Luxury car makers need to make tech that the elderly can use and understand.
Posted by 747WakeTurbulance@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 37 comments
[removed]
taticalgoose@reddit
I wonder how new premium cars don't get slammed on surveys for this exact reason. People who are 70+ years old now are going to be forever technologically handicapped because they didn't grow up with screens. My 80+ year old parents did not ask for and do not want to have to navigate menus for simple functions. I put a very basic carplay radio in their car and they hate it because they can't figure out how to use it despite me showing them on several occasions.
Before someone comes in here and says "my old parents love it" I'm here there are some outliers but most people I've met that are 70+ do not want tech for tech's sake.
JALbert@reddit
If you are 70 now that means you were in your 30s in the 80s and 40s in the 90s. You've had decades of computer usage being common. Smart phones were around for 10 years of your working career.
Technology matches on and there are always new hurdles the older you get, but old people have used screens before at this point.
taticalgoose@reddit
I never said they've never used screens. Being introduced to screens in your 40s is a lot different than growing up with them.
JALbert@reddit
Sure, but it's still 30 years of experience. It's not like we're expecting flawless VR use or something.
fastates@reddit
it's really *not,* though. I'm 64 and "screens" for me is sending emails, opening up a Word doc, and surfing the Internet. that's it. I don't want this shit in a fucking CAR. I want to use a key, turn it on, and goddamn DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD after turning the dial to a radio station. Roll down windows. My God, this is asking for LESS, not MORE. Why is this hard to grasp? There exists a large contingent of folks both young and old sick to DEATH of TECH everywhere we TURN.
JALbert@reddit
Buy an old car then?
taticalgoose@reddit
Great advise. So you're telling me that if you were a product manager for the S class and your older customers responded to surveys saying they wanted less tech in the car you'd just respond with "buy an old car then"? Lol.
JALbert@reddit
If they're asking for crank windows and a manual radio dial, yeah.
Less tech is one thing. "I don't want any tech" is not the profile of an S Class buyer.
taticalgoose@reddit
There's a huge difference between not wanting crank windows and not wanting to have to adjust air vents through a screen.
JALbert@reddit
Yeah that's not what I responded to is it?
fastates@reddit
Try and find an old car in good condition. Maybe there's one in Duluth in some Granny's barn. I'm not in Duluth, and I don't know any Granny's with barns. The used car market is bleak, and they cost almost as much as new. If I can find a 1970s pickup with roll down windows, I'll pay out the ass. I'm focusing on the roll down thing because I know someone who died when her pickup went off the road into a river and she couldn't get out. Maybe she couldn't get out either way, sure, but at least she's have had a fighting chance.
JALbert@reddit
It's hard, I've tried. For new car money you can get a pretty new condition old car if that's what you really want. If you don't want to to spend new car money on a car, the sellers of new cars don't take your input, to the chagrin of many on this subreddit.
I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I know many people who keep something like this or this in their cars. Not trying to victim blame or be an asshole, just trying to help if you're worried about this in modern cars.
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
I'm having an issue like this with my mother. Her old sedan isn't enough car for her anymore, the seat is too low making it hard to get out of, not enough room for walkers, etc.. So I want to get her in an crossover, but she takes one look at the screens and all the buttons and nopes right out. And there's no older simpler crossovers worth owning. She does OK with a smart phone and is still a quite capable driver, but it's an uphill battle.
baconandtheguacamole@reddit
Is she willing to go electric? I wonder if the new Slate would be something of interest to her, since the interior is very simple and I believe the infotainment is just meant to be your phone on a dash mount
Heavy_Gap_5047@reddit
I think a Model Y would be very practical. But she noped right out on that.
VTSAX_VTI@reddit
Your 85 year old neighbor should not be driving anymore.
taticalgoose@reddit
Because he's not technologically literate he should lose his mobility? Come on. Younger people can figure their way around a screen but my 80+ year old dad freezes when he sees a screen prompt he's never seen before. Does that mean he can't drive? Absolutely not. put him in a mid 00's car and he's fine.
Bakermonster@reddit
This. It’s not about the car.
ReadWriteHexecute@reddit
86 dawg? gadamn just put up the boots mane
Professional-Buy3198@reddit
Should not be a problem with W222, because the infotainment system has a rather similar learning curve to the W221 which the guy must have driven around 15-20 years ago.
On W223 you have a touchscreen so it is very straightforward to use the radio, as Mercede still retains physical buttons for headlamp controls, heated/cooled seats. The more advanced stuff are buried deep in the menu but I do not think he will use them often.
J-MAMA@reddit
Nah, they can take the bus if they can't understand what is now considered basic function of the automobile.
The future is now old man.
Impossible_Sundae304@reddit
Have him buy a Lexus their technology is always 5 years behind to remain the top luxury brand for reliability, current Mercedes is just full on gaming room vibe. A Genesis g90 might fit him or a es350
Medical-Gate-9978@reddit
Have you seen the plastic inside of the new ES? That huge screen is going to confuse him too
K_R_A_K_E_N_540@reddit
at that age and if he's buying 150k cars I would imagine he has at least Bentley money of not rolls Royce, those cars are more for him, literally made for his demographic
Tim-in-CA@reddit
They shouldn’t be driving!
ZombiePope@reddit
In the nicest way possible, your neighbor is experiencing medical issues, not user interface issues.
malogos@reddit
I don't think car companies care about demographics that are going to buy 0-1 cars for the rest of their lives.
elantra6MT@reddit
But old people also have the most money
HiIary4Prison@reddit
I’m not even old and I don’t use 90% of the tech in my cars.
MRDR1NL@reddit
Or just buy an old car?
NoHaxPlz@reddit
How are we going to buy these cars after they depreciate by 80% if they’re not buying them first?
MRDR1NL@reddit
85yo is not really the demographic that buys new cars. You're thinking about 60 year olds
Averyphotog@reddit
There should be an easily set “gadgets off” mode.
gumol@reddit
and by “gadget” you mean… AM radio?
CHEEKY_BASTARD@reddit
Are we talking Jitterbug phone, but for a car?
ArcticBP@reddit
If he can’t adjust a radio or remember turning on heated seats, then maybe phone calls should be reserved for when he’s not in said hot seat…
AutoModerator@reddit
It looks like you're posting about a topic that has current active discussion. Your submission has been automatically removed and forwarded to moderators for review. Please note that our rules stipulate that users should search before posting, and too many duplicate topics will be removed.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.