Tom_Spangler wrote: Yeah, I don't get that one. Putting aside how easy it is to check tire pressure, how often do you even have to do it? And they think this is such a revolutionary feature that they built a whole commercial about it? If a domestic carmaker did this, they'd be getting blasted for being out of touch....
Domestic carmaker who is being blasted for being out of touch:
(Screenshot from myvolt.com)
I'm waiting for a car that can massage my nadz. Until then...
irish44j wrote: Arguing minutiae is about all I have to do this evening other than watching football.
And I'm all out of football...
irish44j wrote: Horn beeping when you have the right tire pressure when filling your tires is not an improvement over the accuracy of a good tire pressure gauge. The end result of this "feature" is exactly, precisely, the same as it would have been 50 years ago. If someone wasn't going to check their air pressure with a gauge, they're not going to check it this way either anyhow. Power seats are a convenience feature. What if the next Miata offered ONLY power seats? What if the next Miata had electric motors to open the hood and trunk as standard features? Many people would like this. I'm betting you would not. But you'd still have to pay for it, if it was standard equipment.
If the next Miata comes loaded with power doodads, I probably wouldn't buy one anyhow. The NC market would like it, though.
This air pressure beep isn't as beneficial as ABS or fuel injection, of course not. I'm glad someone else understands that! But I said:
I'm okay with simple or clever improvements on cars, or ones that make a big difference like ABS and fuel injection.
I would call this simple and clever. Someone looked at what information was available to the car and said "we could make life easier without any real cost to anyone". So they did.
Sure, you can do the same thing by checking with a tire pressure gauge. If you've got one with you - my good one tends to move around, so there have been a few times when I've been forced to buy a gas station gauge. Or my 60 PSI Longacre won't deal with the 70 PSI I need to put in the back of the truck when it's got a full load. So a little beep from the car when it's got happy tire pressure would be appreciated. It's not harming anyone, but according to a lot of people on this forum it's apparently a sign of the apocalypse. I'll bet they'd appreciate it the first time they actually use it though.
I was way too involved in ranting about how badly the refereeing was in the game I was watching (late game, Baltimore/New England) to pay attention to this or any of the commercials, but I can recall seeing the blinking light scene in passing 
But no seriously, it's a silly feature. But if it gets people to actually check tire pressures and stop wasting gas and reducing their emergency handling capabilities, then win.
Keith Tanner wrote: I know it's not a popular way to be on this forum, which is mostly Luddite in flavor.
Who are you calling a luddite?
Keith Tanner wrote: It's actually a fairly simple reuse of sensors already in the car. No extra complications, just a bit of extra code in the computer. Where's the problem? I like the way my BMW checks tire pressure. It uses the ABS signal to see if one wheel is running faster than it should. If it is, then there's a pressure problem on that corner. Again, just making use of information already in the car. It's not sensitive enough to tell if a tire is 5 psi down, but it will let you know if you're starting to lose significant pressure somewhere.
Just wait until it disables traction control and ABS, and locks out 1st gear on your automatic like my Cadillac did when it had a bad connector to one of the front shock sensors. Or who knows, maybe it will disable the ignition all together, wouldn't want an unsafe vehicle on the road...
My point, it's a slippery slope...
I don't understand the big deal here. As was said earlier in the thread, the folks on this forum aren't the 99% of car owners/drivers. So the view here will be much different than for most people buying the car.
I just don't see it as the dumbing down of anything. Like Keith said, it's just using existing technology to give more feedback to the driver (albeit very basic feedback). And it gives a little extra safety measure to those who wouldn't check it on their own.
Besides, this feature won't stop you from checking the pressure yourself with a good old fashion pressure gauge.
My only concern with it, based on previous experiences, is the blood thirsty plaintiff attorneys out there. It's only a matter of time before someone has a blow out and crashes. Even if the blow out was completely caused by something else (a nail, a bubble in the sidewall, etc...), the lawsuit will be coming. "Your honor, my client filled the tire until the car beeped. It was wrong...dead wrong. The tire went flat and my client suffered the horrific injury of a broken fingernail. How will she ever show her face at the beauty salon again???"
I see it as a good thing.
Most people never check their tire pressures, yes?
Well now that they have TPMS sensors, some actually take note that the light is on and start adding air to the tires that look low. Problem is, they don't have a gauge and have no idea how much air they're adding so they just go by the buldge in the sidewall.
It's not uncommon for customers come in and when I go to check the tire pressures one or two is jacked waaayyyy up. Highest I've seen is almost 80psi.
My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?
For the record, while I find the feature itself somewhat silly, I'm not overly concerned about it and ongoing complication of cars. I just think it's weird to build a whole commerical around something so insignificant.
Anti-technology threads posted on the internets from computers are irono-licious!
jg
All the cars with tire pressure sensors now-a-days for the most part have a dash readout anywho. Obviously keeping the "others" tire pressures up to spec is a difficult task, I wouldn't mind it on any of my cars. I really like the pressure readouts on my dash, it's rather helpful, and on my cars very close to the actual pressure.
"An estimated 93.5 percent of motorists in the EU are driving on under-inflated tyres and causing an additional 18 million tons of carbon dioxide to be released into the environment. These 18 million tons are the equivalent of 56 million tyres being wasted. To collect this data, Bridgestone conducted free check-ups at various shopping centers and public car parks throughout Europe. Based on 2006 data, Bridgestone also estimates 40 percent of vehicles absorb an additional 2.8 percent in fuel, due to their under-inflated tyres, wasting 8.1 billion liters of fuel every year. Bridgestone, in conjunction with the FIA Foundation (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and national motoring clubs, is part of the “Think Before You Drive” campaign, established in 2005."
Javelin wrote: My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?
Meanwhile, every cellphone user in ads is portrayed as a douche. Go figure.
Does it add any weight? No, probably not. Does it add complexity? In all reality, no, probably not. Like Keith said, a single line of programming. Meh. This is of no issue to me.
If we want to complain about ads, how about the new Toyota Camry one, with the guy saying "It has all the things guys like, like rims and stuff". THAT is an ad with an idiot in it, advertising to idiots. Or people who just don't care. Or not me, anyways.
Javelin wrote: My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?
Dood, have you seen 90% of car owners? They ARE berkeleying idiots. 
Appleseed wrote:Javelin wrote: My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?Dood, have you seen 90% of car owners? They ARE berkeleying idiots.
I concede the point, good sir.
The simple fact is 99% of ads and cars are not made for people like us. They are made for non-car people aka idiots.
JG Pasterjak wrote: Anti-technology threads posted on the internets from computers are irono-licious! jg
have I mentioned that I want to learn flint knapping?
mtn wrote: If we want to complain about ads, how about the new Toyota Camry one, with the guy saying "It has all the things guys like, like rims and stuff". THAT is an ad with an idiot in it, advertising to idiots. Or people who just don't care. Or not me, anyways.
This. I think he said rims and sleek body lines. So guys like rims and spoilers? Has to be the weakest marketing attempt I've seen in a long time. I'm surprised they didn't have the female say while twirling her hair... "And it's got a makeup mirror on the sun visor too"
Appleseed wrote:Javelin wrote: My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?Dood, have you seen 90% of car owners? They ARE berkeleying idiots.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of them are stupider than that.
Klayfish wrote:mtn wrote: Has to be the weakest marketing attempt I've seen in a long time.Oh really? There are a bunch of car people talking about the Nissan Altima ad. WHt more could your want. The purpose of advertising is to get the name of your product on peoples mids. Not sell the product. I could never understand this either, but some VPs in Rohm & Hass told me that when I told them the farmers we dealt with hated our Blazer (herbicide) ads.
I say pull all the electronic garbage out and give me the basics! I want a tach, speedo, and fuel gauge! Can't be bothered to check your tire pressure, fuel or coolant level? Then I'll hope to see you broken down on the side of the road, sucker!
I did get a chance to use the bluetooth cellphone connection in my wife's car during my recent drive to Disney World. I might have to make an exception for that one. Very handy!
And BTW I'm posting from a digital abacus. None of those newfangled computers for me!
I have no problem with the honking pressure gauge, but people in this world aren't getting any smarter. IMHO, its along the same lines as over-censorship and over-regulation of schools in regards to punishment, and every kid being a "winner." Its the pussification of America. A useful tool though, since the pressure gauges have to be there anyway.
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
- Albert Einstein
Javelin wrote: My big gripe is that the commercial posed the owner as a complete berking idiot, which is something 90% of car commercials do nowadays. I'm sorry, but how does insulting my intelligence make me want to buy your car? WTF?
Huh? Look, if my car beeped when the tire pressure was correct, berkeley if I'm getting a tire gauge out. THAT'S being smart.
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