Tacoma Vs. Rivian

Is it the interfacing with screens instead of hard buttons or are the screens distracting to you?

 

I just think the giant screens are obnoxious. I don’t give a shit about what style of button it is. I might have a tendency towards physical push buttons, but never use the ones on the side of the taco hu. I love that CarPlay stays the same no matter what vehicle you plug into, because it’s easier.

 

I do a lot of nighttime driving, most of the cars I have driven with screens seem way to bright even on the lowest setting. I could turn it off, but I still want to use the features. I have an older rav4 with a more analog setup, it still does everything my taco screen does without the brightness issue. My phone actually does most of the legwork anyway, so all really need is a Bluetooth or aux cable link.

 

It sounds like you are perfectly fine with touch screens, as long as they offer a familiar experience from vehicle to vehicle.

 

There are some older cars that allowed you to delete almost all interior lighting for night time driving. You could do it on a Tesla, and probably a Rivian, if you constantly reset the computer.

 

Yeah it’s not the screen. It’s just the giant ones. I’ve had a few cars with touchscreens. Before the taco, (while) I had a gti, with a special edition package that specifically had a smaller screen to save weight. It was tiny. But I also carry an iPhone se.

 

Some of the Infotainment centers now have a screen off feature and heads up directions through apple or android car play in the instrument cluster. I too get annoyed by overly bright interior lights, must be becoming my father.

 

I always dim my interior lights as low as possible at night to match the outside world. Like in the country side all the way down but In the city they can be brighter.

 

Did yours ever tell you it was illegal?

Don't have a problem with the rest of the lighting, just the screen, they always seems to sit there like my own private star at night. Problem with it off is that you can't use the cars audio system, some even have climate controls in the screen, I want access to those as I drive.

 

I had an old Audi with red dash lights. It was the shit. Until you hit the high beams and this tiny blue indicator light blinded me. Fixed that problem with electrical tape.

 

It really is that screen that won’t dim enough. Maybe a tinted screen protector is what I need.

 

Thought about this, I figured it may be hard to see in the day than, I already have trouble seeing the backup cam with any detail when its in direct sunlight.

 

Maybe this?
https://www.precutautotint.com/pages/photochromatic-tint-step-1-of-3.html

 

You try it and let me know.

 

Nah, I’ve never noticed load impacting range. The cars are always so incredibly heavy because of the batteries that payload weight rarely impacts overall GVW. Rivian partnered with Yakima so there’s lots of roof rack, cargo rack, bike rack and RTT options. It’s just the in bed stuff that’s lacking.

I think unfortunately for you it’s going to be hard to buy your next vehicle and I think even in the next few years you’ll see Tacomas move to head unit system controls vs physical buttons. I largely prefer physical buttons too but on my most recent SUV purchase there wasn’t a single one that had physical AC controls for example. Modern climate control largely removes the need to touch the AC, though.

The good news is that most screens don’t suck like the Tacomas does. I find it unusable in even a little bit of glare but my other cars are fine.

 

I have thanks, a few at the RV campgrounds and hotels at the areas I like to go. Not a huge fan of either for how I like to camp. Though could be used when we run to town for supplies. With careful planning it could be done, however I don’t like itineraries…kind of the person who flips a coin at intersections. Nice thing about petro vehicles, adding range is super easy by tossing on some Jerry cans. Always have an extra 10-15 gallons because I tend to go, hmmm wonder where that road goes. Last camp trip was over 450 miles round trip, only had to grab fuel at the start, because I had enough with me.

Same…could generally not give a shit about most things.

Definitely intrigued by EVs, however the tech needs to be better than what it replaces. Have been converting my lawn care equipment to battery, not going back to gas that is for sure.

Used to be against any type of screen in a vehicle, have grown to like it. Use the Gaia GPS app on the bike, works through Apple CarPlay in the truck…screen could a little bigger so you could see it better at a quick glance when the map is panned out.

I just set the AC at auto. Thought that feature was silly when I bought the truck, now love it. Last camping trip had temps low as 30° and high as 90°. Kinda cool seeing it change from heat to cool throughout the day without having to touch anything.

Also use Siri a bunch, so don’t have to touch anything. Only problem it doesn’t hear me correctly half the time.

 

Umm, excuse my ignorance but what is a Rivian?

 

A mythical beast

 

Wait I just looked that up…. Indian River. So it’s a grapefruit and not a lemon?