It turns out that more technology in cars isn’t necessarily something customers want, and it’s not really improving their driving experience. We know my thoughts on the matter, but I’ll do my best to stay impartial on this latest survey from JD Power that shows most customers don’t appreciate technology in cars unless they can see a clear benefit to them.
JD Power’s 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study evaluated over 81,000 drivers’ experience with “advanced vehicle technologies” in 2024 model year vehicles after 90 days of ownership, It turned out to be a pretty mixed bag when it came to what people liked using. There are a number of tech features that customers like using because they feels that it answers their needs, but at the same time there is a whole lot that don’t get used very often or are continually annoying, according to the survey.
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I bought a $10 Bluetooth adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter hole and then an aux cord in our 2010 vehicle. It works significantly more reliably than our other, 2020 vehicle with built-in Bluetooth, touchscreen and all the bells-and-whistles. Seriously, I turn my 2010 car on, “successful connection” every time within seconds. The 2020, I inevitably get failed connections. I don’t think my phone has connected to it first try, once. And then sometimes it fails to connect either the audio or the phone calls. Or, I get it connected and my wife gets to the car with her phone and suddenly my Bluetooth connection is gone and we’re listening to her phone. It’s just infuriating.
I had the same setup going on for a few years myself. The dongle recently bit the dust and I’ve been too lazy to replace it but my car’s bt connection is nowhere near as reliable as that $17 dinky device from amazon. Like 50% of the time my car will throw an error claiming my phone isn’t capable of Bluetooth audio while playing a song from it
(but really really I just want a headphone jack on my phone again)
A million times yes. I LOATHE having to update my earbuds’ firmware when I’m at the gym and I just want to start exercising already.
I’ve got a 2012 Mazda 3. The radio was dumb, so I replaced the radio with a Pioneer one that supports Android Auto. Works perfectly.
What adapter is that? I can only find the stupid fm adaptors
This one: https://www.coupang.com/vp/products/2287174737?itemId=3931382414&vendorItemId=71915861738&q=brisa+bluetooth&itemsCount=49&searchId=591d787f3d8642978b2e7eeab0727fb7&rank=3&isAddedCart=
I have a cigarette lighter-USB adapter already plugged in.
Ahhh thank you I’ll have to see if I can find something like that in my country