Why don't our electronics do this!?

[TeryT]

Rented a Pontiac Gran Prix for a week in Tahoe. While the ride was OK, handling heavy, and interior cheap plastic, the electronics were pretty cool!

The computer did tons of stuff, including transmission oil temp & instant fuel mileage. The stereo had speed sensing volume. You could customize several settings on both the computer & the stereo.

The stereo was also "fun" sounding. What I mean by that is it had good volume, and lots of bass. While it didn't sound as technically good & crisp as my 10 speaker JBL, in some ways it sounded better. That's probably mostly the extra bass, but it also had pretty nice seperation with its door tweeters.

While I would never buy a Grand Prix (mostly because of its cheap interior, uncomfortable seats & heavy feel), I did admire its electronics! I suppose you could say that this is just more gadgetry to go haywire, but I couldn't help but wonder - why doesn't the 4Runner have these things!? (perhaps it does in the premium Limited)

Let's see, I've already added a transmission temp guage, so maybe I'll have to break down & get that bazooka woofer!

 

[Northof49]

GM's always loved that kinda crap and Toyota's always been a "keep it simple" type company.

My dad, who's sold/managed in Toyota dealership for 20+ years said it well I think (in jest)....."Toyota gives you as much technology as you need; enough to make it work right, but not a whole lot more."

LOL

 

[spud72]

4R stereos have speed adjusting volume.. or at least my 07 does.

What do you mean by:

The computer did tons of stuff, including transmission oil temp & instant fuel mileage.

Do you mean it's like an LCD display or something instead of a dial? If so, the technology is the same. Toyota just has the output go on a sweep gauge. Instant fuel mileage are generally not worth a thing. I prefer the way it recalculates the average over 10 seconds that the 4R does.

In the 80s a lot of car mfgs (especially Japanese) flirted with digital instrument clusters, but largely stopped after negative feedback and reliability issues.

 

[TeryT]

I guess then Toyota considers that a tranny temp gauge isn't needed on something that is rated to tow 7,000 lbs.!? I did think it was a little overkill on a sedan (Grand Prix), but would have been real nice on the 4R.

- wonder if the new Tundra has a transmission temperature guage?

But the Runner's stereo is what gets me - $800 gets you more speakers, and supposedly a better head unit, but not that much better sound!

 

[spud72]

I guess then Toyota considers that a tranny temp gauge isn't needed on something that is rated to tow 7,000 lbs.!?

No arguments there. A transmission gauge wouldn't be a bad thing, but for most people it would so rarely come into play I guess they figured it isn't necessary.

Personally, I think a voltmeter would be more important and of more use if I were to have to choose between the 2.

 

[TeryT]

No arguments there. A transmission gauge wouldn't be a bad thing, but for most people it would so rarely come into play I guess they figured it isn't necessary.

Personally, I think a voltmeter would be more important and of more use if I were to have to choose between the 2.

The Grand Prix had a volt readout too.

All of these things were in one digital approx. 3" x 3" LED window on the Grand Prix. You did have to scan between them, but at least they were there. Whatever you considered to be important would then stay up on the screen.

So the new 4Runner's have speed sensing stereo units?

 

[lawwailok]

So the new 4Runner's have speed sensing stereo units?

at least it does have that speed sensing volume function in my OEM nav.

 

[Northof49]

But the Runner's stereo is what gets me - $800 gets you more speakers, and supposedly a better head unit, but not that much better sound!

Really? I thought the JBL synthesis setup in my 05 Ltd kicked ass.....none of the standard systems in any other 4R I've driven came close. That said, the "same" system in my 03 ltd did not sound as powerfull for whatever reason....no explanation from me.

It's not a boom-box, but for nice, clean, powerful sound I thought it did great.

 

[TeryT]

Here's a quote from a reviewer on the Grand Prix computer:

"The trip computer, with its displays of average time and speed, date, current auto conditions (e.g. transmission temperature and oil life remaining), is unusually easy to use and to read, with five well-marked control buttons. Some of these options are standard, particularly on the high end GTP model (we tested the middle-of-the-range GT).

A number of preferences for things such as door locking, automatic headlight functions, and the like can be easily set through the trip computer, which is a good way to make the car conform to the owner's particular needs without having to visit a dealership."

The last part is really cool - the user can change many of the settings that we have to go to the dealer to get done!

 

[RamThis]

My 06's base level MP3 Toyota head unit has the Speed Sensitive Volume too, called ASL. It can be set to off, low, mid, high. I keep it off because it annoys the piss out of me.

 

[TeryT]

My 06's base level MP3 Toyota head unit has the Speed Sensitive Volume too, called ASL. It can be set to off, low, mid, high. I keep it off because it annoys the piss out of me.

Well that's it - I guess I'm just gonna hafta trade my 03 in on a newer model - NOT!

 

[keylay31]

My 06's base level MP3 Toyota head unit has the Speed Sensitive Volume too, called ASL. It can be set to off, low, mid, high. I keep it off because it annoys the piss out of me.

Haha same here. Worst part of the vehicle :bigok:

 

[Uneek]

Our 1990 Toyota truck had a voltmeter and oil pressure gauge. Toyota deleted that on the first and second gen Tacomas. Our old 1984 Nissan Maxima had voltmeter and oil pressure gauges as well. I suppose the only way to have the fancy computers are on the hybrids. The Sequoia, Land Cruiser and Tundra (which also has a tranny temp guage) still have the voltmeter and oil pressure gauges. The more vital signs about the vehicle the better. But for some who can't tell what E means on the fuel gauge, less is more. :

 

[RamThis]

Big reason they went to idiot lights or PCM controlled guages on cars, is because moving needles scare people. Oil pressure fluctuates around a bit. It's normal. So does engine temp. But if the PCM sent the signal in it's true form, and the needle bounced around a bit, people would assume something's wrong. So auto makers started using the PCM to dampen the needle to just give a "relative" reading based on certain engine factors, not a direct reading off the sensor itself. This way, the needle shows right where it should, it stays steady as a rock, and people dont freak out. Only after a certain amount of time will the PCM deem it necessary to show an out of normal range when a sensor's reading is abnormal, and if it get's too far out of range, you get the blazing idiot light coming on, and a CEL or an MIL Illumination.

Idiot lights are even easier to work with. Nothing's wrong until a light comes on. LOL. (by then it's usually too late, I think it's called an "idiot light" because an idiot designed it, not because even and idiot can understand it....)

 

[TechWrench]

Here's a quote from a reviewer on the Grand Prix computer:

"The trip computer, with its displays of average time and speed, date, current auto conditions (e.g. transmission temperature and oil life remaining), is unusually easy to use and to read, with five well-marked control buttons. Some of these options are standard, particularly on the high end GTP model (we tested the middle-of-the-range GT).

A number of preferences for things such as door locking, automatic headlight functions, and the like can be easily set through the trip computer, which is a good way to make the car conform to the owner's particular needs without having to visit a dealership."

The last part is really cool - the user can change many of the settings that we have to go to the dealer to get done!

Sounds neat, but just wait until one fails. I bet it will cost a small fortune to replace.

 

[Thai]

Big reason they went to idiot lights or PCM controlled guages on cars, is because moving needles scare people. Oil pressure fluctuates around a bit. It's normal. So does engine temp. But if the PCM sent the signal in it's true form, and the needle bounced around a bit, people would assume something's wrong. So auto makers started using the PCM to dampen the needle to just give a "relative" reading based on certain engine factors, not a direct reading off the sensor itself. This way, the needle shows right where it should, it stays steady as a rock, and people dont freak out. Only after a certain amount of time will the PCM deem it necessary to show an out of normal range when a sensor's reading is abnormal, and if it get's too far out of range, you get the blazing idiot light coming on, and a CEL or an MIL Illumination.

Idiot lights are even easier to work with. Nothing's wrong until a light comes on. LOL. (by then it's usually too late, I think it's called an "idiot light" because an idiot designed it, not because even and idiot can understand it....)

Exactly. Idiot lights are better for the general public.

GM has always been pretty good with it's gauges. I am not sure about new models, but in the past, all their trucks/SUVs had the complete set of gauges/meters on the dash. However, I think that GM is now going away from it too.

 

[TeryT]

I still like the idea that the consumer can program things like door locks, headlights, interior lights, etc. - without going to the dealer! But would I buy a GM product just for this - not likely.

 

[Uneek]

I still like the idea that the consumer can program things like door locks, headlights, interior lights, etc. - without going to the dealer! But would I buy a GM product just for this - not likely.

But I don't recall if they tell you about it in the manual. Our 2000 Chevy, allows you to turn on/off the DRL with repeated presses of the "dome light override" button. I've also heard their ECU's allows reprogramming for bigger rims for the speedometer calibration.

But I also would not buy another GM product. The Corvette and Avalanche are the exception and I would consider them, but is it worth chancing? :

 

[Thai]

Woohoo, my MB does allow me to change auto door locking system and headlights (DRL). But then again, i have to pay for all of this by having crappy window regulator mechanism (guarantee failure every 30K miles) and welcome-to-1980 NAVI system!

 

[TeryT]

But I don't recall if they tell you about it in the manual. Our 2000 Chevy, allows you to turn on/off the DRL with repeated presses of the "dome light override" button. I've also heard their ECU's allows reprogramming for bigger rims for the speedometer calibration.

But I also would not buy another GM product. The Corvette and Avalanche are the exception and I would consider them, but is it worth chancing? :

The Gran Prix we rented had the preprograming as a menu item in the dash display.