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.
***
Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.
I don’t see the push to start being any better or more secure than a key ,at the contrary it’s an extra theft risk !
To many of these “conveneince and safety” items are distracted driving at its finest. Another drawback to many of the current items are the fact that they are part of an integrated system where one system affects another’s operation. I wonder: Why do we need to have transmissions that you hope engage in park when you twist the knob – and hope that it is actually in park? Why does my 15 y/o car that’s worth $2500 still need coded anti-theft electronic ign keys?
The phrase is “down the RABBIT hole” not wormhole.
My girl has the same lament when driving her slick Miata in a world of rolling “Monolith Monsters,” to borrow from the 1957 sci-fi flick.
I really like the distancing cruise control. It makes highway driving so much better and safer. I feel they should all act the same way and do the same thing because I had a Honda ridgeline that acted a lot different than the cruise control system in the Porsche. it is also very helpful to maintain a low speed, such as in a school zone where you don’t creep up past the limit, I absolutely love it . Everyone talked about the cool seats, but the massaging seats are a must have for me now too no matter what the temp. I’ll put the massage on high And add a little heat and it’s amazing how much better you feel at the end of a long drive
I think the Only “New” things I’d like to add to my 63 are—Backup Camera/ Bluetooth& Air/
I yearn for a front mounted camera or device that lets me know I am close enough to one of those concrete barriers in parking lots. My BMW M2 is very low in front and this would allow me to park closely without touching the barriers.
Yeah bmw is not generous with tech on the lower number m cars the 5 and up have a pretty good system but I got to give them credit. The tech in the Hyundai is better than in both of my other German cars. And I did not have to pay extra for it
Agree with all the examples given except drive train. Ford turbo truck engines are prone to fail at 100K miles or less. GM Fuel management system on their Trucks leads to valve failures , and in some cases total engine failure.
I drove a 2002 GMC Yukon with 5.3 V8 to 150,000 miles and is till was tight when I sold it. I had a Ford Lariat prior to that the the inline 6 cylinder. You could not kill that motor with an axe. Government regulations created the pressure for these changes. American manufacturers did not take (or have) the time to get it right . It’s a shame that the best engine in production today is a Toyota 4 cylinder .
You showed it a picture at the beginning of the article but s screen that shows the appropriate lane when you signal to turn is just great. I know the Hyundai has it
My 57 t-bird has (factory) start only when the trans is in neutral Not park. A 20 year old will NEVER figure that one out.
rear view cameras – YES. LED lights – NO – especially on jacked up pickups behind you at night.
auto up/down windows – YES -but only if ALL of them do it.
AUTO Start BUTTON – Depends – friend is constantly misplacing her keys because she doesn’t have to stick it in the ignition. imo, BAD for absent minded and older people.
Push to start button fine if you also have to stick key in a hole. (say what?)
Bluetooth? Very often glitchy and unreliable… and why add more EMF pollution to the situation?
Too tough to call on any of this. There are positives and negatives to the argument. Too much tech is just more distracted drivers. Bright LED lights are horrific for night driving where I live in Southern British Columbia where rain at night is frequent which has never been an optimum driving situation. The new lights succeed in completely blinding on-coming drivers. I like the Bluetooth music option for old cars. I really like that idea.
I think this all has to be kept in perspective and context. Driving a vintage car in it’s time was easier as the roads were less populated. Today’s traffic almost anywhere for drivers in new or old cars is far more challenging. Driving has become a guarantee and no longer a privilege of those with the skills to drive well. This has placed far more very poor drivers on our roads, many are new to our western world and may be under-skilled or acquired their skills in countries with far different driving habits than ours. Add many tech distractions to the equation and you have some skilled drivers and some poor drivers all immersed in technology and not the road. I recall when I was a kid growing up in the 70s, there were a lot of older folks around my family who not only thought the 8-track players were too much distraction but many deleted the radios entirely when they ordered a new car as they did not want those dangerous distractions. Again, perspective.
The first time I saw a “start button” was in a new BMW on the showroom floor. I quickly checked the floor to the left of the brake pedal and expected to see a ‘headlight dimmer switch’. Guess that’s next or maybe ‘curb feelers’ for the front bumpers that love to tangle with the cement parking stop blocks.
The first time I saw a ‘start button’ located on a dash was in a BMW on the dealers showroom floor. I immediately checked to see if there was a ‘headlight dimmer switch’ on the floor to the left of the brake petal. Maybe next will be ‘curb feelers’ on the chins of the front bumpers to protect them from getting tangled up with those cement parking stop blocks found too often in parking lots.
Well , getting older and still love to drive . I half to say I love my 2023 Toyota Tacoma Limited , last of the 3rd generation . Came stock with all the bells and whistles , lets me know when I’m drifting / going to hit something all the way around the truck . My favorite is the Panoramic 4 camera system / no more curbing / perfick parking . LOVE new stuff . Mar J.