I just want to rant how much I hate the new cars that have everything in that touch screen unit including climate controls. You can no longer feel the control with your hands instead you use the touch screen...Perhaps you hit a bump on the road, hit a wrong button..

I think its dangerous stupid tech...I Like it Not

Have you seen that newer Tesla sedan?
 
It's like you're driving a tablet. It's awful. I agree with you. I like physical buttons, switches, and knobs in cars.

For me it's just too much information on a screen that takes your eyes off the road. Looking at the screen and scrolling though the channels is no different than texting and driving. All that shait needs to be on the windshield. And someday it will. It already is (I think) on some very high-end models.

rjohnson11
The important thing is design. It has to be designed properly.

+1 and a fast processor of course, but even on the systems that have touch screen or a drive knob, I prefer to use the drive and not touch the screen. I like BMW's iDrive system.

My new Turbo Jetta has a touch screen but most all the controls are also physically on the steering wheel or you can use voice command.  I like the voice command, though the voice command in my last car, Synce version 3, was better.

I will have to agree with you totally. I have effectively been taken out of the market for a new car because of all of the technology, especially the touch screens, that are now standard in just about all of the new cars on the market.
 
First off, they can be quite a distraction to use while driving. I have driven a number of new cars while traveling and in some cases, it may require 2, 3, 4 or more inputs into a touch screen to accomplish what I can with a single input using a button or switch in my ancient (2005) vehicle. Are these screens really necessary ??? Don't think so. Do I need wi-fi in my car? Don't think so.
 
I really don't have any use for the blue tooth as when i drive, I actually turn off my phone. I often wonder how much all of the technology that is being put into new cars costs. Who is going to pay for these gadgets when they fail? I have driven in all 50 states and 16 foreign countries over the years and have had no problems travling without all of the crap car makers are expecting car buyers to embrace. Thankfully, one of my hobbies is restoring classic and muscle cars and I have a number of them that I can use. Guess I'll be saving myself some big bucks.
 
In a recent Motor Week program on TV they went through the most disliked features on new cars and the touch screen was right up there so we aren't the only ones who dislike them
 
I for one am not willing to pay for these features that I don't want or need. Thankfully, one of my hobbies is restoring classic cars so I have a number of cars at my disposal to drive.
 
 

I think steering wheel controls and HUDs should be better leveraged. Show me an efficient version of what the touch screen makes accessible which I can interact and manipulate with my steering wheel controls.
 
Keeps your eyes on the road with a quick refocus. 
 
This is why I still like to mount my phone/gps on the dash rather than use the radio screen for navigation. I don't like how far my eyes have to travel off the road to reference the navigation.