Readers respond to the recent Motormouth column, "Pro and cons abound in automotive technology."
I have to disagree with your response to C.P. from Elmhurst, Ill. All he was stating is not everyone wants or needs some of the features that are now on new vehicles. I appreciate the technology that now offers antilock brakes, collision avoidance, etc. In fact my last new car was ordered with manual transmission and no air conditioning, and the option package offered no choice of radio or interior trim. That was fine with me.
K.S., Mokena, Ill.
Our club of car enthusiasts unanimously (15) found your answer to C.P. from Elmhurst to be impolite, condescending and indicating a rather large lack of information about this. Polls taken over the past year at various national club meetings indicate that most people over 55 find the new auto tech to be unnecessary. I have several friends who sell new cars, and a few who actually have dealerships. Guess what is the most common complaint most of the car-buying public age 45 or older? When you need classes or a CD to learn how to run you car after paying $45,000-plus, it seems a bit over the top.
R. (no last name), Naperville, Ill.
You did not answer part of C.P.'s question. Specifically, you did not answer "are any car manufacturers building any vehicles without all this high-tech stuff?" It is a fair question that deserves some attention, especially from the manufacturers. I have a 2012 Buick LaCrosse with a ton of stuff on the dashboard. I do not think I have ever used one-tenth of it.
R.G., Chicago
I read your sarcastic answer. Boomer had some good points. Driving is a function to get from one place to another — it is not meant to be entertainment. Your snarky answer asking if he wanted to go back to no seat belts and air bags concerned safety improvements — while he was complaining about bells and whistles. Don't dismiss all his points, as they are shared by many other drivers.
