Gordon McGrew

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:54:37 -0800, jim beam
<spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:

>Gordon McGrew wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:17:02 -0800, jim beam
>> <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Gordon McGrew wrote:
>>> <snip>
>>> you just want to express your opinion, not discuss merits of either
>>> system. that's fine if the opinion is informed, but since you have no
>>> experience and apparently don't wish to pay any attention to fact, then
>>> your opinion isn't opinion, it's mere prejudice.
>>>
>>> i'm sorry i wasted my time.
>>
>> I stand by my original position; if it doesn't know what is happening
>> on the road ahead, it cannot possibly make the best decision regarding
>> operation of the transmission.
>
>jeepers, engage brain before opening mouth will ya? if it had that kind
>of autonomy, it wouldn't even need a steering wheel!!!

I don't expect anywhere near that level of autonomy in the foreseeable
future. Nor am I looking for it. I like to drive the car.

> way you talk,
>having 1930's style manual ignition timing controls in the middle of the
>steering wheel are the way to go too.

I am hardly a Luddite. I like technology when it is well applied. My
first Honda had a manual choke. It was fun, but I never hesitated to
exchange it for an automatic choke and later FI. These systems manage
the engine so that it gives me what I want as a driver; smooth,
predictable throttle response. That increases my control over the
power.

I remember being in 3rd grade (1964) and reading how in the future (by
the year 2000?) you would just hop in the back seat of the car and
tell it where you wanted to go. I hope they have that perfected by
the time I am too old to drive. Until then, I have no use for it. And
as long as I am driving, there are certain things I want to control.
If new technology increases my control, I am all for it. If it makes
driving easier while decreasing driver control, I have no interest in
it and I resent having to pay for it. That is how I feel about every
AT I have ever driven. I is the fundamental way in which they work
which I object to. Refining that operation does not address my
primary objection.

Gordon McGrew

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:54:37 -0800, jim beam
<spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:

>Gordon McGrew wrote:
>> On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 08:17:02 -0800, jim beam
>> <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Gordon McGrew wrote:
>>> <snip>
>>> you just want to express your opinion, not discuss merits of either
>>> system. that's fine if the opinion is informed, but since you have no
>>> experience and apparently don't wish to pay any attention to fact, then
>>> your opinion isn't opinion, it's mere prejudice.
>>>
>>> i'm sorry i wasted my time.
>>
>> I stand by my original position; if it doesn't know what is happening
>> on the road ahead, it cannot possibly make the best decision regarding
>> operation of the transmission.
>
>jeepers, engage brain before opening mouth will ya? if it had that kind
>of autonomy, it wouldn't even need a steering wheel!!!

I don't expect anywhere near that level of autonomy in the foreseeable
future. Nor am I looking for it. I like to drive the car.

> way you talk,
>having 1930's style manual ignition timing controls in the middle of the
>steering wheel are the way to go too.

I am hardly a Luddite. I like technology when it is well applied. My
first Honda had a manual choke. It was fun, but I never hesitated to
exchange it for an automatic choke and later FI. These systems manage
the engine so that it gives me what I want as a driver; smooth,
predictable throttle response. That increases my control over the
power.

I remember being in 3rd grade (1964) and reading how in the future (by
the year 2000?) you would just hop in the back seat of the car and
tell it where you wanted to go. I hope they have that perfected by
the time I am too old to drive. Until then, I have no use for it. And
as long as I am driving, there are certain things I want to control.
If new technology increases my control, I am all for it. If it makes
driving easier while decreasing driver control, I have no interest in
it and I resent having to pay for it. That is how I feel about every
AT I have ever driven. I is the fundamental way in which they work
which I object to. Refining that operation does not address my
primary objection.