Are THESE The Three WORST Trends In The Auto Industry Today?

I've been fortunate enough to have a pretty booked press vehicle calendar for the past two months. Because of this I've been driving everything from fully electric vehicles to mom and pop grocery getters to high-end exotica.

And, like always, it's been a blast.

But just about this time every year when I take a moment to reflect, I typically start to surface some trends I am seeing in the automotive industry. It's not uncommon that manufacturers take some creative license from each other.

Having said that, tonight I was going through my catalogue of gripes and realized that I have three rather big ones that keep coming up. Rather than squirrel them away though, I wanted to bring them to your attention and get your feedback: Do YOU agree that these are the three WORST trends in the automotive industry today?

1) Four-cylinder motors, everywhere. OK, I can understand why an automaker would employ the use of a four-cylinder powerplant in entry-level vehicles. They're cost effective and they get a helluva bang for the buck when it comes to fuel economy. But in vehicles north of $60,000? This just is getting ridiculous at this point. I will never buy a luxury vehicle with a four-cylinder engine.

2) Stitched vinyl. This may just be the worst offender at the moment. While some automakers do a pretty good job, BMW and Mercedes-Benz come to mind, other companies are abysmal — Honda and Toyota. The stitched vinyl move is supposed to mimic über luxury vehicles with their stitched leather door panels and full leather dashboards. Vinyl just doesn't have that same impact no matter how much you dress it up. Please stop embarassing yourselves.

3) Screens, screens, screens. After driving a screen-obsessed Land Rover Range Rover Velar, I will admit the screens are actually a nice touch. However, there's just two problems: It's not uncommon for these screens to freeze and then owners have to reboot as needed. This means driving for up to five minutes as your vehicle gets its act together. Every time I drive a vehicle with several screens, I can only think "What will this cost to replace these when they all go dead — and they will go dead."

Hauerg - 7/14/2018 1:35:15 AM

+1 Boost

If 6 pots are enough for Formula 1, 4 are fine with me.
Even 0 will do.

TomM - 7/14/2018 6:47:24 AM

+3 Boost

THe trend I hate the most is the increasing number of Speedometer screens that are blocked from view by the ever expanding steering wheel. THey put the Speedo display so far to the side that you simply cannot see the readout unless you are really short and sitting close up.

Since a digital speedo output would take up little space - and could easily be seen - and since they COULD reduce the "Size" of the readout display if they simply programmed it differently - this is simply stupid

Agent00R - 7/14/2018 8:53:32 AM

-1 Boost

Is this a problem you have in the S650?

The current-gen S with the "clown wheel" works fine but when they equip the cars with the Sport steering wheel it blocks some things on the instrument panel.

TomM - 7/14/2018 10:10:28 AM

+1 Boost

No - I do not yet have the Maybach - however it is in transit -maybe two weeks.

My CHrysler Mini-Van has this problem although it is NOT a screen- they put additional readouts BETWEEN the SPeedo and Tach -and one side of the speedo cannot be seen - and this same layout is on LOTS of FCA cars.

Note - I have this problem worse because of MY Height

PUGPROUD - 7/14/2018 8:03:46 AM

+2 Boost

Its how deep into screen menus one has to go to adjust things that a simple button within hands reach use to accomplish that drives me crazy and causes you to take your eyes off the road ahead. The company that puts all displays across the bottom of the windshield (expanded heads up) will have a real winner on their hands.

Agent00R - 7/14/2018 8:54:44 AM

+2 Boost

Yes!

That's another good one.

Some of the menu-centric infotainment systems have gotten out of control and as you said bury things so deep. All certain functions need is a switch or toggle.

dumpsty - 7/16/2018 1:08:47 PM

+1 Boost

I remember when GM was heavily criticized about their HUD's in Buicks & Pontiacs & Cadillacs. Now the feature seems to make total sense. Hmm...

I hate seeing features like "stitching" to mask the fact that it's still rather cheap materials but its a highlighted feature to justify these high-azz vehicle prices today. And yes, I refuse to buy a $50k-$60k vehicle with a basic 4cyl/turbo-4cyl engine. A tt-4cyl or tt-v6 is quite alright in many of the cars that have them today. A tt-v6 making 400+hp is awesome. A tt-4cyl making 300+hp is kinda cool as well.

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 9:17:15 AM

+2 Boost

The move to 4 cylinder turbos is 100% to get cars to perform well in testing for certification. In real life, turbo 4 cylinder engines do NOT provide better economy and in fact they are often worse.

Ford pushed Ecoboost onto the Mustang but had offered a conventional V6. The power was equal, but the V6 handily got better MPG in the real world, not to mention being more refined.

The stitched vinyl thing to simulate leather comment made me laugh. Y'all know that most cars with leather interior really have vinyl interiors, right?

I despise infotainment screens.

TomM - 7/14/2018 10:12:43 AM

+2 Boost

You are correct about many cars only having leather SEATING SURFACES - the rest of the seat is Vinyl - I had several cars that had that.

blackbr - 7/16/2018 4:19:07 AM

+1 Boost

Agree 100%!!!!

I had two six-cylinder Acura TLs (2004, 2007) that both easily achieved 35mpg on the freeway.

I can't get anywhere close to that with two Ford "eco"boost 4 cylinders.

Agent00J - 7/14/2018 9:49:45 AM

+1 Boost

I will say this, Lexus has done a great job with its synthetic leather, and the stitching is real, not molded in, and the quality of the seating materials has fooled more than a few of my friends who mistake it for leather. And the same material carries over to the dashboard and other trim thereby giving the illusion of a much more expensive material than what is actually there.

And as an added bonus it wears really well.

I agree with the screens everywhere, it can become so distracting having so many different items competing for a drivers attention when the only thing that needs the drivers attention is the road in front of them

-00J

jeffgall - 7/14/2018 10:14:51 AM

+2 Boost

Fake leather in luxury vehicles has been driving me nuts for years. Specifically the BMW 3 Series and Merc C Class. And to make matters worse, most of the drones who by them probably don’t even know, and brag to their friends they have leather.

TomM - 7/14/2018 10:46:38 AM

+2 Boost

I HAVE ANOTHER ONE

The way they HIDE the spare tire information in cars today - it is almost as if they do not HAVE them - which is about as stupid as it gets!!

Where is YOUR spare tire in your car?

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 11:28:37 AM

0 Boost

Many cars do not have spare tires anymore. THAT is the idiocy. If they have a spare, it's usually in the trunk.

TomM - 7/14/2018 7:19:04 PM

+2 Boost

I have a spare tire in My Chrysler Mini-van - but it is UNDER the vehicle

MrEE - 7/14/2018 11:56:25 AM

+1 Boost

I don't really have a problem with your three, though I do not shop in the 60k or even 40k price range. I certainly could pay cash in the 6 figure range, just don't see the reason (think W Buffett values).

Regarding LCD display life, given the relatively low operating hours of vehicles, displays should easily last 25 years and any that die prematurely should be available from auto recyclers. What is a real concern is the obsolescence of the UI and features.

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 1:07:37 PM

-1 Boost

#SaturdayOxymoron: Buffett values

https://www.thenation.com/article/special-investigation-the-dirty-secret-behind-warren-buffetts-billions/

MrEE - 7/14/2018 12:29:29 PM

+4 Boost

1) low profile tires in times of poor road condition.
2) engines tuned to and requiring premium gas.
3) stagnate efficiency of some models.

qwertyfla1 - 7/14/2018 2:04:42 PM

0 Boost

Lack of a dipstick. Sorry but I like to check my oil and tires weekly

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 2:30:22 PM

-1 Boost

Unfortunately, try to find a transmission with a dip stick...

cidflekken - 7/14/2018 3:13:04 PM

+2 Boost

My biggest gripe is being forced to pay for crap that I don't want or need that automakers are putting as standard equipoment. I can list 20 features my last two cars had that I never used, but were baked into the price, and I had no way to not buy them without sacrificing amenities that I did want. With my current car, I went as basic as I possibly could with my main priorities focused on performance and not luxury. There are still a few things that I really don't care for that I know I paid for. On the flip side, there are a few things I wanted, but I couldn't get without paying for a bunch of crap that I didn't want. I'd love to see a brand take a chance and literally allow a buyer to customize a car by choosing specific options (not packages) individually, then deliver that car in 30 days. Never gonna happen, I know, but if you don't ask......

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 3:41:03 PM

+1 Boost

The Germans tend to be the kings of "advantageous" bundling. I understand the idea of bundling, but the way packages tend to be is that you have to get several packages to get options that logically should go together.

The reason "have it your way" won't work is that would actually cause build quality to drop. Production is optimized by having as few variables as possible.

TomM - 7/14/2018 7:22:07 PM

+2 Boost

Agree - for example - I wanted a rear view camera and display - and in my Mini-van - they required to spend for a DVD Video system to get it. Of course the ones they supply are WAY overpriced.

mre30 - 7/14/2018 3:42:32 PM

+3 Boost

The worst is the completely absent spare tire (especially in cars that do not have 'run-flats'...cough, Audi Q7) and instead have that stupid 'inflator can'.

I wish CarAndDriver would do a real-world test of cars that rely on the inflator cans and show how they only work about 20% of the time.

Any Spies out there have data on the 'inflator cans' and if they actually consistently workk?

dstampfer - 7/16/2018 9:12:17 AM

+1 Boost

I've had to deal with this on 2 cars, E46 M3 and E90 M3 and have been stranded once by a side wall puncture, but it's not that new a trend as the E46 was 15-16yr ago. In the case of the M3 it's space and weight but I'm shocked to learn that a Q7 wouldn't have room for at least a donut spare....

randy3023 - 7/14/2018 7:45:40 PM

+3 Boost

Lol. Just get a Tesla, people.

MDarringer - 7/14/2018 8:05:58 PM

0 Boost

Yeah. Buying a $100K car will solve everything.

vdiv - 7/15/2018 1:33:24 PM

+1 Boost

Perhaps a stitched vinyl surface offers a couple of advantages, it is more durable against stretching and it offers a perforated surface that breathes somewhat.

blackbr - 7/16/2018 4:24:10 AM

+1 Boost

I had a C300 with MB Tex and preferred it to leather. It looked and felt fine, and didn't wear at all over the three years I had the car. I'm surprised car manufacturers are still using leather at all.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but my biggest gripe with cars lately is the stop-start systems. Everyone hates them, and if the manufacturers see fit to include a defeat switch it must be activated every time the car is started. I'm renting a Malibu right now that doesn't have a defeat button (if it does, I can't find it), and it has a very obtrusive shudder. I just can't believe the minor fuel savings is enough to offset the added wear and tear on the engine.

talie64 - 7/16/2018 5:32:21 AM

+2 Boost

Get an Alfa, stop start soon stops working due to battery not holding 100% charge, dreadful car and Alfa's legendary reliability issues are still ongoing.

talie64 - 7/16/2018 5:33:32 AM

+1 Boost

Have also been told to turn it off, unless stopped for over 5mins, you are not saving fuel and as you said adding wear and tear to the engine (and battery)