A new study has found that more than half of motorists think modern technology is taking the fun out of driving.
Of those who responded to the study, which was commissioned by us here at CarGurus UK, 52 percent think that hitting the road will be less enjoyable due to the phasing-out of traditional controls such as handbrake levers and manual gearboxes, as they are gradually replaced by more modern alternatives such as electronic parking brakes, automatic gearboxes and battery-electric drivetrains.
Meanwhile, 55 per cent respondents are convinced that the end of manual controls is going to mean that new drivers will miss out on the joys of driving altogether.
CarGurus UK has been charting the steady decline of the manual handbrake annually over recent years, and you can read the latest instalment here.
Spare Wheels, Engine Noise and Keys Among Top Features
The new poll, which sought the opinion of 2,000 UK drivers, found that the traditional features motorists will miss most when they finally become completely defunct are spare wheels (21 per cent), engine noise (26 per cent) and key-operated ignitions (18 per cent).
With touchscreens increasingly becoming the norm in modern cars, the CarGurus research found 49 per cent of drivers yearn for ‘old-fashioned’ knobs and buttons. Meanwhile, as many as 44 per cent admitted that they don’t tend to use features like touchscreens because they find them distracting or don’t trust them, and 59 per cent said they struggle to get their head around all the features on modern cars.
The research also found that many drivers have a nostalgic affection for ‘analogue’ features including door mirrors instead of cameras (30 per cent), and cassette tape decks (19 per cent).
Among the modern features people do appreciate are parking sensors (50 per cent), reversing cameras (44 per cent) and heated seats (36 per cent).
The most-used features during a typical drive are rain-sensing windscreen wipers (63 per cent), reversing cameras (59 per cent), and automatic stop-start engine systems (54 per cent).
Is Technology a Priority?
When buying their most recent vehicle, the tech on board was a moderate or high priority for 57 per cent of respondents.
Some more futuristic elements that those polled said that they would like to see include wireless charging for EVs (33 per cent), external airbags (25 per cent) and digital windscreens (24 per cent).
In terms of the effect that technology is having on road safety, the study found that 55 per cent of drivers think driving skills are on the decline due to modern features, although 45 per cent believe that the roads are generally becoming safer. Similarly, 53 per cent reckon technology advancements are making vehicles easier to drive, and 34 per cent think that this technology is more of a help than a hindrance.
When it comes to self-driving cars, 29 per cent are cautious about them and 24 per cent worried, with 49 per cent ‘unlikely’ to consider buying one, although 33 per cent would.
The Top 20 Car Features that Drivers Would Miss
The spare wheel, handbrake lever and door mirrors instead of cameras are among the top 20 features that drivers will miss when they are eventually phased out. Meanwhile, survey respondents claimed a nostalgic fondness for now largely defunct features including manual window winders, manual (crank operated) sunroof, pop-up headlights and a manual choke. For a full list, see our guide to the Top 20 Disappearing Car Features That Drivers Will Miss.