Where’s the PRNDL

[u/PhoenixPhenomenonX]

credits : cherubg1rl

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[u/NotBillderz]

"Why is there a rope here?"

[u/Raytech555 → u/NotBillderz]

So the driver can hang himself

[u/TheMinister → u/Raytech555]

You have a lot of belief in 3 inches being useful.

[u/Efficient-Bet-5051 → u/TheMinister]

That's what she said.

[u/No_Mony_1185 → u/Efficient-Bet-5051]

3" going 100mph can do a lot of damage

[u/ANONYMOUSEJR → u/No_Mony_1185]

That's how he replied.

[u/Bannon9k → u/No_Mony_1185]

Dude, you reminded me of when the crash test dummies came to visit us in school in second grade in the late 80s... The first one shows up in costume saying that he's waiting for his friend, then they played the crashing sounds on a tape cassette player, then the second one came busting through the door saying "it's amazing where you can park doing 80"

And that kids is the only thing I remember from car safety education in school.

[u/KugelFanger → u/TheMinister]

I'll have you know i made 2 kids with that amount of inches.

[u/N3rd1x → u/KugelFanger]

So one and a half inch a pop?

[u/sadonly001 → u/TheMinister]

My wife has assured me repeatedly that 3 inches is plenty

[u/dontfollowmeimlost02 → u/sadonly001]

3 inches is actually quite large.😉

[u/KamiKazic → u/TheMinister]

Any rope master can make 3 inches work

[u/samgarita → u/NotBillderz]

My girlfriend has the new Mini. I drove it a few weeks ago for the first time and that stupid decorative “rope” has incredibly sharp edges! I was doing a full wheel turn and have the tendency to casually park my hand on the bottom of the wheel and almost cut myself. It’s dumb. I hate it.

[u/fatdjsin → u/samgarita]

Its a mini ....did u expect function over form?

[u/dontfollowmeimlost02 → u/fatdjsin]

The original was pure function over form but it still looked great.

[u/Excellent-Falcon-329 → u/dontfollowmeimlost02]

Good for stylish 60s gold robberies as well

[u/FarCanal69 → u/Excellent-Falcon-329]

YOU WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BLOW THE BLOODY DOORS OFF

[u/notatechnicianyo → u/FarCanal69]

“I had. A bad. Experience.”

[u/DarkNinjaPenguin → u/Excellent-Falcon-329]

Arguably still the most stylish a gold robbery has ever been.

[u/FarCanal69 → u/dontfollowmeimlost02]

Now they are the biggest fuckin things you have ever seen with "mini" slapped on it.

Peak irony

[u/FortunePaw → u/fatdjsin]

The previous Gen (F56 and F60) had buttons and toggles, switches for days.

Then the new BMW design language slipped in and now we have this abomination.

[u/badboybry9000 → u/fatdjsin]

No kidding. They put a big ass screen on the dash but made it round instead of rectangular. You're losing like 30% of your screen area.

[u/Physical-Car-6111 → u/NotBillderz]

Who's done this?

[u/cturkosi → u/Physical-Car-6111]

The interior design department at Mini has been plotting for years to specifically piss off cherubg1rl and they are currently cackling with delight.

If you speed up the background hum from the video and play it backwards, you can distinctly hear "MUHAHA!!!"

[u/FullaLead → u/NotBillderz]

I'm wondering if it's to keep the emblem part from slamming into your face if the airbag deploys

[u/iwasinthepool → u/FullaLead]

Instead, it swings down and hits you in the crotch.

[u/DashTrash21 → u/iwasinthepool]

*Swings down and Falcon Punches you in the crotch

[u/47radAR → u/DashTrash21]

If nobody else got it, I did.

[u/Espexer → u/iwasinthepool]

Broken nose and a nut punch. Classic Geoffrey. Ha!

[u/H47o → u/iwasinthepool]

So you cannot reproduce. Because you deployed the air bag.

[u/Spinnweben → u/FullaLead]

Advertising.

The surgeon in the ER can see: this life was saved by (reads patient's forehead imprint) IИIM.

[u/Playful_Assistance89 → u/Spinnweben]

It used to be an Audi.

[u/rydenshep → u/FullaLead]

Why don’t they just.. hang on.. design a better fucking steering wheel

[u/leavemealonegeez8 → u/rydenshep]

A great steering wheel that doesn’t whiff out the window while I driving. That is a good idea

[u/RobertWilliamBarker → u/NotBillderz]

Legitimate question. I wonder if there is some odd rule or regulation that deems it necessary?

[u/boxsterguy → u/RobertWilliamBarker]

Pretty sure it's just styling.

[u/ImN0tAsian → u/boxsterguy]

Ya just mini styling. Gotta be a little quirky, thems the rules

[u/Natedoggsk8 → u/boxsterguy]

And cheaper probably

[u/derekkeller → u/Natedoggsk8]

Cheaper than NOT having a rope?

[u/Robdotcom-71 → u/derekkeller]

A steering wheel without rope? Whoa... we have a trendsetter here..... /s

[u/Puzzleheaded_Bake771 → u/RobertWilliamBarker]

Ahhh...yes...the great rope rule of 1996.

[u/IntrepidBandit]

Where is mr mosby when you need him

Edit: I knew this comment would attract my people lul

[u/Superseaslug → u/IntrepidBandit]

"WOULD YOU LIKE AM, OR FMMMMMMM??!?!"

[u/jahnbodah → u/Superseaslug]

https://youtu.be/6yCPuNslf9U?si=Qg_5M25lCkAMubhe

[u/PopeGeorgeRingo_II → u/Superseaslug]

Hooch is crazy...

[u/wesley410 → u/IntrepidBandit]

Mosby: Are you familiar with the gear shift?

London: You mean the PRNDL?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFDy9pGTtjE&t=38s

[u/Resident_Mixture8688 → u/wesley410]

Would you like amm or fmmmm?

[u/robgod50 → u/IntrepidBandit]

I'm almost 60 years old and I get this reference. My kids loved that show and we'd often watch it together

[u/SomethingIWontRegret → u/IntrepidBandit]

Pretty sure this is what she is referencing, intentionally.

[u/Shantotto11 → u/IntrepidBandit]

I respect Brenda Song for single-handedly making this the new term for the gear shift.

[u/Wildwill6969 → u/IntrepidBandit]

That's where I heard this and I still use it too

[u/Intempore → u/IntrepidBandit]

Zach and Cody reference wow

[u/Rillo298]

Man, when I was working as a valet, we had some real stupid ones come in. I think It was a G-wagon, it had a knob for the gear shift that would automatically hide itself when the car wasn't turned on. Best one was a Raptor with a train horn, the owner told me to honk it when I pulled it up.

Poor desk clerk nearly died of a heart attack.

[u/LegendOfVinnyT → u/Rillo298]

I think the hiding gear shifter is a Genesis thing. The G-wagen has a column shifter for off-road use. Not that anybody buys a 6-figure German SUV for anything more rugged than a gravel driveway.

[u/superfuzzbros → u/LegendOfVinnyT]

Most G-wagons yes. But a couple of months ago I met a guy from Holland on an off-road ride to a glacier and he was ripping around in a $350k G-wagon 4x4²

I was shocked when I learned how much it cost the day after the trip. Everyone kept asking about it and he said “it was built to drive off road. I’d be doing it a disservice to not take it out”

[u/zigzoing → u/superfuzzbros]

That's the attitude of a really rich person. Those people who want to act rich by buying a car they can't afford while going deep into debt only drive their G-Wagon to show off.

[u/Pimpinabox → u/zigzoing]

That's the attitude of a really rich person.

That's the attitude of someone who values their vehicle for what it is rather than an accessory to show off. I do agree, though, that it's only a rational attitude for people who have enough money that they're not worried about their cars value... But there are plenty of poor people who behave the same way about their cars even though they can't afford to replace even a PoS.

[u/ProperProfessional93 → u/Rillo298]

I work as a valet too, and unfortunately I’ve gotten myself stuck in a couple cars because I couldn’t find the damn door handle 😂

[u/Diaverr → u/Rillo298]

owner told me to honk it when I pulled it up.

😂 😂, I am sorry 

[u/CpuJunky]

Lol. Thank God even the younger generations are like wtf?! Looks like a 2025 Mini Cooper Countryman.

The "shifter" is the little toggle switch below and to the left of the big useless circle display.

[u/Kalopsia_82 → u/CpuJunky]

Atleast there is a "shifter", just wait until they remove it and make you swipe up and down on the screen to change direction, oh wait.... /s

[u/mr_cf → u/Kalopsia_82]

European regulations are banning essential functions on touch screens. They are bringing in a requirement for physical buttons, knobs and switches, as screen cause drivers to take their eyes off the road for too long.

[u/TyroneSwoopes → u/mr_cf]

Imagine how enshitified everything would be if the EU wasn’t there as a consumer protection buffer. The US would be fucked especially under our current admin who couldn’t give two shits about consumers.

[u/by-myself_blumpkin → u/TyroneSwoopes]

It's so silly because a lot of these changes just feel like out of touch executives going "we gotta put touch screens in there! That's how you know it's a new expensive car!" And not caring about the application at all. Just put the technology in it, figure out why later.

[u/DropstoneTed → u/by-myself_blumpkin]

Touch screens are frequently confused as a luxury item by consumers, and double as a cheapout for manufacturers since real quality gauges and switchgear are more expensive.

Any time you see a car full of screens, it's because the manufacturer was trying to cut costs.

[u/mortemdeus → u/DropstoneTed]

Tesla has entered the chat

[u/belligerentBe4r → u/mr_cf]

Good, even VW was going full regard, and when you’ve even lost the Germans to form over function, then you’ve lost the world.

Except Mazda and Toyota, they keep killing it.

[u/cmndrhurricane → u/Kalopsia_82]

Shifting gear becomes a microtransaction

[u/JebediahKerman4999 → u/Kalopsia_82]

I think tesla does this, no?

[u/110010010011 → u/JebediahKerman4999]

That’s the joke™

[u/mikeyp83 → u/CpuJunky]

And I thought the shifters on the new Hyundais were the worst.

[u/Cpt0bvius → u/mikeyp83]

Do those use the little diglet selector?

[u/Salted_Cola → u/CpuJunky]

Isnt it pretty far out of regular reach? I gotta be able to use that in correct resting position. Or is it an optical illusion of the camera angle?

[u/paapkaan]

and why is all the rum gone?

[u/theFrankSpot → u/paapkaan]

Hello, Elizabeth…

[u/XJRS → u/theFrankSpot]

Sea turtles mate

[u/LurksWithGophers → u/XJRS]

Human hair. From my back.

[u/banal_remarks → u/paapkaan]

I just rewatched that movie 2 weeks ago. Man it's so good. Everything ties together, the acting, the story, the music, the visuals. Early 2000s was such great cinema.

[u/RedOctobyr → u/banal_remarks]

Coming from another post about O Brother Where Art Thou, I have to agree.

[u/BChurchmountain]

They’re going the John Deere route.

They want all repairs done their way and no third party involvement.

It’s gross.

[u/alex_c89X → u/BChurchmountain]

Lets hope the dumb cars catch on. I saw plans for a dumb truck where everything on the dash is back to analog. Not a screen in sight. Best part is that it should be below 30k. But this was like 2 years ago

[u/RockyBass → u/alex_c89X]

A basic bluetooth radio for music is about the only "tech" i want on my car. It's probably the main reason I've kept my older car going for so long.

[u/Smokes_LetsGo876 → u/RockyBass]

I just bought a used car last year that had my first radio with bluetooth capability. It was dope at first, and now it constantly decides it doesnt want to allow my phone to connect for audio. Calls only. Its fucking infuriating

I really wish I just had an aux port.

[u/cuber_and_gamer → u/Smokes_LetsGo876]

This is the reason why I don't use Bluetooth in my car. I don't even use my phone because changing a song gets a bit too involved for my liking (especially during icy winter months). I legitimately use an iPod Nano in my car for music. No ads, no phone calls, and hundreds of songs at my disposal that can easily be skipped in a click of a button. No messing with a screen. I'm also lucky that there's a music store in my town that I can buy a ton of CDs from, rip them, and put them on my iPod. And I also now own all of my music because fuck streaming services.

[u/digost → u/Smokes_LetsGo876]

I know it's illegal in many countries (including mine), but I solved it with a Bluetooth FM transmitter that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket.

[u/Smokes_LetsGo876 → u/digost]

I dont think those are illegal in my country. I had one a long time ago and it worked pretty well, I should look into getting another. Thanks for reminding me about those things

[u/Shiroke → u/digost]

Why would that be illegal???

[u/digost → u/Shiroke]

Because for transmitting into FM range (or any radio frequency really, outside Bluetooth, Wifi and some other bands) you have to have a license. Legislation depends on the country, but those low-power cigarette lighter type of transmitters have low enough range and don't cause a lot of troubles, so usually they get ignored, despite being technically illegal.

[u/Medium_Cranberry4096 → u/digost]

So what you're saying is I'm effectively a pirate radio station 🏴‍☠️

[u/real_eEe → u/RockyBass]

My mom got a new Tiguan. The screen is the size of my laptop and had an AI that constantly tries to talk to her. I swear it interrupted us talking and said something like "This conversation has feelings of sadness. Do you want me to change the music to fit your mood" or some shit. I asked her to turn it off and she said "I don't know how and I kind of like her." We really are fucked.

[u/DownWithHisShip → u/RockyBass]

my work truck has automatic headlights... including automatic high beams for some reason that turn on in bad situations. i've inadvertently flashed soooo many people, the high beams love to turn on as soon as someone passes me. someone's going to road rage shoot me someday.

[u/Entaris → u/alex_c89X]

Hopefully. 

Makes me think of the Toyota Yaris commercials from like 2012. 

“The Yaris has windows that roll down… and up. STANDARD.   Yaris: it’s a car “

They seemed silly at the time. Note it seems like it’d be a huge hit 

[u/waytowill → u/alex_c89X]

Dumb cars, or at least analog controls for most of the dash, are being recommended by every safety devision because smart cars have been on the road long enough now to prove that they’re a legitimate danger. Turns out taking your eyes off the road in order to fuddle with the AC is a legitimate safety concern. Who woulda guessed.

Manufacturers may try to fight this, but if it becomes a class-action lawsuit, it would be a pretty clear cut case. Especially since most countries in Europe will require analog due to these safety standards being implemented, it’d be cheaper to just give every model analog controls.

[u/broesel314 → u/alex_c89X]

There is nothing wrong with Screens

Its Touchscreens for everything that don't belong in cars

I don't mind getting a full Keyboard displayed to enter a destination to the nav but almost everything else should be illuminated physical buttons that you can find and press blind

[u/Clunas → u/broesel314]

This. Screen for nav and music (selection) is fine. Buttons and knobs for climate and volume controls are a safety feature.

[u/Commercial-Royal-988 → u/broesel314]

This. I use the screen for GPS. Thankfully my radio buttons were just moved to the steering wheel so I didn't lose them, but moving all these things to a touch screen which are notoriously finnicky is a terrible idea. A car is the last place you want to have a single fail point for basically everything; its already a several ton missle being piloted by an on average inattentive moron.

[u/spingus → u/broesel314]

there is an entire huge demographic of people 40+ who need reading glasses, but otherwise have good vision.

We do not want these people having to put their reading glasses on to operate the screen that is integral to the operation of their vehicle.

Reading glasses are not compatible with driving.

[u/Bob-Bhlabla-esq → u/alex_c89X]

Ohhh, if this is true christmas came early this year!

I fucking loath all this touch screen shit in a car!

Buttons weren't broke! You didn't have to look at the dashboard at all, you could just feel your way and keep your eyes on the road 🤦‍♀️

I recently rented a car where you couldn't get a map, navigation, or half the radio stations because you needed a subscription. Even older touch screen cars still let you have a fucking map.

Please, please, bring back dumb cars.

[u/togetherwem0m0 → u/alex_c89X]

The slate truck. Looks cool

[u/_Cinnabar_ → u/BChurchmountain]

wanted to help a friend replace the battery in her mini because it can't be that hard, I've done it enough times with other cars.

did some research since I heard there's a catch, turns out exchanging the battery is a bit more complicated than most cars, but still easy, that's not a problem.

BUT a new battery has to be "activated", or the start/stop function wouldn't work and "the car might not start at all".

this of course has to be done by a "licenced mechanic", i. e. the nearest mini center, and costs ~150€....

simply fuckin telling the car "hey, there's a new battery here, in case you didn't notice!"

and they of course also don't allow you to come with your own battery because "that might be unsafe"....

fuckers made a battery change that should have cost exactly the ~150€ of the battery then cost ~550€ 🙃

will never buy a mini ever

[u/mksmith95 → u/_Cinnabar_]

YES! Just like how some cars charge a subscription fee to simply use the remote start option! How disgustingly greedy.

[u/Dimmed_skyline → u/mksmith95]

Mini is owned by BMW FYI, they were the ones who kinda started the whole charging subscription fees on already installed features enshitification car brands are trying to push on us.

[u/narvuntien → u/BChurchmountain]

https://www.autoblog.com/news/bmws-screw-that-no-one-else-can-turn

[u/welchplug → u/narvuntien]

I give it less than a year before some makes a screwdriver for it.

[u/Brad_again → u/welchplug]

15 minutes and dremel.

[u/Error-451]

That round screen is the ugliest shit I've ever seen

[u/andrew_1515 → u/Error-451]

It looks like the old iPod wheel control

[u/Lunarbutt → u/andrew_1515]

iSteer

[u/Radioactive-235 → u/Lunarbutt]

iSCREAM!

[u/4158264146 → u/Radioactive-235]

uSCREAM!

[u/senseofnickels → u/Lunarbutt]

iSteerClear

[u/LookMaNoPride → u/andrew_1515]

I thought it looked like the TVs from Fallout. Or how old movies foresaw the future of entertainment.

[u/RIF_rr3dd1tt → u/andrew_1515]

https://youtu.be/9BnLbv6QYcA?si=ucNtkdBh-n6Gi9cr

[u/trackdaybruh → u/Error-451]

It's a Mini Cooper

[u/Shifti_Boi → u/trackdaybruh]

Immediately identified it as a Mini before I saw the steering wheel.

[u/GuacaGuaca → u/Error-451]

That screen reminds me of the Pyramid from Sabre

[u/OpaqueCrystalBall → u/Error-451]

So space inefficient too.

[u/Santa_Hates_You → u/OpaqueCrystalBall]

Should be a pyramid

[u/mrWLSN → u/Santa_Hates_You]

Well it is the strongest shape. It fits all other shapes inside.

[u/shayKyarbouti → u/Error-451]

Have you not seen the inside of a Mini Cooper before? They’ve had a round center stack since basically the beginning of their life. They’re stuck with it now

[u/TortugaJack → u/Error-451]

It's an homage to the original 1959 Mini interior. All subsequent Mini versions including more modern ones have a round central dial.

I think it's awesome. You get a Mini because you like the original spirit and its quirks.

Edit: Also, the PRNDL is in the small oval shaped panel below the screen. She almost touched it referring to the AC controls.

[u/real_channy → u/TortugaJack]

The PRNDL is place so fucking badly. like why that far away.
Its the same in the Peugeot 3008 2025 model, BUT AT LEAST ITS VISIBLE

[u/EduinBrutus → u/TortugaJack]

You get a Mini because you like the original spirit and its quirks

Haiving an automatic transmission is certainly not in the original spirit.

[u/_Middlefinger_ → u/EduinBrutus]

The original Mini could be had in automatic form, but its was even more incredibly slow.

[u/Liddle_Jawn → u/TortugaJack]

Why is it impeding the line of sight of the windshield from the drivers seat?

[u/dumptruckulent]

Ok I’m calling it a PRNDL from now on

[u/_Doctor_Whom_ → u/dumptruckulent]

My partner also refers to it as a Prindle, because it was a joke from his favorite episode of Mama's Family where Thelma learns to drive.

[u/traha1516 → u/_Doctor_Whom_]

It was on Green Acres 25 years before Mama’s Family.

[u/JustHereSoImNotFined → u/traha1516]

I learned it from Suite Life

[u/VioEnvy → u/JustHereSoImNotFined]

Yes when London Tipton was learning how to drive 🙂

[u/noddegamra → u/VioEnvy]

Should we listen to AM or FM.

[u/trixel121 → u/noddegamra]

phemmm

[u/HotGravy → u/JustHereSoImNotFined]

They used to test for it during your horseback class in ancient greece.

[u/atxbigfoot → u/traha1516]

Look, I don't mean to be rude, but,

GREEEEN ACRES is the place TO BE. FAAArm livin' is the life FOR ME.

thanks for the weird childhood memory lmao.

Edit for the youngin's-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrbPAt1_vc4

[u/fly_over_32 → u/dumptruckulent]

That’s what she called it? English isn’t my first language and I thought I just didn’t know that word. Thanks for clearing that up, imma steal it too

[u/isolateddreamz → u/fly_over_32]

PRNDL -->

Park

Reverse

Neutral

Drive

Low

[u/pillainp → u/isolateddreamz]

I only have a PRNDM. What do I do?

[u/RasknRusk → u/pillainp]

I only have a 12345R. What do I do?

[u/Phrewfuf → u/RasknRusk]

Engage Race Gear.

[u/HCG-Vedette → u/Phrewfuf]

I’m trying this in the middle of the highway

[u/Spork_the_dork → u/HCG-Vedette]

Yeah it's used for overtaking.

Or for turning your gearbox to atoms, can't remember.

[u/Lonewolf2nd → u/RasknRusk]

I don't want to show off, but I got a

R123456.

But also curious, what to do.

[u/YeaThatWay → u/pillainp]

Still call it PRNDL

[u/bornagy → u/YeaThatWay]

What about R123456?

[u/AandWKyle → u/bornagy]

That's a Runtwunny 3, Four Fifty Six

[u/vertlegs → u/pillainp]

Seems like you've got bigger PRBLM's to worry about.

[u/ChriMakesAllTheDrugs → u/isolateddreamz]

Thanks a lot! As a person that only drives manual I did not understand lol

[u/Robo-boogie → u/fly_over_32]

Gear shift

[u/iprobablybrokeit → u/Robo-boogie]

Nah, is PRiNDLe now.

[u/duggatron → u/dumptruckulent]

I was an interior engineer early in my career. Everyone says "prindle" exactly like she did. I had multiple "prindle bezels" on my programs.

[u/MostRandomUsername12 → u/dumptruckulent]

Put the PRNDL in the D...

[u/Fuzzy-Egg777]

So where IS the PRINDL? Do you shift on the screen or is there a button somewhere?

[u/FactOfMatter → u/Fuzzy-Egg777]

The left button underneath the circular display when she points and asks where the AC controls are.

[u/Syteless → u/FactOfMatter]

Oh it's a little prndl clitoris, I see!

[u/Fuzzy-Egg777 → u/Syteless]

That’s why I couldn’t find it. I’m a guy.

[u/Fuzzy-Egg777 → u/FactOfMatter]

Oh I see the PRNDL now. Thanks.

[u/joshandyourmom1]

Did anyone hear “PRNDL” in London Tipton’s voice

[u/BranWafr → u/joshandyourmom1]

London Tipton's really great, really great, and she deserves the opposite of hate. Which is love...

[u/Over-Analyzed → u/joshandyourmom1]

Would you prefer AMMM or FMMMMM?!

[u/iamiam123]

As an Automotive engineer (firstly, sorry), we do not have any control over the design. It's the high managers that decide it all. We'd place functionality over form. Screens are much worse.

[u/shawslate → u/iamiam123]

"High managers"

Well that explains a lot, honestly.

[u/Pussy4LunchDick4Dins → u/iamiam123]

Dear god. MBA bros are literally destroying everything. They have the worst taste on earth and they’re forcing it all on us. 

[u/IpppyCaccy → u/Pussy4LunchDick4Dins]

The term for this is "enshittification"

[u/weedtrek]

It's not funny, it's accurate and sad.

[u/alexanderpas → u/weedtrek]

The arguments are completely valid.

In honor of that, it shall be known as PRNDL for now on.

So say we all.

[u/KiloJools → u/alexanderpas]

So say we all.

[u/Da_Question → u/KiloJools]

So say we all.

[u/academiac → u/weedtrek]

I'm seriously concerned about upgrading my car because of this shit. I'm glad the wranglers still have almost everything with physical buttons in addition to the screen controls

[u/DonGivafark]

Call me old fashioned but I too wonder why the buttons and dials are phasing out. Touch screen just locks too many features away behind a screen that could die or break. As an entertainment control it's fine. But nowadays the essential functions of the car are locked to the screen. Seems risky

[u/Original_Giraffe8039 → u/DonGivafark]

A lot of manufacturers are supposedly vowing to bring them back in because screens for everything create more accidents and more complaints by customers. Tactility is a thing for a reason 

[u/FreedomBread → u/Original_Giraffe8039]

I'm not joking that we have retained our fairly old cars because they were made shortly before the car manufacturers lost their minds over screens.

I have knobs and switches for everything and a 5 CD changer. It's glorious.

We rented a minivan that was pretty new a couple years ago, and we were literally scouring the internet and the manual to understand how to make sound work for the audio when you play a bluray. I'm not kidding that it took like 5 steps to make sound come out for a movie. It was infuriating. You had 3 submenus to assign speakers to the audio system. And when you turned off the car, these assignments were lost and you had to do them again.

[u/mr_lab_rat → u/DonGivafark]

I’m surprised you are even asking. It’s cheaper to make.

[u/grmrsan → u/DonGivafark]

And requires much more attention to find! You can glance briefly and then find what you need by touch in older cars. Newer ones require you to concentrate on menus and looking at a screen

[u/Robdotcom-71]

And you may find yourself in an automobile... without a PRNDL and you may ask yourself

How did I get here?

[u/TheGrandWaffle69 → u/Robdotcom-71]

Letting the cars go by, Letting the new cars hold me down, Into the street again, Letting the new cars hold me down, And you may ask yourself, how do I work this?

[u/ahlvahroe]

Ugh! I’ve been a mini cooper guy for like 10+ years. Had multiple. Got a ‘26 loaner recently and My next car is definitely not going to be a new mini because of this redesign. The new gear switch is super fickle, and doesn’t feel as smooth. The middle console has a terrible user interface. Just poorly designed and not user friendly. Just trying to find basic things keeps your eyes off the road too long. The side mirrors for some reason transition to get really dark at night, which I assume is to reduce glare but more than that it just makes it hard to see. Terrible redesign.

[u/MrOverfloater]

No prindle 4 u

[u/researchiskey8]

Wait till there is paywalls for every feature you want to access on your own car. Wait till they start showing constant commercials on that screen. Wait till they disable your car until you pay a parking ticket. It's enabling corporations to control your vehicle and control you.

[u/levinano → u/researchiskey8]

What do you mean wait...? The commercials on screen when you start up is already a thing....

[u/RIPFauna_itwasgreat → u/levinano]

Are you fucking kidding me??

I hate adds so much I would crash that car against a three lamppost

[u/neroselene → u/levinano]

So what I'm hearing is we need to start jailbreaking cars?

[u/idmook]

This is how i feel about almost every object I see on a daily basis.

[u/SlumberingSnorelax]

PRNDL? I’ve never heard it called that. Also… screw it… Change approved.

[u/AvocadoSnakeOilT → u/SlumberingSnorelax]

This is where I first heard of PRNDL

[u/FarmTaco → u/AvocadoSnakeOilT]

Man, hootch is crazy.

[u/exophrine]

They did it to be proprietary and to force you to depend on them for making it work....oh, and doing that will cost you

[u/MechanicalCheese → u/exophrine]

So while this is definitely a focus of modern auto manufacturers, I think the primary driver in everything she referenced is cost.

A touchscreen interface with minimal manual controls is just cheaper. You needed the screen regardless, and not only do the manual controls cost money as parts, they also cost a lot to wire and install.

While cheaper to manufacturer, it's unfortunately more expensive to service.

[u/quadbi → u/MechanicalCheese]

It's also a terrible choice for controls in a vehicle. Anything that requires your focused sight away from the road shouldn't even be an option for the driver. All it takes is a bump, a missed screen tap, looking to see what they did on accident, and some things that shouldn't sound crunchy, sound crunchy.

But it's something that will have to change legally. You've got a point with the costs. I'll just keep holding out hope for right to repair, modularity in design (especially for accessories, think like USB-C standards), recyclability/reusability, and, I can't believe I have to actually say this, safety-first design practices. Not just the required ones either.

[u/Ok_Astronomer_1308]

I hate everything about the new MINI interior.

[u/Odd-Guard-2533]

That looks awful. No thank you

[u/IgnorantGenius]

Aw, fuck. I can't believe you've done this.

[u/rneuf]

I love my 18 year old 6 speed manual.

[u/Typhoon365]

Don't buy it, looks like junk.

[u/Hyolith]

First 4 words: "I got a loaner"

Comments: "WHy DiD YUo BuY IT IF YoU DIdnT WAnt It"

[u/DroidSoldier85]

I hate any car that has the odometer in the center and not behind the steering wheel.

[u/Spiderhog2099 → u/DroidSoldier85]

The sheet of glass above the sterring wheel is a heads up display that projects your odometer on to it.

[u/Former_Specific_7161]

I love that BMW saw all the newly acquired space where the prndl has been and just slapped a long, useless, shallow strip of plastic there lol.

[u/sambull]

the rope is integral

[u/rdtrer]

"Why does everything have to be a fucking screen?!" Man.