All That Money

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit) 04/16/2018 at 14:15 • Filed to: dumb people

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And it can’t buy you brains... or a car with more brains than you

Of all the cars I saw out in the literal BLIZZARD we had this weekend with DRLs only or NO lights on whatsoever, this Audi (which changed lanes without indicating, never left the passing lane, and was going 20 under the limit with his Fancy Pants Quattro) and a Tesla Model S stood out as Cars Whose Lights Should Turn Themselves On.

Hell, I was in my Durango, and both it and my el-cheapo RAM have an option in the vehicle settings for Headlight with Wipers and I just cannot fathom why these cars do not have this option turned on, have it on automatically, or have drivers smart enough to turn them on...

LOREM IPSUM > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:23

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I think they should just do it like the Germans did drl’s in the 90's. Ignition on, all lights on. The headlight switch then becomes almost completely non-functional, so it can be omitted... Not that the Germans omitted it, it was still there, just mostly useless.

fintail > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:23

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Any DRLs on the Audi??

I see this a lot locally with late model Lexus that should have auto lights, but headlights and often DRLs are off in darker conditions. Some cars seem to be magnets for dorks who mess around with the settings and are unable to determine what they’ve done.

PartyPooper2012 > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:23

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To be fair, headlights are probably on. DRLs for unknown reason refuse to turn on tail lights.

Takuro Spirit > PartyPooper2012 04/16/2018 at 14:27

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Because either there’s a setting they have turned off, or its just light enough out for the sensor to have JUST the DRLs on, and not full headlights.

I know there are times that I personally think its dark enough, or foggy enough for full lights, but my vehicle says otherwise.

Takuro Spirit > fintail 04/16/2018 at 14:28

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Yes. But that’s not good enough. There’s no reason these cars shouldn’t have sensors sensitive enough to turn on full head and tail lights in these conditions.

Rico > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:29

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This is an old people problem. Old people still think that they need to hit their headlight switch or the lights will stay on and kill the battery. They get back in the car and never turn the switch back to auto.

I had to explain like 6 times to my mom/dad to leave the knob on their CRV on AUTO and that there was no reason to switch the headlights off when you park. AND They still drive around with no headlights on.  

DutchieDC2R > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:29

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Off topic: Im glad we can have rants about things on here without reading FUCK, FUCKING, STUPID THIS, STUPID THAT in every second sentence.

On topic: Ive noticed with these systems that some (not all) don’t really detect bad weather and only work when its really dark outside. I know Ive seen plenty of modern cars ride around during dusk with only the LED lighting on.

fintail > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:31

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Exactly, and they likely do, but I would wager the driver has messed with the settings, and disabled it.

His Stigness > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:35

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That’s probably because the owners never went into the sub menus, or read the manual (HAHAHAHA) and set the sensitivity. The first thing I did in the e-Golfs was turn the sensitivity to the highest. But even then it doesn’t always turn on so it requires me PAYING ATTENTION.

His Stigness > LOREM IPSUM 04/16/2018 at 14:36

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Are you sure you don’t mean GM? Because that’s what GM does and it’s actually annoying you can’t ever turn off the lights.

PartyPooper2012 > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:36

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Yeah. Maybe. I don’t like DRLs in my car. I usually just control the lights myself... and by control i mean always on. This way there is no confusion if its too dark or foggy out or if my tail lights are on. Everything is on. all the time.

facw > LOREM IPSUM 04/16/2018 at 14:37

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From Wikipedia:

European Union   Directive 2008/89/EC requires all passenger cars and small delivery vans first type approved on or after 7 February 2011 in the EU to come equipped with daytime running lights. [14] [15] [16] The mandate was extended to trucks and buses in August 2012. [17] Functional piggybacking, such as operating the headlamps or front turn signals or fog lamps as DRLs, is not permitted; [18] the EU Directive requires functionally specific daytime running lamps compliant with ECE Regulation 87 and mounted to the vehicle in accord with ECE Regulation 48. [19] DRLs compliant with R87 emit white light of between 400 and 1,200 candela . [20] 

So sounds like doing that is not allowed in the EU anymore. I have no idea why not though, you aren’t going to blind anyone with your low beams during the day, and it’s a good deal better than not having them on in conditions that warrant it.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:37

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It annoys me the modern dashes are back lit enough so that people can read the instruments enough at night thereby leaving the head lights off. It also annoys me that people think their headlights only exist if it is too dark to see. Headlights also enhance your visibility to other cars.

C’mon people!

/end rant

Takuro Spirit > PartyPooper2012 04/16/2018 at 14:38

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Back in my Subaru and Camry days that’s how I had it. Lights always on, since they turned off with the ignition.

My RAM has no DRL’s, so I just leave it in Auto. It’s good 80% of the time so I barely ever have to manually turn them on unless its just foggy out, but bright enough to not trip the sensor.

facw > Rico 04/16/2018 at 14:39

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It doesn’t help that there are still (I think...) cars that don’t have headlights that turn off automatically. I killed the battery on a Mazda 2 rental by not shutting off the lights.

Takuro Spirit > Future next gen S2000 owner 04/16/2018 at 14:40

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Also no one seems to know what the little green and blue (and sometimes yellow) lights are for...

So often I see people driving in the city, sometimes in BROAD DAYLIGHT with high beams on.

LOREM IPSUM > His Stigness 04/16/2018 at 14:41

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At least you can (usually?) get them to shut off on a gm by setting the parking brake. On a German car you’d need to crack open the fuse box.

Only time I really wished for a way to disable them completely while the engine was running was at the drive-in movies... And when I had a dead battery and wished the lights weren’t sucking juice on startup. A defeat would be nice, I agree, but the masses really need personal choice removed from the equation imo.

imadick > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 14:43

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And this is why there’s a manual option for automatic headlights. Admittedly I’ve never had to use it on my car, but I know where it is. That Audi has the same control IIRC.

Tristan > LOREM IPSUM 04/16/2018 at 14:43

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My ‘04 Jetta killed the lights with the handbrake...

Tristan > His Stigness 04/16/2018 at 14:45

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There are ways to make them turn off. In my ‘01 Suburban, hit the “Dome Cancel” button 4x and the auto lights shut off. I have to drive through a security checkpoint to get to work and the guards really appreciate not being blinded at 4:30 in the morning.

LOREM IPSUM > Tristan 04/16/2018 at 14:47

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Nice. Never had a vw myself so I was unaware. My canadian spec BMW and Catera (Opel Omega) both had lights on whenever ignition on. Kinda assumed they were all doing it similarly.

LOREM IPSUM > facw 04/16/2018 at 14:50

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Without a constant influx of new asinine laws, what need would there be for lawmakers?

PartyPooper2012 > LOREM IPSUM 04/16/2018 at 14:53

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Kind of... except when you’re stalking the girl that ghosted you from Match. You want the option to turn lights off :D

Kidding of course, but on a serious note, Ignition on AND vehicle in motion, lights on. Otherwise, i need the option to turn lights off.

Urambo Tauro > Future next gen S2000 owner 04/16/2018 at 15:30

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It also annoys me that people think their headlights only exist if it is too dark to see. Headlights also enhance your visibility to other cars.

I saw a really great example of this once, but I haven’t been able to find the picture again. It shows a glossy black car heading towards the camera on a sunny day, but the way the spotty light falls on it through the nearby trees makes it blend in. It’s scary how invisible the car looks without headlamps on.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Future next gen S2000 owner 04/16/2018 at 15:42

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The fact the dash is backlit shouldn’t even matter....DRLS are FAR dimmer than full-on headlights! The question is, HOW DOES NOBODY NOTICE THINGS ARE REALLY DIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Takuro Spirit 04/16/2018 at 15:42

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Amen!

Future next gen S2000 owner > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/16/2018 at 15:43

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Well lit city streets can make it difficult to tell if you headlights are actually on if you aren’t paying attention.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Future next gen S2000 owner 04/16/2018 at 16:05

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I guess, but I even see this on highways and rural roads! :S

Future next gen S2000 owner > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 04/16/2018 at 16:46

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Proof that stupid exists everywhere!

Tristan > LOREM IPSUM 04/16/2018 at 17:13

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Regulators gon’ regulate.