According to You: New Technology You Like
Asking the Hagerty Community about new technology could have gone the wrong way, as we clearly skew to older vehicles with a more universal appeal. Modern technology is just that, a new idea aimed at addressing a problem for intenders and outsiders alike. These ideas work in theory and pass muster in many an American zip code, but do they stand the test of time?
Such a query was the underlying yet driving force behind last’s week According To You question. While I still believe that all technology over time is misused, it’s clear that some new items in “newer” vehicles are worth having. Perhaps even worth desiring, and motivating to want in your next vehicle. So let’s see what we came up with!
LED lights
DUB6: Are LEDs considered new tech? I certainly can see LED taillights and brake lights much better (especially in daylight) with my tired old eyes than the old 1157s used to provide.
TG: I would tend to agree with LEDs—except in the headlight application. They just don’t look right.
Sajeev Mehta: that’s because more people need to put LEDs (H4 sized) in Hella E-code headlights. But I am not using this forum to go down that wormhole, again.
Ray: I have improved my 61 year old car with the following: LED headlights, LED brake/turn signal lights, LED parking lights , electronic turn signal flasher, fully electronic ignition. These are all safety related items that can be easily reversed for originality. I also see a need for a back up side view camera. Do not see a real need for disc brakes. Drum for street use are very adequate. Track use I would upgrade. I have mixed feelings about fuel injection. Carburetors work fine if you or someone you know has the skill set to set them up and maintain them. The problem with this and a lot of old school equipment is that the expertise is disappearing. This opens up the door for more new technology, whether it’s better or not. My car has been at the dealership for three weeks with a no start issue. No where to plug their computer into. Its not a repair issue, its a project. I have to admit that OBD is a good new technology.
Bluetooth Transmitters
Jeepcj5: I really like the cheap bluetooth cigarette lighter FM transmitters. I don’t know how new they are, but I only found out about them in the last couple of years. Now any of my old beaters can play music from my phone as long as they have a cigarette lighter and an FM radio. For the ones that don’t, and don’t even have an FM radio, I use a bluetooth speaker.
Heated and Cooled Components
hyperv6: The best thing I like is the heated steering wheel. I hate gloves so they are great.
Sajeev Mehta: Good point. That reminds me how much I love air conditioned seats in the summertime, especially since it gets in the high 90s a lot earlier than it used to before A/C seats were common place. Not a big deal with cloth seats, but absolutely mandatory with leather thrones where I live.
Joe: Heads up display and ventilated seats.
Cameras/Blind Spot sensors
PerpetuallyUnimpressed: Blind spot monitors and backup cameras (I’m one of these blasted millennials, so ABS, traction control, and fuel injection are all a given.) Having those two is like having extra eyes without having the intrusion of “driver assistance” features.
02 original owner: Agree 100%. Every time I back my 2007 Frontier with a cap, I worry there’s something back there I can’t see with my mirrors. Same with blind spot warning: despite having all 3 mirrors adjusted properly, there are still hiding spots, especially for small, low cars and motorcycles.
Loren: When my wife died in 2020 I inherited her 2014 Honda Minivan. I swore years ago I would never own a foreign car! But my son in law said this Honda van was made in Ohio. The Ford Fusions you like are made in Mexico! It is a nice van, rides nice, handles nice, at 248 hp. It moves nice. I love the reverse camera, I leave it on when driving so I have my blind spot in view.
Powertrain Advancements
audiobycarmine: Not much for me, but engine design and fuel-delivery systems are certainly far better. Today’s efficiency and power outputs continue to amaze.
hyperv6: I also love direct injection as this was the key to unleash great power in N/A and Turbo engines. It has pushed up compression and boost levels.
Screens (In Moderation!)
kevin: I love a screen for navigation and display. No other functions.
Ross: As for NEW technology, it has to be CarPlay. First thing I want on a rental car.
Marilyn: I like the GPS systems, plus I love cruise control.
USB Ports
TG: My newest is a ’12, so I am not exactly a subject matter expert on new technology. As far as those I’m familiar with, heated seats and LEDs are definitely on the list, but the greatest is the ability to plug USB thumb drives into radios.
I despise broadcast radios for 2 key reasons: They only play three genres, and only the most popular songs in those genres, and 40% of the content is commercials or DJs talking. (I don’t have stats for that 40%, but I would bet a dozen donuts that’s not far off from the real number.)
I plug my thumb drive in and play MY music with no interruptions!
Grab Bag
Peter: Fuel injection, ABS, stability control, auto up/down power window switches, torque vectoring, regenerative braking on EVs (when blended well with physical brakes), and (if we ever get it in the USA) matrix LED headlights.
Marc: The first thing that comes to mind is the hardware/software bridge that enables Carplay and Android Auto. I can’t imagine a daily driver without those any more. Second is modern engine technologies. Direct injection, software, modern turbo-charged engines, etc. Third is the engineering that goes into modern car unibody structures.
I don’t love the increase in mass but cars are both hugely strong and stiff which benefits safety, handling and the solid feeling of cars today. I’m not a fan of modern car complexity and feature creep. Cars have become far too expensive and heavy as a result.
Push-To-Start
Prof+X: I like the push button start, but my 1940 Cadillac has that too.
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Back up camera really helped with the limited rear vision in my 1928 Ford 2-dr sedan.
One of my favorites was left off, the rotary shifter.
They were pretty dangerous on the 45 CI Army Harleys.
“PUSH TO START” is ancient technology. OE on my 49 Olds.
and later Model Ts if you count the floor switch!
Yes it was, but you had to stick in a key, first.
sorry not the same as push to START.
Older cars had push to crank motor not necessarily start. That depends on choke, ignition timing and other adjustments that were needed to START
Technically there were some Cadillacs in the 40s/50s that had push to start. It was under the gas pedal but engine vacuum disengaged Thea tarter as soon as the engine started.
“Park at top of hill to start” was a feature on some of mine!
My car has a few too many functions on the screen, but has a mix of buttons and touchscreen tech. Physical buttons are VERY important to me but the screen, as noted, is quite good for backup camera operation as well as some other functions such as CarPlay.
One of my favorite things about it is the 360º bird’s eye view of the car when I’m parking. It’s really quite helpful and was especially so when the car was new and I was getting used to it.
Anyone that’s driven a Mustang knows your blind when backing out of a parking spot at say the grocery store. So I fell in love with adding a backup camera to my 08 Mustang GT. The aftermarket stereo head unit also had hands free telephone and car play which was very nice to have also.
I did not buy an 18 Audi A5 convertible because of the screen sticking out of the dashboard…. Instead i bought an 18 Audi TT … the screen is the speedometer cluster which can be reconfigured several ways.
The TT is so far superior to the A5, it is not even funny…. the driving experience is incredible. Even the A/C… the A5’s A/C is very weak….
Adaptive Magnetic Suspension
The only one I agree with is better headlights. All the rest are conveniences but not driving essentials. You don’t need screens to carve a back road, or enjoy a cruise through town. You don’t need USB plugs, heated seats, or even a radio.
Enjoy the car, enjoy the way it sounds, the way it feels, the rawness that makes an old car fun.
The only reason I say lights is you definitely don’t want to hit a dear, the insurance side of this website doesn’t want to pay that claim.
Agree for the most part. I like to see and be seen!
I do like most of these, though I don’t see the push to start being any better or more secure than a key. I like the backup and front facing camera when maneuvering into tight spots or hopefully not hitting curbs but can do without all the cameras so that this thing can try to poorly drive itself. As for screens, screens in moderation, all screens I do not care for.
The USB port photo appears to be a Subaru, just like my spouse’s Forester. I have to say that Subaru’s arrangement of these ports is really not very good. They are underneath the center stack, and you can’t even see them without a light of some sort. Ports should be convenient, not hidden away.
And once again, I am posting ‘too quickly’. Really goofy Hagerty.
My car is a time warp machine, everything you would see is correct for that time it was made. So headlights ok, Fuel Injection, not ok. Well tuned dual strombergs look, feel and react differently than FI. Fi is objectively better but not what I’m after.
I have to say most modern rech is very convenient and reliable. Most of it makes driving and operating a vehicle an overall splendid experience. I said, most.
Heated steering wheels, heated and especially cooled seats, a plethora of cameras covering every angle of your vehicle, lane departure and control, automatic braking, adaptive cruise, auto dimming LED headlights, large info screen which is larger and clearer than my first TV, the multi-player HD surround sound system, Bluetooth, nav system, adaptive suspension system to suit your desired driving style, automatic trailer backing system, power steps, and other features make my Tundra a pleasure to drive, haul and tow. Comparing that to my 1923 Model TT (the original Ford Super Duty), is quite a shock, but also shows the extent of innovation and progress we’ve made. I don’t know if we need over a hundred sensors and computers in our vehicles like my Tundra, but they sure are nice. I just hope we can acquire the tech and knowledge at an affordable rate to restore them in coming decades.
Trash the sensors, cameras, heated and ventilated seats, auto 4 WD, and anything Bluetooth. Make a truck/car with great suspension and drivetrain, cut the price in half and let the consumer customize if they choose. Do we really need a car that reports your every move?
Exactly. I am old enough to recall the days when you could sit down with a knowledgeable salesman and go down the list of 4000 options and pick pretty much exactly what you wanted for your car/truck. Heavy duty shocks, $10, HD alternator $8, larger tires, $40, tinted glass, tinted windshield only, back up lights, outside mirrors, windshield washer, radio, power whatever. 5 or 6 engine options
California is proposing technology which would limit vehicle speed to no more than ten mph. over the speed limit. When I saw an SUV on its roof in a school zone, I thought this might not be such a bad idea after all…
BMW has a single MAX A/C button comes in handy this time a year. Their 360 camera coverage with overhead view when parking is great, as are blind spot warning indicators on side view mirrors. Convenience access and no ignition key to start key are luxury features are miss when I drive my older cars. Head’s up displays are a nice feature too.