Really Important truck features. :-)

[PDX_Zs]

A totally silly, but all too real topic as we are looking at a new pick 'em up next year. Plus it's a slow thanksgiving.

Having the Ford vs Dodge discussion in my head. Solid axle only please and thanks. Both great trucks. Both will do what we need. So what's the big decision point?

Is it payload? No, they both have plenty.
Is it torque and POWER? No. Both will go faster than we need.
Is it style? Nope. I think they both look great.
Brand? Nah.
Reliability? Both draw even in my head. Plus there are lots of other threads about that.

So what is it? I'm almost embarrassed to tell, but it's the real deal... And it's going to swing the deal one way or the other.

It's the stupid radio. Or infotainment as it's now called.

Having been through a couple vehicles, with these things. One 2006, one 2011, and one 2013. One from each brand actually. I can state categorically that any factory installed infotainment thing has a shelf life.

Oh they will work fine. But the tech gets old fast. It's like having a cell phone from the last decade that you can't upgrade.

Our 2006 truck got a nice Sony upgrade, as did my 2015 Wrangler. (UConnect cannot suck enough by the way) Now here's where I bring it around, so stay with me.

As of right now, CarPlay and android auto are where it's at. So that's a must. Advantage Ford. But who knows what's happening in a few years. So Ford takes a piece of technology with a finite life and builds their whole **** truck around it.

That's right, the radio thing can't be swapped out for aftermarket. Totally stupid. Whoever approved that design should be punched in the neck.

Advantage Dodge? Not so fast. Their unit is replaceable, but requires MAJOR surgery and and aftermarket front dash replacement. Again, a punch in the neck should be mandatory here.


TL/DR:

Memo to OEMs infotainment is a short lived technology. Please make them easily upgradeble to aftermarket in the future.



Thanks for paging through the rant and have a great Thanksgiving.

[996Pilot]

ScottG wrote:


On our new Challenger, using my IPhone I can respond or send text's using the voice button on the steering wheel. I never paid the extra fee for the 8.4 thing to keep working.

Same on the RAM. UConnect is Uconnect. Some of us like all of the bells and whistles - I do. I really don't understand spending this kind of money then ripping out the dash and hacking the CANBUS for -- I don't know what else you can do that the factory system can't do?? JMHO

[Halmfamily]

If you really want a confusing Infotainment system check out the 2014 Honda Odyssey. We walked away from buying one this summer when the Honda dealer couldn't figure out how to use it. I want simple knobs and buttons.

[ScottG]

TurnThePage wrote:
On my 2015 Ram, UConnect 8.4 AN, if I want to send/respond to a text message verbally, I have to pay a subscription. I was under the impression that Android Auto could remedy that and am hoping there will be some kind of software update to get me there, but am doubtful.

These new vehicles are scarily integrated. To repair one minor component, you may end up replacing a huge assembly at major cost. I guess when you buy a new car, you are buying a "system", not a pile of separate parts. The good ol' days were fun, but I haven't decide if I miss them that much.

I guess I will live within the constraints of my "current" system as long as I can. When I retire, that will likely mean living within them permanently. At the moment, they're trying to sell me a map upgrade for $150. LOL

On our new Challenger, using my IPhone I can respond or send text's using the voice button on the steering wheel. I never paid the extra fee for the 8.4 thing to keep working.

[IdaD]

I’m not one who has any desire for tech in my vehicles. No need for it with my iPhone which I update as needed to get the latest and greatest. I do like having hands free calling through the radio but I manage that with voice activation via Siri.

[fj12ryder]

Radio? Seriously?

[Terryallan]

For me it is ergonomics. Or where every knob, and button is placed. You know. How far you have to reach to get what you want. And IMOP. Ford wins hands down. I can reach just about anything with out even trying. don't have to look for it. It is just where it is supposed to be.

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

PDX.Zs wrote:

carringb wrote:
. And CarPlay sucks mostly because of Apple Maps..

Glad to know you are liking Sync.

Agree on Apple Maps. Hate it so much, my next phone will be a droid to get Waze through AndroidAuto.

Fully agree that the radio / nav capability should not be locked in. When I ordered my truck a few years back I opted to not have the upgraded radio / nav for exactly that reason. Instead the phone provides the navigation, music and hands free. With blue tooth connectivity does it matter what the truck comes with?

Good luck and have a great Thanksgiving,
Stu

p.s. Did not get a backup camera but frankly just did not like the upgraded look of the dash. I like knobs to turn, buttons to push as opposed to a touch screen. Have driven trucks for years without a backup camera. Well, then last winter, was snowing, not paying attention. Backed into a light pole. It was a stupid place for a light pole ; ). Added a wireless aftermarket camera after that...

[Thom02099]

Durb wrote:


Man I'm old. This whole post just whizzed by me. I bought my truck used 4 years ago. I got behind the wheel and magically I knew how to work all the controls without reading anything or using help menus. It doesn't respond to any voice commands and I don't have to link, pair, subscribe or search through menus to do anything. Seat heaters - push the button, make it warmer - slide the lever, navigation - maps in the door pocket. Technology may be passing me by but I think I prefer it that way.

^^^^^^^^ This ! ! !!

I don't WANT an infotainment center. I don't WANT bells and whistles. Heated seat is nice with leather, don't need it with cloth. Bought a used 2007 GMC Sierra SLE 3500, not only because it was the classic design and could easily tow what I wanted it to tow, but because the interior was near identical to my 2003 Chevy Tahoe LT. Superficial? Yes. But if one is going to spend extended time in a vehicle, it should be something that you WANT to spend time in. Comfort and a Bose stereo with good speakers does it for me. Don't need mind numbing and distracting geegaws in my vehicles.

[TurnThePage]

On my 2015 Ram, UConnect 8.4 AN, if I want to send/respond to a text message verbally, I have to pay a subscription. I was under the impression that Android Auto could remedy that and am hoping there will be some kind of software update to get me there, but am doubtful.

These new vehicles are scarily integrated. To repair one minor component, you may end up replacing a huge assembly at major cost. I guess when you buy a new car, you are buying a "system", not a pile of separate parts. The good ol' days were fun, but I haven't decide if I miss them that much.

I guess I will live within the constraints of my "current" system as long as I can. When I retire, that will likely mean living within them permanently. At the moment, they're trying to sell me a map upgrade for $150. LOL

[Durb]

996Pilot wrote:
FWIW - just read an in-depth article the other day comparing all of the built-in systems of car/truck manufacturers and UConnect came out as the top system. Personally I'm pretty happy with my Uconnect 8.4AN system in my 2015 RAM as it does everything (and more) than I want or need it to do. This latest software upgrade gives it (full?) Apple Car Play integration. I know the easiest thing for me is just to hold the button and pull up SIRI (which I hate) and say " find this" or "send a text message to ..." or whatever the heck else SIRI does. That said, the Uconnect system will do whatever I need it to do that's truck related like set the drivers temperature or the passengers temperature or turn the seat coolers on/off or the seat heaters on/off all by voice commands (no fiddling with dash buttons or touch screens). Navigation is mostly all supplied by Garmin these days so it's a wash (updates not controlled by the Mfg. anymore). Nav in the RAM coupled with Sirius/XM for traffic is good enough that it actually does a better job of re-routing than Google or Waze (sometimes).

Man I'm old. This whole post just whizzed by me. I bought my truck used 4 years ago. I got behind the wheel and magically I knew how to work all the controls without reading anything or using help menus. It doesn't respond to any voice commands and I don't have to link, pair, subscribe or search through menus to do anything. Seat heaters - push the button, make it warmer - slide the lever, navigation - maps in the door pocket. Technology may be passing me by but I think I prefer it that way.

[PDX_Zs]

carringb wrote:
. And CarPlay sucks mostly because of Apple Maps..

Glad to know you are liking Sync.

Agree on Apple Maps. Hate it so much, my next phone will be a droid to get Waze through AndroidAuto.

[carringb]

Sync 3 has been great, to the point that I always disable Car Play whenever I get in a new work truck. I've had better luck with Sync traffic re-routes, because Google maps reroutes so many people, it clogs the reroute sometimes worse than the original route. And CarPlay sucks mostly because of Apple Maps. But it also causes an extra click or two in order to access some of the car functions.

[Bedlam]

My 2005 Ford was easy to open up and install a double DIN Pioneer AVIC Nav instead of the base radio. My 2015 Ram with the base UConnect 3.0 is worlds better than that 10 year older Ford radio, but even this one is a challenge to replace and still be able to use the remote ports and CD Player in the console that integrate with it.

If you know you will be changing out the OEM, it makes no sense to pay for the higher end radios but higher trim lines may make it part of the mandatory package. As posted, the integration with other car systems then makes it increasingly harder to replace and often times requires making option changes within the ECU so unrelated systems continue to function properly or error codes are not produced. I keep my vehicles at least 10 years and prefer to limit the gadgetry because I know it will be costly to repair outside of warranty and definitely outdated by the time I am ready to replace the vehicle.

[996Pilot]

FWIW - just read an in-depth article the other day comparing all of the built-in systems of car/truck manufacturers and UConnect came out as the top system. Personally I'm pretty happy with my Uconnect 8.4AN system in my 2015 RAM as it does everything (and more) than I want or need it to do. This latest software upgrade gives it (full?) Apple Car Play integration. I know the easiest thing for me is just to hold the button and pull up SIRI (which I hate) and say " find this" or "send a text message to ..." or whatever the heck else SIRI does. That said, the Uconnect system will do whatever I need it to do that's truck related like set the drivers temperature or the passengers temperature or turn the seat coolers on/off or the seat heaters on/off all by voice commands (no fiddling with dash buttons or touch screens). Navigation is mostly all supplied by Garmin these days so it's a wash (updates not controlled by the Mfg. anymore). Nav in the RAM coupled with Sirius/XM for traffic is good enough that it actually does a better job of re-routing than Google or Waze (sometimes).

[PDX_Zs]

Not bad boys. Perhaps even a record.

Seven posts from a stupid radio thread to arguing about suspension tech.

Good job. I knew you could do it.

I love this place...

😉