and even though it drives nicely and is fine for the time being, i'm aware there are a lot of expensive things that can go wrong! It's currently on 176k miles so only worth about £3.5-£4k.

I'm actually trading it in for something more practical - a Kia Sportage with level 3 trim so a good spec, some may say a step backwards but if progress is wrap around touchscreens then I'm happy to stick in the past!

I'll miss the iDrive, pro nav on a non-garish screen. No touch screen and solid buttons. Can remember the buttons on the controller by feel and only requires the slightest glance to look at the screen.

[bishbosh]

[QUOTE=TodmordenLad;31859528]

Originally Posted by Pond

The irony with the A4 (as I found out the other day) is that you can't touch the sat nav while the car is moving, but everything else on the touchscreen is fair game.


You can talk to it though 😂
I never use the audi's sat nav anyesy, always use waze because it offers the benefit of speed camera and police presence warnings
The Focus' screen "solution" sounds like a nightmare

Agree - touchscreens are a solution looking for a problem.

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by bishbosh

I'm in the process of trading in my 335d, it's age is starting to show and even though it drives nicely and is fine for the time being, i'm aware there are a lot of expensive things that can go wrong! It's currently on 176k miles so only worth about £3.5-£4k.

I'm actually trading it in for something more practical - a Kia Sportage with level 3 trim so a good spec, some may say a step backwards but if progress is wrap around touchscreens then I'm happy to stick in the past!

I'll miss the iDrive, pro nav on a non-garish screen. No touch screen and solid buttons. Can remember the buttons on the controller by feel and only requires the slightest glance to look at the screen.

It's a challenge
When I change my Audi in a few years time, I can see myself buying an older used car than I would usually consider because of the dashboard interface. HVAC physical controls are a must have for me.

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by bishbosh

Yeah, he often goes head to head with Mat Watson, seems to have made his money cling filming cars.

He's been on the TV too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f00jhz

[dopper99]

Remember when the Merc A Class came out in 2019. I thought WTF is that, it'll never catch on.

Now all new cars are like this.

[KRS_SN]

Some 2017 on audis have self drive/safety suites and also buttons and knob control. I do really like them as the perfect balance.

[TodmordenLad]

Originally Posted by dopper99

He's been on the TV too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f00jhz

Give me strength 🤮

[boba-fett]

Originally Posted by dopper99

He's been on the TV too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f00jhz

Nope I’m not watching.