Automotive

If You Don’t Upgrade Your Car, You’ll Become A Novice Again

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Consumers have a term for leveling up their products when they want to improve the role they play in their lives. It’s called ‘upgrading’ and it doesn’t mean that you take what you have and attaching improvements on or into it. It’s an expression that means, literally buying another product that is newer, performs better in every way, and is for a purpose to make their life easier and better. Take for example, the smartphone world. A smartphone may at the top of the line when it first comes out but after 3 to 5 years, it is pretty much obsolete. Many of the new applications and software either don’t work on the older models due to major changes to the networks and programming, or simply the hardware cannot handle the new things being released. That is just how a car works except your have a decade or so of relevance in each vehicle that is new. Modern cars are computers on wheels and if you aren’t familiar with the new standards of driving and cars, you’re a novice in terms of a ‘modern’ or futuristic driver. Here’s how and why you should consider upgrading.

Unfamiliarity with new features

Manufacturers have been trying to make their cars more and more safe to drive but also keep the fun and enjoyment also. What has happened in the last decade for sure is that more everyday cars have become aligned with the top models money can buy. For example, the blind spot detector is a great feature that is simple but effective. A small triangle lights up in the wing mirrors, to let you know there is an object such as a car or motorbike in the position that you cannot see by checking your mirrors. A warning signal can appear on your dash to let you know this. However, if you have a windscreen projection you can also get the same kind of warning but in a better visible place.

Proximity sensors are placed all around the everyday normal car these days. Not just to help you while parking, these can warn you of cars either side, back and in front of you are too close. This can stop accidents from happening all the time, as drivers can be totally aware of what is around them without ever taking their eyes off the road in front of them. However, they take some getting used to as the distances need to be set, changed and often times the software needs to be updated. These are just some of the features new cars have, so if you’re not used to them you’re going to be learning after most other road users are already familiar.

It’s in the feel

For the most part, the average driver doesn’t know what makes a car special and unique in terms of handling and performance. It should be noted that any car that was made before the turn of the millenium will handle completely different to a new car, especially beyond 2010. There are very little to no computers in such cars and they are dubbed as being ‘analog’ cars. This means they’re very basic, with no electronic assistance apart from power steering. These cars will almost always be fully automatic, with no sequential gearbox and or double clutch automatic gearboxes either. They feel numb in the hands, and not a lot of feeling comes up from the seat and into the driver to let you know what is going on with the rear end.

Modern cars are different in the respects that they do give feedback but it’s done in a technological sense. If you go to some car dealers and look for near-new cars, you will notice the difference. Models that were made in 2015 or maybe 2011 are regularly on sale here as the company needs to shift these vehicles and make room for brand new cars. Look carefully and you could get a great deal, such as a 12-month warranty and considering it’s technically a used car that is a great offer. Test drives one of these vehicles and you can feel the electronic steering and now pedals make it easy to drive but allow the car to sense where the grip is. Many cars now have a limited slip differential, so the rear and front tyres can work together, but remain separate to perform fewer tasks per corner of the vehicle. Never underestimate the quality of the modern car and how the basics of driving are continually being improved.

Being part of the future

Cars are heading one way and that’s electric and automation. However, this isn’t so farfetched as we’ve seen cars from this decade begin to implement some of these new ideas already. Cars that are considered part of this newer generation have semi-autonomous driving systems. These work by the driver behind the wheel, only managing the throttle and brakes while the computers do the steering. There are lane sensors in cruise control modes, that allow drivers to waft along highways while inputting minimum corrections. The future is going to be fully autonomous so getting to know what these computers are capable of will entrust confidence. Eventually, you’ll be comfortable understanding the information that comes up on the screen in autonomous cars and you can therefore monitor the performance as the car drives itself. This is for safety reasons of course. Driving modern cars right now will allow you to be ready for the future, and not allow your skill gap to widen. The less familiar you are with modern technology, the more of a steep learning curve you will have when you need to upgrade.

Much like upgrading your smartphone, a car needs to be upgraded so you can keep up with the modern standards. Let alone that you will keep your mind sharp and understand the various computers and how they function, you’ll have the confidence to be ready for the future when it finally arrives. Being able to drive modern cars isn’t a luxury because near-new cars from dealers are a perfect way to buy a modern car that’s affordable and in great condition.

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Jessica Schirripa is the Content Director for the X Factor team. A public relations maven & a rising media personality, she focuses on developing an identity of her own as creator of CoffeeTawkNJ, Hosting on WCTC & WKMB The Buzz builds her audie ...

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