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Why Does Every New Car Have Giant iPad Glued To The Dashboard?

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October 05, 2025, 08:14 PM
Black Pepper
Why Does Every New Car Have Giant iPad Glued To The Dashboard?
quote:
Originally posted by hrcjon:
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.


https://autoparts.toyota.com/p...n-86100aq040#popup-1

Not a misplaced decimal point. CCC Collision estimating system also verifies this price.
October 05, 2025, 10:56 PM
Prefontaine
quote:
Originally posted by .38supersig:
Seems that many are looking for a driving appliance that is an extension of their phone instead of an actual car.


Pretty much. These idiots live their entire lives on their phones. They do not care about driving dynamics, actual use case, or anything with a semblance of brain function. Ooh it’s got screens and things is all that matters.

Thankfully 2 of my vehicles can go full aftermarket. 1 is already fully converted over. I did that immediately after purchase in 2019. The HU started acting up on me after 6 years, so I had it replaced with a newer unit, $500. Far cry from OEM where it would have been $1600. Another vehicle is a ‘23 and I’ll rip all the OEM crap out of it in a year for full aftermarket. This is definitely something I consider when buying something. I keep things well after warranty expiration so it’s a major factor after driving dynamics and purchase price.



What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
October 06, 2025, 08:57 AM
pedropcola
I love the big screen. The hvac and radio controls are still knobs but everything else is the big screen. Makes using gps easy.

Big screens are great. Just leave certain controls tactile, like radio and hvac.
October 06, 2025, 09:06 AM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by pedropcola:

I love the big screen.
Kind of like an FMS?



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
October 06, 2025, 10:26 AM
bryan11
Those touch screens seem to be single points of failure. When the screen on my 2008 Lexus failed, many features like climate control became unavailable. Beyond the safety concerns of trying to use a touch screen while driving, now I'm asking how the vehicle may be used if the screen is unavailable.
October 06, 2025, 02:20 PM
apprentice
One of several reasons I went with a Nissan Frontier -- the screen was well placed.

Weird to me that so many of the major makers still do as the OP stated.
October 10, 2025, 10:58 PM
sjtill
I will demur. I have a 2018 Accord, and have been leasing a 2024 Mazda CX-90 (gets returned tomorrow).
The Accord has a good size screen, maybe 10 inch diameter, but HVAC controls and volume knob are analog knobs; plus there’s backups on the steering wheel.
Both vehicles have the safety features I consider essential for a daily driver, including active cruise control, emergency braking, etc. (The Mazda doesn’t really have Lane Keeping Assist.
I use Apple CarPlay, and use that exclusively for navigation, phone/messaging, and entertainment.
Apple CarPlay is so essential to me that I bought a Kenwood Clarion double-DIN infotainment unit to put in my wife’s 2006 Odyssey so she could have a backup camera (she had once backed into another car without paying attention), and on-screen GPS.


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“Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
October 12, 2025, 09:45 AM
Bob RI
Because "bigger is better" sells and they can make some big bucks off diagnostics/repairs/replacement screens. I do like a nice legible screen for navigation and cameras but other than that, not a fan of the huge screens. I also prefer HVAC controls with knobs/buttons.
October 17, 2025, 03:42 PM
trapper189
Do the little ones bug you too?:


October 19, 2025, 11:47 AM
cparktd
The .gov mandating back up cameras on all cars after 2017 helped push that trend along I expect.



Some people spread happiness wherever they go… some whenever they go.
October 19, 2025, 02:04 PM
Edmond
Then you got the idiots who have their big cell phones on a mount sitting on the dash right in front of their steering wheel on the brightest setting.


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October 19, 2025, 02:16 PM
nhracecraft
quote:
Originally posted by cparktd:
The .gov mandating back up cameras on all cars after 2017 helped push that trend along I expect.

And guess what, NOBODY knows how to use, OR even checks their mirrors anymore now! Roll Eyes


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October 19, 2025, 04:35 PM
cparktd
quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
quote:
Originally posted by cparktd:
The .gov mandating back up cameras on all cars after 2017 helped push that trend along I expect.

And guess what, NOBODY knows how to use, OR even checks their mirrors anymore now! Roll Eyes


But but but... mine said right in the manual... that is merely to supplement, not replace, the other mirrors and due diligence!



Some people spread happiness wherever they go… some whenever they go.
October 19, 2025, 06:15 PM
cslinger
quote:
And guess what, NOBODY knows how to use, OR even checks their mirrors anymore now!


Some years back my wife was backing out somewhere. The rear camera was iced/fogged/occluded in some way and it really threw her. I am sitting in the passenger seat saying.

"If only we had some kind of analog "camera" that would allow us to see behind us but be completely mechanical in nature. Something like the mirror's we have in our bathroom.....oh wait I have an idea!" She wasn't as amused as I. Big Grin


Take Care, Shoot Safe,
Chris
October 19, 2025, 07:12 PM
Johnny 3eagles
2025 Mazda CX-50 has a 10.3 inch wide screen which optionally can be touch screen or controlled by a rotating dial in the console. NOTE the buttons for ventilation in the center of the dash. Radio can be controlled by knobs, buttons or screen.







Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going.


NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
October 20, 2025, 04:56 AM
trapper189
Mirrors on car suck. Good luck with those tiny things.

True story: We just picked up our then new 2012 Honda Odyssey and went to Chick-fil-A. Upon leaving, I checked all the mirrors and windows, started to backup, heard some beeping, and stopped. Rechecked the mirrors and windows, they were clear, started backing up, and heard incessant beeping. Still nothing in the mirrors and nothing out any of the windows. The beeping was from the early model Mazda Miata with the top down behind me waiting in the drive through line. Could not see any part of that car, but that’s when it dawned on me our new vehicle had one of those new fangled backup cameras. I had been turned around looking out the back window and completely missed the screen showing me that Miata.

The mirrors on my truck are awesome though! They let me see the curbs, parking space lines, and rear tires perfectly when I purposely back into a parking space.

Another true story: my dad, who backed into the same tree three times in his own driveway, laughed at the back camera in my truck the first time he rode in it. I proceeded to back down his driveway then four houses down the street and put my hitch right under the trailer a neighbor had left at the end of the street. He never said anything about the back camera again.
October 20, 2025, 07:13 AM
mark60
I check the screen when backing up and check the mirrors, but I'm so old school I still turn my head and look out the rear window.
October 20, 2025, 08:13 AM
Johnny 3eagles
quote:
Originally posted by mark60:
I check the screen when backing up and check the mirrors, but I'm so old school I still turn my head and look out the rear window.


I'm OLDER school, my neck doesn't do that anymore.





Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going.


NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
October 20, 2025, 11:33 AM
YooperSigs
We had a chilly night and I got into my new Grand Cherokee..... And I couldn't find the screen for the heater! But our oncoming winter will train me on proper location soon enough!


End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
October 20, 2025, 12:08 PM
Edmond
quote:
Originally posted by mark60:
I check the screen when backing up and check the mirrors, but I'm so old school I still turn my head and look out the rear window.


Knew a guy with a real piece of junk with multiple dents and dings in it. He just went, people stopped for him when they saw how many “don’t give a fuck dents” (his words) were on his car. LOL.


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