Audi's MMI (Rant)

Accumulator · 01-23-06, 04:47

Stoddard dropped off a new '06 Audi A6 today when they picked up the S8 for servicing, so I got to live with the MMI system, which controls the navigation/stereo/etc systems. What a stupid example of technological overkill

It would be one thing if it only controlled things like the navigation system and other such functions, but having to perform multiple operations (sometimes a *lot* of them) to change a radio station, instead of just pushing a button or spinning a knob, is idiotic. Yeah it's simple enough to figure out, and yeah it only takes a few tries to memorize how it works, but it's still an answer in search of a question and a needless complication of a simple task that I perform frequently. And some of its functions simply *cannot* be done without taking your eyes off the road and actually *reading* the screen- they even have a disclaimer message you have to initially "accept" (another operation), before performing any tasks. The disclaimer says something like "I understand that looking at this instead of the road is dangerous".

While I tease my BMW-driving pals about their I-Drives, I had always figured that the MMI wouldn't be any big deal. But instead, I find it so off-putting that I'm actually considering not buying a new S8 over it (and don't even *ask* what Accumulatorette thinks of it

). Some interfaces are simply better left analog/mechanical. Just wanted to vent...

G35stilez · 01-23-06, 04:53

I think they could top off your rant with a dealer wash :hide ...

Sorry to hear about this. Your review covered all of my questions...haha.

I think simple, yet elegant controls win anyday (with todays technology) vs. i-Drive or a like equivalent.

WSUcommuter · 01-23-06, 05:16

Nearly every component I've had fail on my vehicles that I could not fix myself were due to electrical gremlins (ABS, AIRBAGS, PASSIVE THEFT, etc).

I'd hate to try to work on a car with electronic suspension, traction, engine control, HVAC, navigation, and restraint systems.

Quickstrike · 01-23-06, 08:39

Interesting.. I heard the MMI system is actually quite usuable, unlike the I-Drive system.

BenP · 01-24-06, 12:04

Both systems are fine IMO once you get used to them. Yes, it's not as easy as a dedicated button to perform a task, but manufacturers are moving over to his type of system because nowadays there isn't enough space on the dash to use individual buttons.

Ben

merci · 01-24-06, 01:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

...it's still an answer in search of a question and a needless complication of a simple task that I perform frequently...

Nicely put!

Accumulator · 01-24-06, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quickstrike

Interesting.. I heard the MMI system is actually quite usuable, unlike the I-Drive system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenP

Both systems are fine IMO once you get used to them. Yes, it's not as easy as a dedicated button to perform a task, but manufacturers are moving over to his type of system because nowadays there isn't enough space on the dash to use individual buttons..

Yeah, actually it *is* quite usable and it's a whole 'nother thing compared to the idrive and I bet plenty of people will even *prefer* doing things this way. I just have my, uhm, foibles and this happens to be one of them

I don't use 99% of the "features" that they put into cars these days anyhow (gee, don't *I* sound like an old codger), so dedicated buttons for the few things I *do* use work fine for me. Heh heh, they took away the ability to turn off the ABS and replaced it with ability to do things that have nothing to do with driving the car

Having driven Audis forever, I can pretty much hit any control I'll ever use, without looking, on ones with the "old style" interior. Taking your eyes off the road to *read* (not just scan/recognize) something is contrary to my approach to driving. Had I been reading the MMI screen during the deer incident my wife and I would be dead.

Will I *really* keep my deered S8 over this? I dunno but spending big money to replace a 11K mile car, over minor cosmetics, just to make my life harder doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure the new S8 is a wonderful car, but I've never found my current one to be lacking in any functional sense. Well, the DBW is pretty lousy, but I wouldn't bet the ~$65K trade-in cost on the new one being that much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSRstilez

..I think they could top off your rant with a dealer wash ..

Heh heh, Stoddard knows better

Only five dealership employees are allowed to even (literally) *touch* my vehicles.

Setec Astronomy · 01-24-06, 07:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Having driven Audis forever, I can pretty much hit any control I'll ever use, without looking, on ones with the "old style" interior. Taking your eyes off the road to *read* (not just scan/recognize) something is contrary to my approach to driving. Had I been reading the MMI screen during the deer incident my wife and I would be dead.

Yeah, the old days with knobs and stuff, hehheh. It's funny, with all the GM bashing, they were on this stuff WAY back. My father had a '79 Buick Riviera, and in '83 or '84 or so, they had a concept car at the NY Auto Show, which had a touch screen CRT in the dash...same concept, no tactile cues, had to look at the screen to know where to touch to tune the radio, adjust the A/C, etc. I'm not sure if they put that into the '84 Riv, but they put it into the downsized '85. I thought it was an invitation to driving into a tree. After my father died, my mother drove his Riv (actually an '81; his '79 had been stolen then), and she liked it, and would have bought another, but I steered her into a (1988) Toronado, because I figured she would get killed with that crazy touch screen in the Riv.

Corey Bit Spank · 01-24-06, 11:57

I remember when Mercedes' COMAND system came out in the last generation S-class. Whowever thought a number pad was a terrific idea in a vehicle needs to be fired. Is this really necessary? I never heard somebody complain about having controls for the HVAC on the dash, or being able to see the radio! GASP!

TortoiseAWD · 01-24-06, 12:59

Whenever I hear about these do-everything electronics packages on some of the higher end cars out there, I'm reminded of a movie . . .

"You must think in Russian. Do you think you can do that, Mr. Gant?"

/obscure?

Tort

SamIam · 01-24-06, 01:10

Accumulator, I am so with you .

I drove an A6 and thought the same thing. Drove an S Class on vacation last year, and the Command system was distracting as can be. Can totally relate. Why go through a whole series of menu systems to do simple things like change the radio. Decided not to buy a used S Class because of that experience, as well as the cost to repair and trouble shoot those systems.

After looking at them, I believe that the Lexus and Acura/Honda have the best nav system interfaces , as they are touch screen. Our Odyssey has both buttons and touch screen radio controls, the Lexus has touchscreen as well as knobs and switches for the radio controls.

Makes me long for the days of simple, straightforward cars.

Krautfed 03 · 01-24-06, 01:18

I had an A6 for a weekend test drive, and after about 15 minutes playing around with it, I felt it was fairly easy to use.