It is probably a handy function in heavy congested cities, in a rural town not so much. They should make it so that you can disable it if thats your choice and not have to press the button every time you get in the car.
Have rented two cars for a few days twice in the last year or so. Electric handbrake annoyed me at times - press the brake and pull the switch up to release it, why not make it more complicated.
Not sure whats wrong with a handle that pulls up and a wee release on the end that your thumb fits nicely.
I'd love some extras on my seventeen year old Fiesta. No air-con, no recirculation button to keep out those nasty smells sometimes, a stereo that played MP3s or actually would even play a CD reliably.
I think the expected lifespan is reducing, the cynic in me says thats in the interests of the manufacturers.
Without main dealer work software/firmware in the electric modules does not get updated to improve things or fix the gremlins they've encountered with it. I know some Fords not much newer than mine for example needed a software update to fix issues with Bluetooth connection.
Not sure what will be affordable in future for those of us with limited finances. Right now I'd like something a bit newer than mine, but looking around anything newer than 12 years old is not an option unless its been subject to an insurance claim, has epic mileage, has issues already or a combination of these. I'd like to avoid some of the models due to well documented issues - looking at you PSA for those PureTech 1.2 (aka PureCrap) engines and Ford for those Ecoboost (aka EcoBoom) engines, but that narrows the options even further. No point in a diesel for the miles I do and it would only cause issues with DPF.
Somewhere I have new parts for a car I have never owned, they were being thrown out at a local motorists shop some 30+ years ago and I intended to sell them on, but never got around to it.
Would most know how to get the bonnet open these days?
They probably won't, electronics can and do fail.
I can't see a DIYer or most small garages taking out almost the entire dash to repair/replace say a failed speedo/tacho display unit thats failed or a head unit for infotainment.
Don't get me started on those modern HID lights, especially in the SUV type cars that sit higher.
LEDs might improve over time, I know someone with a late model Vauxhall for example and than alters its light output when it detects oncoming traffic. Not sure if it does anything when following another vehicle.
Yes, what is that all about. White bar on the front and red on the back, do they know the main lights will fail and those bars are the backup just in case?