Maric

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While I get some people like physical buttons (I don't), I just want to note that the 3/Y's electromechanical vents cost many dollars more per car (4x additional electric actuators at ~$4 each, plus wiring, plus software programming, I'd wager $15/car extra vs Mach-E's all mechanical vents), than mechanical vents do. They're there because it's part of the minimalism no buttons/no controls look, not because they're cheaper.

The reason other automakers aren't copying the electromechanical vents is because they cost *more*.
The argument against physical buttons, and why physical buttons are not considered 'modern' or 'futuristic' is that ultimately, anything mechanical will fail.

I do very much like the sparse simplicity of the M3 and MY. I would have preferred less buttons in the MachE. What I do think is an improvement over Tesla's design is the info panel in front of the driver's eyes. As someone who has driven Tesla's I never really loved having to glance and search for the info I needed on the 15" panel. I never felt it was intuitive. So I'm happy Ford added this info panel on the MachE.

Ultimately I'd like to see a HUD over any type of LED/LCD info screen. My wife's $27k Mazda CX-30 has a HUD and it is fantastic.

Tesla has excellent voice recognition and commands and many of the touchscreen functions can be implemented via voice. So I do think there is a valid argument against mechanical toggles in cars and for the most part they are no longer needed. But obviously this is a generational thing as well as personal preference. (I know the MachE has voice as well but remians to be seen how well it functions).

In the end Ford has probably made a good decision design wise on how to bridge a traditional ICE user to EV. Tesla wholly skipped any transitional design in their implementation.
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NoMoShocks

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The comments section on the YouTube video have been fun. LOL

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Max says he likes the fact that you can pay to unlock more performance on a regular Model Y. That just tells me you have already paid for performance you cannot use. I guess they are selling the upgrade as an offset for higher warranty claims with the extra performance,
 

balthisar

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The argument against physical buttons, and why physical buttons are not considered 'modern' or 'futuristic' is that ultimately, anything mechanical will fail.
Whose argument is that? My argument is all about tactile response. There's a lot a 'splainin' to do about tactile response; do I really have to get into the weeds with this?
 

Papa T

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Whose argument is that? My argument is all about tactile response. There's a lot a 'splainin' to do about tactile response; do I really have to get into the weeds with this?
For anyone who has ever had an Apple TV, the Apple TV remote is a very good example of this. It removes a number of tactile buttons for a swipe pad. I love my Apple products and have many of them, but I hate the Apple TV remote. They went with design over functionality. It would be so much improved with that tactile feed back you are referring to. There are many items in a car, where I would like that same type of tactile response.
 

Kamuelaflyer

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The reason other automakers aren't copying the electromechanical vents is because they cost *more*.
The reason other automakers aren't following suit is because electromechanical vents are a solution to a nonexistent problem.
 
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dbsb3233

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Mach-e has a price advantage due to federal tax credit, but this may be short lived as there is interest by the next administration to level the playing field for early US EV manufacturers that have accrued all their tax credits. This is a big issue, but I think any EV tax legislation will take a year at least to be realized if at all.
That would actually unlevel the playing field. Tesla and GM already got the 200k tax credits. Adding more now would be unfair to all the other manufacturers that took that into account in their plans and market calculations.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game would be unfair.
 

dbsb3233

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It occurs to me that I don't think I have ever heard anyone compare the sizes of different model gas tanks. I guess when fast super charging is ubiquitous, the range comparisons won't be as important. But I do understand that the transition period to EV is going to be skittish.
And if "fast super charging" were really fast. Like, gasoline fast.

If we're being bluntly honest, "fast charging" is really just "less slow than the other chargers". But it's all still slow.
 

dbsb3233

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Ultimately I'd like to see a HUD over any type of LED/LCD info screen. My wife's $27k Mazda CX-30 has a HUD and it is fantastic.
Not me. I find HUD distracting/interfering with the crucial view out the windshield. It can also only show a fraction of the detail of driver display like the MME has. And the MME displays it in a beautiful, crisp, full color presentation.

I know it's a matter of personal preference, but the MME display is 100x more preferable than a HUD would be for my tastes.
 

Kamuelaflyer

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Not me. I find HUD distracting/interfering with the crucial view out the windshield. It can also only show a fraction of the detail of driver display like the MME has. And the MME displays it in a beautiful, crisp, full color presentation.

I know it's a matter of personal preference, but the MME display is 100x more preferable than a HUD would be for my tastes.
I flew airplanes with HUD. Hated it. But, if it was available as an option on an MME, for example, I'd go for it if you could also turn it off. On-Demand HUD.

-- Captain Wishy Washy.
 

GoGoGadgetMachE

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I flew airplanes with HUD. Hated it. But, if it was available as an option on an MME, for example, I'd go for it if you could also turn it off. On-Demand HUD.

-- Captain Wishy Washy.
I think a minimal HUD e.g. speed and current limit or nav hints is nice, but nothing super fancy. There is a dash display for a reason.
 
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Kamuelaflyer

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I think a minimal HUD e.g. speed and current limit or nav hints is nice, but nothing super fancy. There is a dash display for a reason.
The nav part I'd like. but I'd still want the ability to turn it off.
 

Dmcerm

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Other automakers aren't following suit is because electromechanical vents are a solution to a nonexistent problem.
@Kamuelaflyer I was rolling some ideas in my head and wasn't able to quite articulate my thoughts... but YOU nailed it!

Whether it's fancy doors locks, VCT, fuel injection back in the day or power running boards, the first think my dad says is, "I wonder how expensive that is to fix, at today's Labor Rates at a Dealer."
But you're right, I can go to Ebay or Rockauto and buy a replacement OEM A/C vent for my '03 Grand Marquis AND put it in myself for pennies on the dollar but I am sure the whole M3 dash will have to come out to fix that air vent set up... "but, but, but, they have mobile service visits."

*your neighbors set up lawn chairs to watch the fancy Tesla get torn down to practically body-in-white to fix the air vents in your driveway.*

"Solution to a nonexistent problem."
 

BlueMach

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The nav part I'd like. but I'd still want the ability to turn it off.
Have you seen VW's "ID Light" on the ID.3/4? Seems like a neat middle ground even without a HUD, still gives indications of when and what direction to turn just with a light bar.

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