oh so it's the same principle as the mirror adjuster with the switch to control which mirror you're adjusting. Except there's no reason to do this with windows.
VW had a switch like that to select front or back. It saved just one button but the owners and reviewers hated it. Terrible decision to give such a bad experience to save a tiny amount.
I scratched ID.4 off my list because of it. All the reviews universally hated it.
There is also issues where the inputs are somehow opposite of what you intend to use it as. I think they claim that is fixed with software now though.
Evidently it has been a little under two weeks and I have completely changed my tune. So much so that I bought a 2023 Pro S AWD today. I liked everything so much that I didn't look at the window switches until I after I bought it.
The funny thing is that I went in to look at an Ariya originally. But it immediately turned me off so I looked at what else was on the lot. I liked the Ioniq 5, but that particular one has a decent amount of cosmetic damage.
I will also say I have no idea why ID.4 values are tanking so hard right now, but I took advantage of it.
Cost improvements are probably almost negligible for this, imo it’s probably them trying to make the interior appear more minimalist and sleek for aesthetic purposes since that’s what the average car buyer seems to be into right now.
I’m not a fan of the minimalist thing and like my interior to look like the cockpit of a 747, but it’s definitely something median car buyers like.
>Cost improvements are probably almost negligible for this,
Don't underestimate economies of scale. A couple bucks less per unit's an extra hundred million in the pockets of shareholders over 10 years.
Right, but of all things to minimalize (is that a word?) why this?
People will notice the giant screen and the lack of knobs and buttons for radio and HVAC. No one's going to notice two window switches has been reduced to one.
Yeah you’re probably right. I doubt it’d really make that big of an impact. I think manufacturers are just researching how to make the entire interior as close to a smooth uniform white surface as possible lol
It makes sense for mirrors because those are something you change very rarely, it's more important to save space than make it super easy. You use window switches CONSTANTLY so why the hell would you want to have to move a lever to select a window, then roll it up or down, one window at a time
Unless it was a toggle on the window itself.
Like you could press the buttons for all 4 windows and then the tab would simultaneously operate all 4. Bonus, they are perfectly symmetrical.
Now, it won't be, it will be much, much stupider than that. Which sucks. But one can hope.
Because making things harder in order to make them "cooler" has been going on for a while. My washing machine and my light switch do not need IP addresses, I don't need to push four buttons on my car to change the radio volume.
Nerds think it's cool but it's actually making life harder.
They can experiment with a cactus that stabs your asshole every 46.3 seconds too, but guess what; people know what they like, and less buttons has clearly not been how things are trending.
also
Mirrors: 2 items that move on 2 axes each. Never need to move both at the same time. Controlled by 1x 2-way rocker and 1 3-way switch where the middle option is dead.
Windows: 4 items that move on 1 axis each. Controlled by 4x 2-way rockers. sometimes need to control 1 window, 2, or all 4 at a time. I think any attempt to simplify the circuit comes at a big sacrifice of user-friendliness.
Volvo already tried this with their dumbass front/rear switch on the ex90. To me it reeks of MBA cuteness: studies show 98% of window usage is the front and I bet 90% of the front is the driver side. You don’t need 4 switches when 3 will do! Lol
I drove a Cupra Born (a spicy VW ID.3) and it had a similar type of thing, except there were 2 switches, and a capacitive button to switch the controls to the rear windows.
Already, an overcomplicated solution. However, what made it worse was the fact that the capacitive button had no audible feedback, no physical feedback, and wasn't even recessed or sticking out a bit so you couldn't even find it without looking, or confirm it was toggled without looking down to see if the button is glowing. Honestly the most stupid thing I've dealt with in a car, to date
I have to wonder why they don't just put a single rocker switch on the driver's door with a position sensor. It'll control all four windows with the door open - so you can air out the car before getting in, or put them all up to lock the car and leave it - and only the driver's window with it closed. To change the others, you either reach across or ask your passengers, just like you would with crank windows.
The company of cost optimization that’s dumping CarPlay / android auto to sell subscriptions via their half baked software isn’t brimming with great ideas that benefit their customers.
VW did the same thing with the ID.4 and it blows. Having to hit a secondary button and then the switch again is unnecessary.
It’s little shit like that that are deal breakers for the average buyer
I’m convinced Geely plans on slowly acquiring beloved brands to run them down to prep us for the Chinese import market.
Now hold on while I adjust my tin foil
I'm surprised no manufacturer has moved the window controls to the infotainment touchscreen by now - is there a a regulation that prohibits that or do the manufactuers realize that's a step too far in touchscreen controls? (or have I missed it and some cars \*do\* put the window controls on the touchscreen?)
I read the short article. The ability to select multiple windows to raise & lower doesn't sound too bad if you are type that likes to partially lower all windows so that they are evenly lowered (I do this), along with the ability to open windows to a pre-determined "vent" position with one button press (I do this as well). But, and it's an insurmountable "but", those features do not make up for having to toggle between windows, which would be frustrating.
Some people say this is strictly a cost-cutting idea, but I'm not so sure, the diagram in the article shows a control panel with more buttons, not less. Unless windows rocker switches are materially more expensive than buttons.
Regardless, I don't want it. Keep my driver's side window controls as four rocker switches with auto up/down please.
Slow news day. These publications know exactly how patent applications work - i.e. they're about protecting technology and are usually incentivized internally. If Bob in engineering wants a promotion, pointing to a history of patents is a great way to make his case.
Not just a promotion tool, could get $1k or more in their next paycheck for that application submission.
I know folks who submit dozens of patents a year trying to get that reward money. Under our current legal framework, if you can sneeze on the napkin you sketched on, it's basically patentable.
GM pays the engineer $250 to submit a proposal and $2,000 if a patent is filed. Another $1,000 if granted by the USPO. It’s a sizable pay day even if GM never uses it
Hey now, I don’t know about you, but the amount of time I have rolled down the wrong window because I didn’t look down is… (add this, carry the one and solve for X) never!
Honestly we need to be simplifying. I drove an armored car and the windows were fixed. It was a simpler, cheaper door with way less to break. No switches, no tracks, no motors, no gears. Even crank windows have the track mechanism, which is what usually breaks. Interior width can be far better too, as the door doesnt need somewhere for the windows to go. Fixed windows with double pane insulated glass would cost less and be better for 99.999% of users. Sure you miss being able to roll the windows down on nice spring days, but people need simple reliable efficient cars, and moving windows provide none of that.
GM trying to reinvent things sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Every single GM vehicle my parents have had save for a late 80s or early 90s Blazer has been a complete mess I can only imagine that what every they try to "fix" will only make things worse.
Fixing something that is not broken. I would like a close all feature that is more accessible, my old BMW you had to get out and hold the key in the lock position, and it would roll up all the windows and close the sunroof. Maybe this already exists in newer cars?
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