[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/irritating-car-features\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/irritating-car-features\/","headline":"Irritating car features we could do without","name":"Irritating car features we could do without","description":"There is an unstoppable wave of technology arriving in cars today. With each new model, you can count on at least one new feature popping up that promises to make our life better in one way or another. But do we even need them and are they all worthwhile? No. We\u2019ll answer that one for you right now. Not every new feature that becomes available is a genius idea and their irrelevance has not gone unnoticed. Here, we\u2019ve picked out […]","datePublished":"2017-08-08","dateModified":"2017-08-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/irritating-car-features\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":695,"keywords":["Audi A6","citroen DS3","Irritating car features","Peugeot 3008","touchscreen displays"],"articleBody":"There is an unstoppable wave of technology arriving in cars today. With each new model, you can count on at least one new feature popping up that promises to make our life better in one way or another.But do we even need them and are they all worthwhile?No. We\u2019ll answer that one for you right now. Not every new feature that becomes available is a genius idea and their irrelevance has not gone unnoticed. Here, we\u2019ve picked out the most pointless and irritating nuggets of tech because being mocked is the least they deserve.Touchscreen displaysNo new car dare show its front grille without having a touchscreen available, as an option at the very least. But are they absolutely necessary? That\u2019s debatable, and our view is that when they\u2019re done right, they\u2019re fantastic (VW Group, take a bow).However, less optimised systems only serve to irritate and bring down the whole car. We\u2019re speaking specifically about PSA Peugeot-Citroen\u2019s all-encompassing touchscreen, which contains controls for virtually everything in the car.Only the hazard lights, demisters and stereo volume manage to retain their physical controls and the lack of a tactile interface threatened to spoil the Peugeot 308 (an otherwise fantastic Golf rival) and the Citroen C4 Cactus (a kooky, affordable and lovable crossover). Each fingerpress on the touchscreen can take several seconds to register if the system isn\u2019t on the ball at that moment, quickly creating frustration, impatience and distaste for the car that grows by the second.The fact that the system is the gateway to everything from the air con to the stereo to how the car drives means it\u2019s difficult to simply disregard and it drives us potty.Motion-sensitive controlsAgain, what\u2019s wrong with knobs and twisty things? Sometimes, technology is shoved into cars for the sake of it and these are an example of tech fixing what wasn\u2019t broken.BMW\u2019s gesture control falls into this category. You\u2019re already moving your hand, so why can\u2019t that movement be to press a button or turn a dial? Because it was Hollywood\u2019s idea of the future 20 years ago so you\u2019re gonna shut up and like it.Car alarmsWhen was the last time you heard a car alarm and thought \u2018oh, I should call the police\u2019? Never. In 2017, car alarms only serve to irritate and disrupt your sleep.Electric gear shiftsBack when manual cars were the norm, everyone knew where they stood with gearboxes.Maybe you had to pull up to shift into reverse, or perhaps reverse was located below fifth or tacked on the side of sixth, but one glance at the gear knob and you knew where you were.With electric gear shifters, though, it\u2019s anyone\u2019s guess, especially when different car makers have their own layout for park, reverse, drive and neutral.Scrolling indicatorsPerhaps the most patronising bit of tech in recent memory, scrolling indicators made their debut on the Citroen DS3 but more noticeably on the Audi A6; you\u2019ll find them on the second-gen Peugeot 3008 too.The thing is, we can tell which way you want to turn because we can see which side of the car the blinking light is on. We don\u2019t need you to point it out like it\u2019s the last motel for 300 miles.Oversized key fobsUnless you have clown pockets, then it\u2019s pretty obvious why oversized key fobs will get on your nerves. Some car manufacturers are overly fond of their logo and are more than willing to big it up on their key fobs, which we then have to hobble about with in our pocket.Voice-controlled systemsSorry to keep coming back to control systems, but these are often central to a car\u2019s basic functions.Luckily, Siri-like car systems are often an optional extra, but even when they\u2019re included as standard, we\u2019d rather not ask our car to do stuff on our behalf. As with some touchscreens, voice controls are overkill and unnecessary.Which car features get on your wick? Tell us down there in the comments."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Irritating car features we could do without","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/irritating-car-features\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]