Computers in cars

[Lynnrose]

"This Fiat 500 has Windows Mobile built in, using a system called Blue & Me. It is controlled with buttons on the steering wheel and voice recognition."

Video

[Angelstardust]

Just what you need in a car - another distraction.

[jorg]

Lynnrose, my daughter has it in her new Fiat Punto, she uses it at night on her way home from work to call me so that I get the Garage door open for her, I should be in bed by then fast asleep, jorg

[ken]

Tell her to get the garage door rigged with a mobile and electronic opener Jorg. Then she can tell it to open itself.

KC

[jorg]

KC, she has found something much cheaper, me! jorg

[jojo]

I had a car, a number of years ago. It was taking an age to heat up.

I bought a thermostat for about £5, unbolted the housing, replaced it and job done in about 10 minutes.

My latest car is computer controlled. Wouldn't start for ages. When it finally did, it ran for a few mins then cut out.

Into the garrage. Took a day on the computer, annalysing ever bit. New thermostat needed. Then the computer had to reset the whole thing. Cost over £100.

Computers in cars?

[ken]

Look what they did with outboard motors Jojo. The old outboards just need new points and plugs. As long as you washed the electrics out with kerosene now and again to get rid of the salt, they would go forever. Now they have electronic ignition and you don't need to be a genius, to know how well electronics and salt water mix. A new black box for an Evinrude will set you back about 200 quid and reckon on changing it every 10 or 12 months or so. Thats just a little 8 or 10 HP, I dread to think what the maintenance costs would be on a big one. If you have gone off shore for a days fishing and the motor packs up, its a long walk home.

KC