what would you change...

[pacodiablo]

what would you change about cars in general today?

 

i think i would have more stand alone options instead of packages in cars

[Jpshostr]

How about starting to use a little steel in making them now instead of all this plastic.  Frames again would also be nice.

[Elwood]

What would I change about cars?  Hhmmmm.........how about.....That some of them are made by Ford.  

 

Sorry Paco, I couldn't resist.

 

I agree with the stand alone options.

[patrick]

MORE CUPHOLDERS

The 18-20 that most vehicles have now are not nearly enough!

[MountaineerTom]

Chrome steel bumpers.  

[gandolphxx]

Make the computer interactive - allow you to setup your lighting options, door locks, etc.

 

!speed limiter !rev limiter !torque management

[Guest Friz]

Make the computer interactive - allow you to setup your lighting options, door locks, etc.

 

!speed limiter !rev limiter !torque management

I like that one!

I'd also like to see some common sense approach to performance and economy. Fuel injection and computers have done wonders for our motors, but why are we still running the same old restrictive intakes, exhausts, and head designs?

[antig24]

more RWD cars i agree with the rest of ya

[carguru]

More rear drivers and stand alone options and nicer looking cars No Aztec please.

[ekonk]

I think I'll go with everybody else's answers (except maybe the one about more cup holders...18-20 is enough for me...most of the time )

Stand-alone options, Body-on-frame design (at least on some models), Chrome steel bumpers (gotta love that), interactive computers, RWD are all things I'd like to see more often.

 

One thing that I'll add, is full instrumentation.  While trucks are usually pretty good about giving info to the driver (speedo, tach, temp, oil, volts, fuel level), I'd like to have more gauges (especially in my buick...speedo and fuel level...that's it?).  I'd like to know tranny temp, fuel pressure, manifold pressure, etc.  They don't need to be real gauges, either, it could just be a display I could bring up that tells me what the computer knows and I don't.

[siume99]

I to agree with all the answers so far....though what if some of those 18 cup holders could handle different sized glasses, mugs, etc.  I like the additional gauges also.  Customizable displays of gauges.  Electronically assign a consol area a particular gauge readout.

 

How about trucks and especially cars have more leg and head room.  People are getting taller....expand the seating.  Have their tallest engineer sit in the back seat of any of the midsize cars for an extended trip.  Rear doors that open the full 90deg to the side of the vehicle.....allows you to get larger things in the back seat.  Adjustable tilt steering, front seats that recline all the way (for lunch break naps, long trip rests, hauling longer items.)  While I'm dreaming, why not make it possible to select FWD or RWD as an option....they do for engines.  (expense of this mod....I think is too great though ??? )  How about getting more diesel engines?  I know this is more of a US thing since Europe has about 40% diesel cars.  Windshields that display night vision.....though a problem with uncoming cars....."white-out" conditions.  Adjustable throttle/brake response....like the mouse on your computer.  Brake lights that are variable intensity (such as a strip of lights that vary the number of lights on for the force of the braking).  How about a truck braking system that matches the performance of a car?  

 

I ran out of ideas....for the time being.    

[bluelab]

Id like to see the price go down and warranty time go up...

and you guys covered the rest...

[01z71]

Bluelab -- I'm with you.  

[Chief Smallfire]

I'd like to see them equiped with all the cool gadgets that  James Bond and Batman have...but without the OnStar.

[CMNTMXR81]

Make the computer interactive - allow you to setup your lighting options, door locks, etc.

 

!speed limiter !rev limiter !torque management

I like that one!

I'd also like to see some common sense approach to performance and economy. Fuel injection and computers have done wonders for our motors, but why are we still running the same old restrictive intakes, exhausts, and head designs?

The reason lies in the fact that 99% of the motoring public aren't gearheads.  The only time their hoods get opened is when the local Jiffy lube refills the engine with oil.  There are other factors that are computed into the formula such as noise, emissions, environmental, durability/warranty, and reliability.

 

It'd be great if it were the 60's and we could just stick a high rise stack air cleaner on our throttle bodies, but that isn't the case nowadays.  Simply looking at the performance and economy side is neglecting many other important criteria that fit the majority.

 

With that said, overall I'm pretty happy with today's cars.  I really don't buy them for style, how many cupholders, fit and finish, and the quality of the interior materials.  While those are nice, I'm more concerned about how it functions.  I'm more concerned about the engine, drivetrain and chassis than anything else.

 

Although overriding the PCM on a few things would be nice!