Department of Annoying Technology

[Eric]

This just in - from the Department of Annoying Technology:

* Nissan "EcoPedal" -

Imagine an accelerator that doesn't want you to (accelerate, that is) and you will understand the essence of Nissan's new gizmo. Designed to "assist drivers to become more fuel-efficient," in the words of Nissan PR, the system works by increasing resistance on the gas pedal - and even pushes back against your right foot - if the car's computer thinks you're "using more fuel than required."

Right now, the system's in the demo phase but Nissan says it hopes to bring it to market "soon."

Crikey.

The automaker says the system will be either optional or will be set up so that the owner/driver can turn it off at will. But if this isn't the answer to the question one asked, what is? More ominously, this technology could be yet another brick in the wall of the speeding-free future lusted after in certain quarters. Onboard receivers/transmitters could communicate with roadside "smart" speed limit signs, telling your car's computer thus fast - and no faster.

And it's just around the corner. Which brings us to... .

* BMW iSpeed -

Technically, BMW hasn't given its new gadget a name yet, but iSpeed seems appropriate - except for the fact that it is intended to accomplish precisely the opposite; that is, to keep you from speeding.

The next-generation 7 Series ultra luxury sedan will reportedly be equipped with scanners capable of reading speed limit signs and curtly informing the driver when he's going faster. What do you suppose the next step after that will be?

It is capable of reading both static signs and those changeable electronic displays used in some areas.

Unlike the heavy-handed (or footed) Nissan system, BMW's is passive (for now) in that it does not actually attempt to impose its will on the driver. Yet. That's one small blessing. Also - for the moment - it will be Euro-only deal. Apparently, American road signage is still too confusing a mishmash to be easily reconciled with BMW's electronics. So only European versions of the new 7 Series will feature the system.

But, still.

It appears the automakers are working feverishly hard to take the driver entirely out of the equation. Or at least, to throttle him so effectively that to call him a "driver" is to abuse the language. I rage against this process. "Safety" and "efficiency" are not the main reasons for getting behind the wheel of a car.

At least, they aren't for me.

I get in a car both to get somewhere and to drive - two related but not identical things. It is the whole point, the entire reason, for owning any car that's more than just a simple conveyance.

What kind of sick Catch 22 is it that Nissan - a company that builds brilliant machinery like the 370Z - is also working hard to make it virtually impossible to make use of such machinery? Why even bother? Maybe Nissan ought to be building nothing but an endless production line of autonomous Jukes and Cubes - differing from one another only in color and whether this one has an MP3 player and that one a sunroof.

Qualudes in the glovebox could be optional.

And BMW?

Whatever happened to "Ultimate Driving Machines"? The engines are still magnificent, the steering and suspensions a near-perfect ying-yang of reflex and compliance. Yet lately there's so much crap to fight that it make you want to give up and take the bus instead.

I find myself reminiscing about older, less encumbered BMWs from the days when the only "controls" facing the driver were a steering wheel, three pedals and a shift handle. If you needed to change the radio, you turned a knob. Directing the car's progress was entirely up to you.

It was what made it all worth doing.

Maybe the automakers have run out of useful things to improve. The internal combustion engine has reached its zenith after 100-plus years of continual refinement. Suspension and tire and braking technology is now capable of only minor, incremental improvement. The Great Leaps Forward of 20 odd years ago - from disc/drum brakes to four-wheel-discs to four-wheel-discs with ABS - are pretty much done with. How much bigger/wider can wheels get? And so on.

This leaves idle hands - and PR departments desperate to justify this year's "latest thing." Since the basic technology of the car, itself, is at or very near perfection, they are resorting to the undiscovered country of vehicular big brotherism. Cars were virtually free of interference until, oh, 15 or 20 years ago. So there is lots yet to do.

And they're just getting started... .

[Mustang_Boy]

Thats odd about Nissan, generaly I see them being more geared towards enthusiast drivers, compare Toyota's lineup against Nissans and you'll see what I mean.... I should know myself since I've owned a few (and still own 1) Nissans- an '88 Maxima that I still have that still runs, back then it compared favorably against BMW's.... it was fun to drive and it's 3.0 SOHC V6 was a revvy engine that gloriously sang up to it's redline and produced an impressive for the times 160 hp, plus being virtually indestructible as well.... I still have that car. Next I owned an '01 Frontier SE-V6 Desert Runner with the 3.3 SOHC V6 and the 5 speed stick. It only made 170 hp, but again it was fun to drive, durable and rugged, had personality- it even had touches of the Nissan Skyline GTR in it's interior- the gauges perfectly mimick the R34 GTR's. Getting rid of that truck was one of the stupidest things I ever did. I traded the Frontier for an '02 Maxima SE 6 speed stick. It was fast and fun BUT very fragile. That one did not last past 100k like my previous Nissans, the engine was fine, but everything else was done. I traded that one for my current '06 Mustang GT.

The reason why I quit buying Nissan was the fact that while they were either fun to drive or out and out fast (or both) BUT at the same time they had Toyota-esque reliability and attention to detail, I really do believe Nissan over-engineers their engines in the belief that at some point they will be used in racing duty... I mean the shit I put the '88 Maxima through is proof of that, it basically said "thank you sir, may I have another?" anytime I neutral dropped the trans into drive from redline, no complaint. I would regulary hit the car's 116 MPH top speed, again no strain. E-brake J-turns? Sure why not? Overrevving the piss out of the engine for no good reason, yup no problems there. The Frontier I treated much nicer, but could it be the same way, I wouldn't doubt it really. The '02 Maxima was a completly different story, yes it was fast- I think the top speed with the 6 speed is around 160 MPH (though I hear it's a very scary experiance in that car) but it just didn't feel really well built- lots of squeeks and rattles, really ticky tacky interior trim and I hit a pothole did a bunch of damage, my other cars had no problem with the same pothole. The '02 just didn't hold up which is a shame really... it had the hardware.

I got a bit off topic, but maybe Nissan has changed from what it consistantly delivered; enjoyable yet reliable cars to just another 'blah' car company, that new gas pedal only adds credibility to my theory.....

[Eric]

Thats odd about Nissan, generaly I see them being more geared towards enthusiast drivers, compare Toyota's lineup against Nissans and you'll see what I mean.... I should know myself since I've owned a few (and still own 1) Nissans- an '88 Maxima that I still have that still runs, back then it compared favorably against BMW's.... it was fun to drive and it's 3.0 SOHC V6 was a revvy engine that gloriously sang up to it's redline and produced an impressive for the times 160 hp, plus being virtually indestructible as well.... I still have that car. Next I owned an '01 Frontier SE-V6 Desert Runner with the 3.3 SOHC V6 and the 5 speed stick. It only made 170 hp, but again it was fun to drive, durable and rugged, had personality- it even had touches of the Nissan Skyline GTR in it's interior- the gauges perfectly mimick the R34 GTR's. Getting rid of that truck was one of the stupidest things I ever did. I traded the Frontier for an '02 Maxima SE 6 speed stick. It was fast and fun BUT very fragile. That one did not last past 100k like my previous Nissans, the engine was fine, but everything else was done. I traded that one for my current '06 Mustang GT.

The reason why I quit buying Nissan was the fact that while they were either fun to drive or out and out fast (or both) BUT at the same time they had Toyota-esque reliability and attention to detail, I really do believe Nissan over-engineers their engines in the belief that at some point they will be used in racing duty... I mean the shit I put the '88 Maxima through is proof of that, it basically said "thank you sir, may I have another?" anytime I neutral dropped the trans into drive from redline, no complaint. I would regulary hit the car's 116 MPH top speed, again no strain. E-brake J-turns? Sure why not? Overrevving the piss out of the engine for no good reason, yup no problems there. The Frontier I treated much nicer, but could it be the same way, I wouldn't doubt it really. The '02 Maxima was a completly different story, yes it was fast- I think the top speed with the 6 speed is around 160 MPH (though I hear it's a very scary experiance in that car) but it just didn't feel really well built- lots of squeeks and rattles, really ticky tacky interior trim and I hit a pothole did a bunch of damage, my other cars had no problem with the same pothole. The '02 just didn't hold up which is a shame really... it had the hardware.

I got a bit off topic, but maybe Nissan has changed from what it consistantly delivered; enjoyable yet reliable cars to just another 'blah' car company, that new gas pedal only adds credibility to my theory.....

Agree with you completely on Nissans. The two Frontiers I've owned (and still have) are pretty much the best vehicles I have ever owned. As you say: They're not super quick, but they are fun to drive and as dependable as the sunrise. I know a guy who has one (an '02, I think) with 225k on the original clutch.