I'm not trying to be a troll here, but those are panzi options. Dump those options and give us real features that are sporting, and not Volvo-esk.

Srsly, the option list has other things that sure sound like they're pretty sporty. As for why put these in? Because they're new technology and if their competitors haven't already put them in, they will be soon.

And I think you meant to say "pansy".

Have you seen the ads for the new Volvo S80 with the feature where your key will tell you if someone is lurking inside of your car? That is the silliest of any feature I have seen in years.

We need all that assistance and electronic aids to prevent ourselves from running into each other.

reading email on our PDA, we need all the help we can get.

The "pansy" stuff you mention are merely there to help with safety for those who think they need/want it.

And I can honestly tell you that Americans cannot drive worth a damn. You ever see what it takes to get a drivers license in countries other than america? The American licensing process is a joke and only ensures that a person can drive a car around a city block and parallel park. Learning how to drive on the highway is up to the driver, and there isn't a test in America that ensures that a driver can safely drive on the highway.

are all very educated drivers. I feel much more comfortable driving over there than driving in the States.

Cursed?

Is AWD a curse?

Are such technologies as ABS, Brake-Assist, ESP, Seatbelt pretensioning and anti-rollover mitigation and on and on and on a curse?

Here is a curse: bluetooth that goes unused or better yet, cell phones -- NOT car phones, but cell phones that take at least one hand and sometimes both eyes off the road.

Here is a curse: Audi bringing a new control system (aka interior control design) to market with some 82 buttons, knobs, switches, dials, and controls WITHOUT manadatory voice command for the distractions of Radio, Navigation and Telephone (thank god, or whoever, they at least offered this technology for $350.)

I say, bring on more and more stuff -- as long as it is able to be turned on and off (via voice command would be my choice.)

I say, despite my normal political choices, we make any use of a telephone in a moving car (by the driver) that is NOT both hand and eyes free a HUGE offense with a HUGE fine and a even larger insurance premium penalty for offenders.

And, in further defense of Audi and others for making such anti-luddite choices with respect to advancing more "gadgets," it may have absolutely nothing to do with becoming more Volvo like -- it may have had nothing to do with any altrusitic intentions, hell, it was probably a marketing (and sales) decision.

More technology may equate to more sales.

Audi, why have you cursed us by not bringing more and more "stuff" to the option sheets, would be my take on this.

Audi, why can Cadillac come out with a 300+ HP direct injection engine and you come out with a 265HP version? Now THAT's a curse.

And, we shouldn't drive unless we are 100% -- but we do.

Technology will encourage paying LESS attention?

Yea, and corrective lenses encourage LESS squinting. . .tough it out eh?

We don't need padded dash boards either and while we're at it let's get rid of seatbelts and airbags.

Bring on technology that contributes to improved:

1. Performance (capability, economy and durability)
2. Comfort (defined anyway you want via YOUR selection of options)
3. Safety (things that keep YOU safe and things that keep ME safe from YOU, essentially.)

Bring 'em on -- what is the freakin' delay?

If people can't pay attention to what's in the lane next to them, and they need an aid to do it for them? They shouldn't be on the road. I'm all for blind-spot protection. But a car shouldn't enter into your blind spot, or you enter into another vehicle's blind spot without you knowing it.

I guess lane assist is good if you are babbling away on your cell phone and into the conversation so much, that you can't be bothered with monitoring the traffic yourself.

I'm with you. Bing em' all on. Anything that takes the actual driving out of YOUR hands and leaves it up to a Computer must be a good thing.

It's completely passive and can easily be disabled at the press of the button for you 'purists'. It's very helpful when driving in inclement weather, particularly at night when your visual acuity is reduced. I still look over my shoulder before changing lanes and am still aware of what is or isn't in my blind spot. What's the big deal anyway? Have you actually ever driven a Side Assist equipped car? For anything more than a test drive?

It isn't a big deal. It just isn't a necessity. Maybe for big hulking vehicles with limited visibility. But for cars, I'd rather the person turn his head and see me physically than to rely on an Aid. The Lane Assist feature shouldn't change how people drive, they should still look over their shoulder and check their mirrors. Sadly with this feature most people wont. So I guess it is a big deal :-)

Too many people aim their mirrors so that they can see the side of their car. WTF do you need to know where the side of your car is???

Accidents happen to the best of drivers. The best driver might be distracted by any number of things. crying kids, wife nagging, or they just did not see the car next to them. This is an AID, not a replacement.

ABS aids in braking.

ESP aids in maneuvering.

rain sensing wipers aid the driver.

FSI aids in whatever the **** it aids in.

All of these technologies are meant to aid the driver. Not replace and dull the drivers senses.

and if you dont want to use it, you can turn it off. Does that harm the way the car drives in any way?

these are aids and features. if you don't want to use it, don't. Like the vestigial ashtray in most cars nowadays. Should they remove it altogether if you don't smoke? Does it distract from your driving pleasure?

Cmon folks.

I read a few days ago that insects/spiders are responsible for over 650,000 accidents per year (in the US I think). I think that they are below mobile phones and above children in the ranking of accidents they cause.

I'm sure a lot of people overreact, the classic is when someone starts screeming cause they see a moth, I've never understood that; but a spider, fair enough. I'm not sure what the ones are like in America, but you can get some in AU that are about 10cm (4inches I think) across. Not deadly, but anyone would get a fright if it ran across them etc.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/what-insects-cause-650-000-accidents-per-year/">http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/what-insects-cause-650-000-accidents-per-year/</a</li></ul>

They couldn't pick another bandwidth? Idiots...

I'd see some spider crawling around the exterior of the car when I would refuel, then get back in the car and see another one careening across the dash. Also saw one on the headliner a few times. I'm not particularly scared of spiders, especially these that were so small, so it didn't really affect my driving, I think. It bothered me more that they kept coming out from somewhere, and I had no clue where!

actually, with all the lasers and radar we are shooting at each other, accidents will become less of a threat than cancer on the roads.