I know it’s a little bit of an exaggeration but while researching and shopping for a new car it just seems like there’s a lot of carmakers that build a car then go “oh CRAP, we forgot the screen!” and take basically a huge iPad and glue it to the top of the dash. It just looks clunky and awkward to me. Very few seem interested in making it an organic part of the dashboard, it almost seems like an afterthought.

Did Tesla start this nonsense? They seem to be the biggest offender.

Seems that many are looking for a driving appliance that is an extension of their phone instead of an actual car.

Yup. Let's hear it for built-in Distracted Driving!

Precisely the reason I bought a 2012 Tacoma back in 2015. Starting with 2013 models, they have the huge touchscreen and all the nagging beeps and bells for everything imaginable.

Since pretty much everything in a car is turned on/off or adjusted via touch screen these days, the screen needs to be within easy sight and touch. I suspect cost is the primary determinant of how it is mounted. Every penny shaved off of manufacturing costs is big profit.

I had a 2004 Audi A8L which cleverly retracted the screen into the dashboard. That was a high end luxury model where cost was secondary to performance and beauty. For longer solo drives I would retract the screen to get rid of the distraction. When one of the nylon gears stripped, the entire mechanism had to be replaced, at a cost of over $1000.

In both of our current vehicles, I usually turn off the screen immediately, so at least it is dark and not a distraction.

And now think of the cost of replacing that screen out of warranty. 2025 Toyota Camry screen replacement is over $12,000 list price just for the part. That is about 1/3 - 1/4 of the cost of the car brand new depending on trim level and options.

I've been some pre purchasing research .

To date I have researched four vehicles that I think would be good for me. Over a nine month period

All more than five years old,
Two had inherent problems that cost too much to fix.
And two more vehicles that had way, way more infotainment than I would ever use.


I talked it over with some brunch buddies, one of them went and purchased a better than mint early 80's pickup with 43,000 miles on it.two owner not all original, but 70%.

He paid $4,000.00 more than what it was brand new.

He's extremely happy about the purchase, just as happy as happy can be.

After he left, the someone asked the question,
Do you suppose anyone is around that knows how to work on it ?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
I talked it over with some brunch buddies, one of them went and purchased a better than mint early 80's pickup with 43,000 miles on it.two owner not all original, but 70%.


After he left, the someone asked the question,
Do you suppose anyone is around that knows how to work on it ?

The beauty of it being an early '80's truck is that the majority of any necessary repairs will be mechanical in nature. Anything electrical would be relatively basic - switches, motors, etc. I don't remember when trucks started getting computers, but he certainly won't have to be concerned with any touch screens going bad.

I'm glad for your friend... and envious, too!

I was told earlier this year when I bought my new car that the screens were moved out of the dashboard to sit on top for safety reasons. Your line of site to the screen still allows peripheral vision out of the windshield when it is top mounted. When it's down in the dashboard you lose that and it makes it more like distracted driving.

From a salesman, so take that for what you will ...

I have a 2024 LYRIQ. The screens are nicely integrated into the dashboard area, not an iPad type thing.

There are two main section, one directly in front of the driver where the traditional instrument panel would be, and another large section in the center, between the driver and the passenger.

Each of the two sections is configurable, with a myriad of choices. They can work together, or they can be totally independent of each other.

One nice touch is the HVAC controls are all physical switches, in a logical layout, so there's no need to fumble through a bunch of screens and menus.

There's also a dynamic area in the center screen, where control icons appear depending on the situation. Example of this: the garage door opener button shows up only when in range of the garage.

The screen was the first thing I noticed when I hopped into a newer Tu dra and I think it looks horrible. I don’t really get why people love them so much, I usually look out the big piece of glass in front of me and not so much at my screen while I’m driving. I don’t think I’d like it while driving at night very much either.

I think there are advantages to the display being "set up on the dash". It puts it right up in clear sight. Another is ease of installation w/o changing the dashboard should there be a new display for next model year. Also should it need to be replaced it can be easily done. I heard a big part of warranty claims are with the displays.

It's nice for Apple CarPlay and following Google Maps when it's right up there in clear sight. OTOH I never want to have to use a touch display and menus for car functions such as the HVAC system, radio volume, heated seats, etc., no matter where they put it.

Because car manufacturers are trying to make all of the complex switches and buttons disappear to replace them with a couple of the shittiest tablets ever made. No complex moldings. No individual sensors. No led array. Just slap in a Kindle Fire in the middle with some modified Salesforce software, and boom, what a savings.

quote:

2025 Toyota Camry screen replacement is over $12,000 list price just for the part.

That boggles the mind, can you back that up with a real part number.

^^^^

A quick and dirty search seems to show that at decimal point was placed wrong, more like $1200.

I don't want a screen to incorporate too many functions and controls. That screen goes down, so does your HVAC, for example.

I think my 2009 Toyota Corolla base model is the last of a breed, or close to it. Mechanical controls for the HVAC (no little actuator motors in inaccessible locations to go bad), crank windows, etc. Although it is a bore to look at and drive, I'll keep it until it croaks or I do, whichever comes first.

quote:

Originally posted by Ripley:
^^^^

A quick and dirty search seems to show that at decimal point was placed wrong, more like $1200.

So only 3-4 times the average 60” TV

The screen in my 2025 Genesis G70 extends up from the dashboard. Good navigation and back-up camera view. Other features too. It doesn’t retract, so no mechanical mechanism to fail. I like it.

I miss the days when I could just blindly reach over and adjust the radio, HVAC, or most other controls without even looking because there were simple knobs that controlled everything.
I remember the best units allowed you to work everything with winter gloves on.

Eventually this may come back as a big money option after most drivers forget or never experienced this ancient control.

I love all the stuff on the wheel, the dashboard is a portal to hell.