11 Things We Hate About New Cars

The cars these days are getting smarter, more efficient, more global, and way more ridiculous (seriously, we're going to have the image of this Lamborghini stuck in our head for months). Along with the advancements in exterior design, a ton of new technology and safety features have been slowly creeping into more and more cars. Some people think it's all great. We do not. We drive, because we like driving, not because we need our car to do everything for us. You know what really grinds our gears? These 10 Things That We Hate About New Cars.

When we're entering our vehicle, we don't even realize we're putting the seat belt on. It's such a natural, muscle-memory movement that I don't even realize is happening. I get in, and next thing I realize, I'm strapped in trying to set up my MP3 bluetooth. However, we know people that never, ever wear a seat belt. Yeah, they're dumb. Getting into a car in which a person refuses to buckle up is one of the world's strangest forms of torture. Death by excessive, repetitive beep.

We know, we know, we know, CVTs are a great alternative to improve gas mileage. That doesn't mean we have to like driving them. If you aren't aware, a CVT pretty much eliminates the use of gears, instead using a metal belt and two variable-diameter pulleys to control the input and output of energy. Although it helps with the MPGs, the cars suffer tremendously in the power department. They're extremely sluggish getting off the line and pretty much any other time you floor it to try to make a quick move on the road.

The intent is to warn others around the car that the car is in the area. They don't want people to get hurt just because they couldn't hear the (lack of) sound of an electric motor chugging away. The result is a handful of extremely strange sounds getting pumped out of cars louder than the crowd noise at NFL games. Some people think it's cool to have a weird hum coming from their cars. We're not those people.

The only thing that I've seen that's worse than a Manumatic transmission is when my dumbass friend used to fake shift his old Saturn SC by dropping the car into neutral and back into drive. Don't ask why I remained friends with him. Anyway, these types of transmission are pointless. They don't help, they don't hurt, they're so boring that you forget you're even using it, and they're a disgrace to the word "manual." These are only perfect for those who have the mind of a seven-year-old and say they know how to drive stick, because they played with a $350 video game car emmulator.

Whoever designed the blilnd spot detection system obviously had his heart and intentions in the right place. He's just trying to help! Obviously, this person never took into account driving in heavy traffic, in which there are cars in your blind spot at all times. Do you want to be more safe at the cost of being annoyed? We wouldn't.

When you think about it, lane departure warnings sound like a decent idea. Safety first, right? It's like those bumps on the sides of highways built into every lane you drive between. Oh, that actually doesn't sound so great. We go over the line all the time and hate it when we feel that ridiculous vibration. Even more annoying than a vibration is a constant buzz or beep in your car. What happens when you're driving in a construction zone? Or if there are multiple lines on the road? The first thing we always do, when driving a car with this feature, is find the off button.

Maybe this is that old-school blood coming out of us (24 going on 60?), but these things are nothing more than a toy to us. It's a feature that people imagine as something only luxury cars have, but has no infested plenty of accessible lower-entry models, as well. There was something about that twist of the wrist that made us feel more connected to the mechanical aspect of the car. In an age when everything in cars is going electric, automatic and electromatic, we'd rather feel like we're turning the ignition and not pressing the start button on our XBOX.

In one mile, turn left. In three-quarters of a mile, turn left. In half a mile, turn left. On your left, you will make a left at the next left. Turn left. Turn more left and then keep left." I GET IT. I HAVE TO GO LEFT, JESUS! Look, we appreciate a few cues from the navi to make sure we're on the right track, but these things can be disruptive (both to people and our music) and just annoying as hell. Give me the essentials and nothing more.

One of the aspects of the McLaren MP4-12C that we gushed over was the amazingly simple interior. At the center was a steering wheel, which, unlike every other high-tech car on the market these days, was just a steering wheel. It had paddle shifters and that was it. No voice control, no volume, no cell phone integration, no cruise control, just a wheel for you to grip. We like this. All those buttons just make for an overkill look that is unpleasant to look down at.

What are two things that make a house look classy? Brushed aluminum and chrome appliances and old weathered, recovered wood. Both shine and grain up the atmosphere of a space unlike many other things could. Many car manufacturers have noticed this. Unfortunately, for most car companies, it's all about aesthetic appeal and taking high-society products and placing them in attainable vehicles. This trend has resulted in some horrifying fake versions of wood and chrome in our rides.