Will Ford be Next?

[TXNM]

Just saw this and wonder if Ford will listen:

Car Makers Look to Ditch Touchscreens for a Return to Buttons

I hope they and the rest do! Screens are for information display, physical controls are for getting action done quickly. I feel the same way about aircraft systems, too.

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[1929]

My next vehicle purchase will not hinge on whether or not it has buttons or screen controls....

My past three vehicle purchases the physical controls for climate and audio were major decision factor.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Ford will likely follow the herd, but never lead it. Having observed changes in vehicles at Ford for a couple decades, I assume they will be a few years behind everyone else. They have probably already made contracts to have their touchscreens made and delivered for the next 3-4 years, so a mid-stream change would be unlikely, and costly. However, if there is strong consumer sentiment about screens vs actual controls, they may make an expensive production adjustment in order to not lose sales to other companies.

Personally, I like actual controls available in case the touchscreen fails. I also like the convenience of a touchscreen for some things. Having dual controls in not unheard of; our 20 year old X5 has controls on the screen as well as physical controls for the radio and HVAC. It's not a touchscreen, though, there is a dial and button on the console. And good thing it DOES have dual controls, the dial malfunctions after the car has been running for a little while.

side note, the screen is the ONLY way to check the oil level, there is NO dipstick. Germans...

 

[BostonFordFan]

Just saw this and wonder if Ford will listen:

Car Makers Look to Ditch Touchscreens for a Return to Buttons

OMG! Yes! Bring the basic knobs back. I won't order the new '25 or '26 because of the touch screen controls. It is dangerous to navigate the many steps just to turn on the ac or other simple functions. Connecting the phone each time to listen to music is a 5 step process that's painful. Unfortunately it is a cost thing with Ford as they are removing parts and features weekly from each model.
Maybe if enough people complain, they may listen. fingers crossed.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Just as an FYI for anyone who has never been involved with auto part production. VW issued contracts for the Scout parts in 2024. The molds and dies were already made, tested, and fitment tested. The Scout will be available in 2027. These contracts are signed years before the model hits the assembly line. I would suspect Ford has already redesigned the Maverick and has contracts for parts and pieces signed for the expected 2028 roll out. Automotive makers work on 15 to 20 year in the future not in 1 to 2 years.

Also, their design teams have stuff completed and ready for the next model changes WAY before word of it hits "the streets". There are non-disclosure contracts and other things to prevent leaks, mainly to other companies. Of course there are consumer panels and testing and other methods to make sure their ideas are going to go over well, but these non-company people are kept in the dark. Often, there may be a consumer panel that appears to be gathering opinion on something, with 10-15 questions about it and hours of discussion, but there are a couple questions and a few minutes about something else, and THAT was the main topic they wanted info on.

 

[zen_]

My thoughts on the subject, the Maverick is a truck, small, but still a truck. Trucks need to last at least 10 years to service the owner. The more basic, the less problems. Electronics lifespans are questionable at best. Older trucks with knobs, and switches can run over 20 years with few problems we can fix with basic knowledge, and that's why we keep them. It seems like a lot of Maverick owners, still have "old reliable" hidden in a barn, ready when duty calls!

Electronics can be made to last, but there is a tipping point when the vehicle is loaded with so much that it's a lost cause for even the best mechanics who have the patience for it to even bother when there are major electrical problems. When a wiring harness has to be pulled out of the dash, you also pretty quickly end up in a situation like a heater / evap core where the entire dash has to be removed (10+ hours labor), and a lot of thoughts and prayers that it goes back together all correctly.

Safety equipment can also cut off other functions of the vehicle in unexpected ways. I watched a video on Royalty Auto recently (excellent channel) of an incredibly experienced and knowledgeable mechanic spending months tracking down an ignition issue on a Nissan that made the vehicle undrivable because the owner had installed an aftermarket hood latch (sensor).

 

[jcofthewest]

I miss the floor button to this day!

My only issue with 2025 is the lack of Hvac on Buttons. Mostly it doesn't bother me.
But when I have to REACH to tap for the Fan speed or for the AC button, its annoying to do w/o taking eyes off road.

I'm not a fan of "Auto" HVAC, I don't like AC running all the time due to efficiency/power loss reasons.
I know the masses prob just use Auto and let the computer take care of them, so I'm the one using it wrong by wanting to keep AC off when its < 90*F.

But replace some of the stupid buttons that don't get used (like the Silent screen button, its mostly pointless imo).

Make it simple as the radio volume and on/off.. 1 button/dial for AC ON/OFF and Fan control. seems pretty straight forward.

Otherwise, most the time the button situation doesn't bug me too much anymore on my '25.

I just think from a safety stand point, that I should be able to control hvac w/o taking my eyes off the road.

Add it to the steering wheel controls, that'd be even better imo. I'd even argue you can reuse some of the Audio buttons on the wheel for hvac instead.. Volume on the wheel is good. but I don't really need the next/skip track keys, we're not using CD players anymore after all.. and its easy to tap the screen for audio control IF needed. (Imo)

If I'm taking my eyes off the road, or taking my hands off the steering wheel to adjust the temp, that is the wrong user interface.
(yes, I'm a 9 and 3 all-the-time driver, coming from a heavy and QUICK steering Focus ST rack, it just feels right on Ford steering wheels)
I know, I know, use the Ford voice commands...I tried them a few time, they work OK, but I just don't like waiting for the prompts, and having to 'talk to my car'. its a neat party trick, but I don't use it every day...and the commands are too limited and not customizable. If I could customize and make my own, and make them super short and quick and to the point (and remember them), that'd be great.

Better yet, give me a button to turn AC and Fan off easily...with 1 tap for each...instead of tapping that stupid fan button and wondering if you tapped it down enough times, or if you tapped the right part of the screen , then wonder if you missed a tap or if it didn't acknowlege a tap...
Stop auto starting my AC and Fan! thats all.
[/QUOTE,]
My 20y old SSR. Temp regulation, fan speed or off, dash -feet - windshield, right there.
I feel the change that I made, moments after I made the change.
The instant I charge the volume on that radio, I get a number on the screen. It's a useless number for anyone other than a def person controlling the volume... Same with my beloved Maverick, and my Sangean radio and my LG television. Why the visual allocation for a audible adjustment? Makers of products have been doing this for decades now.
Thus, enter My Maerick, I park in my own secure garage where no inquisive children live and I go to my work place that is a limited access area that is protected by a six mile long fence... I'm pretty sure that my truck won't get stolen, but thanks to Ford, I have to pull the key aalllllll the way out!
"But wait there's more", at the end of my work day(actually night and the vast majority of people are sleeping), I have to buckle my seatbelt and then acknowledge that my truck acknowledged I did in fact, buckle my seatbelt...When I intend to drive, less than 1/4mi, (at 20mph in a completely empty environment), I have to listen to the seatbelt chime THE WHOLE TIME!
It's infuriating!
Does mommy dress these engineers or do anyone in the board room actually drive products long enough to fix what is not good?
Sorry to unload on you. Maybe not the rant you expected.
Thank you for your kind attention in this matter.

 

[r0tax]

, I have to listen to the seatbelt chime THE WHOLE TIME!

Forscan can fix this for you.

And you can even disable the seat belt chimes with a specific 'programming method'.

 

[Blue_Max]

Just give my my hand crank windows and manual locks.

My '95 Mustang GTS has those. No ABS, either.

 

[Blue_Max]

Ford will likely follow the herd, but never lead it. Having observed changes in vehicles at Ford for a couple decades, I assume they will be a few years behind everyone else.

Uh, you realize the Maverick still has no direct competition, right? I don't call that following the herd.

 

[Kenv24]

What the hell is so hard about the touchscreen. I love it!

You obviously have never helped someone over 80 with an Iphone..... "How did this icon get over here....why am I in Airplane mode???.....Where under settings????

 

[Surly Old Bill]

Uh, you realize the Maverick still has no direct competition, right? I don't call that following the herd.

I don't live in a world of absolutes, but more often than not Ford, like almost every car mfg, follows the herd. Others are looking to follow Ford's lead of offering an almost affordable small pickup. The sheep at the front changes often.
It's cool that Ford got their minitruck out before anyone else (Hyundai seems to be able to turn on a dime, but their "truck" is more SUV than the Mav).

 

[Surly Old Bill]

You obviously have never helped someone over 80 with an Iphone..... "How did this icon get over here....why am I in Airplane mode???.....Where under settings????

every time my fake-wife tries to connect her phone to the Mav it takes at least 10 minutes for her. I can do mine very fast, but I've done it several times. She will not accept my help.
She'll eventually get the sequence of button clicks memorized on both devices, but she's only tried this a couple times so far.

 

[Red Eyes - Wide Shut]

Just give my my hand crank windows and manual locks.

I like crank - window=

 

[Blue_Max]

I don't live in a world of absolutes, but more often than not Ford, like almost every car mfg, follows the herd. Others are looking to follow Ford's lead of offering an almost affordable small pickup. The sheep at the front changes often.
It's cool that Ford got their minitruck out before anyone else (Hyundai seems to be able to turn on a dime, but their "truck" is more SUV than the Mav).

Well, you absolutely give Ford no credit.

The Maverick has already had a styling refresh, and there's still no direct competitor. We haven't even seen a concept of a direct competitor.

I remember Ford leading the herd with the introduction of the original Taurus and Sable. Every manufacturer copied the aero look. Ford bet the company on those cars, and won.

When they reworked the car significantly for 1996, they again broke away from the herd ... and were punished. People particularly hated the innovative Integrated Control Panel (ICP), because it made it difficult to install an aftermarket stereo.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/1996-ford-taurus-lx

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