Yea I mean even the Camry is en vogue now with the 20-30 group. I see a lot of the younger crowd (e.g. less than 39) driving those sporty Camry XSE with high frequency up here in DFW. Maybe most of them wised up and realized they don't have the money to maintain a BMW or Audi.
I'm definitely a proponent of what you say, for the most part. I even said when Cadillac went to that capacitive touch dash around 8-9 years ago it was stupid. Especially for most radio and AC controls. It just needlessly increased complexity and decreased safety. In the subsequent generation, they actually returned a few of the dials and knobs after complaints. The funniest was the voice-control commands on cars. Really? You're going to tell the car "Air conditioner .... 72 degrees" and hope it understands you instead of reaching over and tapping the damn button? Not to mention if people are in the car with you : "hey guys, could you please stop talking, I need to change my AC temp!" Stuff like that is just stupid. I also don't want common stuff buried in menus I have to look over at a screen to find when they used to be.... right there.
When they first came out, TPMS were great while they lasted -- which sometimes wasn't very long. I think they're better nowadays. I actually love the one in mine. It hasn't failed yet after about 7.5 years and has probably stopped me from having under- or overinflated tires and saved me a ton of money over the years as a result. I'd definitely want it on my next car.
I hate new gear shifters. My wife's Mini has one where you hold the thumb release, push forward for reverse or backwards for drive, and it has a separate Park button that you can press any time. It's absolutely ridiculous. She's nearly drove forward into another car while trying to reverse out of a parking lot until I yelled at her to stop. Of course, she got mad at me for yelling. I'm glad Toyota has kept the traditional gear shifter, even when it's electronic now.
I'm glad that you recognize the female perspective that you were yelling AT her, not raising your voice for emphasis or to get her attention. This goes right along with cursing at her instead of cursing while you are speaking to her. You are well trained.
This is one thing I loved. I have no idea why you need a stupid, obtrusive stick sitting between seats. Push a button and be done with it. Put it up on the dash or on a screen. Then you have the people that say buttons are too complex. I knew then and there we. were. doomed. Every time I see a stick, I always think "why?"
I'm shocked that my brother's wife's 73 Bronco is worth over $100k now. He bought it for 12k a decade ago.
My 07 FJ Cruiser is worth double the $12k I paid for it three years ago and it will keep going up because they don't make them anymore. Bananas.
I tried to buy my friend's FJ but he wound up keeping it. He's been a remote worker since he's owned it (og owner). No miles on that thing. Cool car to have.
