Sync Vrs old fashion hand controls

[larrylwill]

I have had my 2014 since October 2013. My sync rarely understands what I say and I'm forever looking at the screen or control panel to adjust the radio or the air condition. I find it way more distracting than the old fashion knobs, I have ran off the road several times looking and trying to touch the right spot to lower the temp for instance, I never had or have that problem with any car or my motor home with a normal slide control and on/.off knobs.

I think sync is way more dangerous than a cell phone to distract a driver. Alo now you have to learn and remember 20 commands instead of feeling for the slider.

[talmy]

This is a known issue with all modern cars that have touch controls. You really have to question any system that requires you to take your eyes off the road. Just as bad as a cellphone and at least here it's not even legal to touch a cellphone while driving. In our Fusion there are 4 different ways to adjust the temperature (touch screen, button (unfortunately not very tactile) below the screen, the info screen to the right of the speedometer, and voice command) or radio volume (at least it has a knob). Find the way that's easiest and only do adjustments when safe.

[Waldo]

The touch panel controls have nothing to do with Sync. The 2016 Fusion now has "real buttons", so buy a new Fusion and you should not have anything to complain about.

[lolder]

Touch screens in cars were a bad idea whose time should pass. You have to look at them and it takes your attention away from the road and if the car bounces you can hit the wrong item. Maybe they'll be OK in autonomous cars.

[hybridbear]

I like using the right hand dash screen to adjust climate settings. The Focus Electric doesn't have that feature & I miss it. However, the Focus Electric has a physical knob for climate temp so it's also easier to access.

 

Note that the right hand dash screen climate options are not available on all Fusions. In the 2013, it only comes on the HyTi or Energi Ti. Other model years might be different.

Edited September 9, 2015 by hybridbear

[tr7driver]

I wish they put a physical hardware control for the seat heaters on the Hy Ti. They were so fancy designing the Ti version that you need to use the screen to adjust the seat heat. At least my C-max has a thumb-wheel to adjust the settings.

[CCalvinN]

I think that Ford along with the rest of the auto industry is fighting form vs function. And as much as I love a functional design, I also love a clean looking interface. Having the touch screen and the smooth buttons underneath was a selling point to me and made me more interested in getting a Ford over another manufacturer. This wasn't going in blind either as my previous car (2012 Focus) had a very similar setup, so I knew I'd have to take my eyes off the road or rely on voice activated sync for some very basic commands.

 

The biggest difference between the Focus and the Fusion is the HVAC controls. The Focus had a more standard layout with dials for the dual control temp and easy to feel buttons for the air flow and fan speeds. After getting used to the button layouts I could direct the air where I wanted, change the temp, and alter the fan speeds while keeping my eyes on the road. In the Fusion I really can't do that... I need to look at the controls to see not only where the soft buttons are but also that I hit the correct ones.

 

Using sync has been pain free for me when changing the radio inputs so long as the window is up. I've memorized the few commands needed to change that around from a radio station ("91.7", or "Lithium"), to the connected iPod ("iPod", "Play", "Play Playlist Car", "Play Artist Green Day"...), to the connected audio (phone) on bluetooth ("Bluetooth Stereo", "Play"). Volume is handled with either the steering wheel controls or the big stylish nob on the dash.

 

The only time I actually have to use the touch screen while driving is when I utilize the heated/cooled seats or to play around with the navigation system. I've only used the nav system a small handful of times. Most other interactions with the touch screen are when the car is in park. So for me the touch screen and button layout is a net gain and I accept the few limitations.

 

Going forward, I don't think there is any easy answers for Ford or any other auto manufacturer/designer. If they make all the functions of the touch screen available with buttons (especially hard buttons that you can slide you finger across without activating), you'll crowd the dash and take away that sleek smooth look that the FFH currently has.

[lolder]

At only 30 mph, you are traveling 44 feet per second. You can't look away from the road, refocus on the touch screen, touch the item and refocus back on the road in much less than 3 seconds. That's 132 feet. Most of us have done it and gotten away with it but a small percentage hasn't.

[md13ffhguy]

Note that the right hand dash screen climate options are not available on all Fusions. In the 2013, it only comes on the HyTi or Energi Ti. Other model years might be different.

Wife's 2014 SE has it, but like you said, my 2013 SE does not.

[md13ffhguy]

The touch panel controls have nothing to do with Sync. The 2016 Fusion now has "real buttons", so buy a new Fusion and you should not have anything to complain about.

Right. Touch controls and Sync are apples and oranges. The only thing they have in common is that neither is very good.

[corncobs]

At only 30 mph, you are traveling 44 feet per second. You can't look away from the road, refocus on the touch screen, touch the item and refocus back on the road in much less than 3 seconds. That's 132 feet. Most of us have done it and gotten away with it but a small percentage hasn't.

While you are correct there are many other things drivers do while "driving" which for some result in driving 10x as far without looking at the road.

 

Just today I had a guy behind me that was on the phone while drinking coffee as well as looking at some document and all of of this without being buckled up.

[lolder]

All true !! My next car will at least have full authority automatic brakes.

 

Edit: My job just got easier: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/09/11/business/11reuters-autos-safety-braking.html

Edited September 11, 2015 by lolder