430 Start button on wheel, It's gimmicky, not functional

Now that I actually think about it, that does seem silly.....would if you adjust your hands and accidently hit it on some street? Are you sure the car shuts off once that buttons hit?

 

Never been in an F430 but my s2000 had a starter button and it was just another neat little feature. Not really that big of a deal or annoyance.

 

buttons have come into fashion, but are in fact stupid lol.

 

I think they are just trying to give more of an F1 feel. It seems kinda cool to me.

 

i love the start button and a lot of other companies are starting to think so as well....Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Lexus just to name a few. in my opinion just to have one is cool. to question its location, may seem like you have too much time on your hands!

 

Cars started out with floor shifters. Then went to levers mounted on the steering column. Then back to the floor. Now once again to levers on the steering column. I predict that after this becomes old news again, the floor will be rediscovered.

After they got past handcranks (!), cars had separate starter buttons and ignition keys. Then it became fashionable and efficient to combine them. Now to separate them again. And sooner or later ...

Kind of like wars, come to think of it. Every 20-30 years the world has to learn all the old, painful lessons all over again.

The Great Mandala whirls onward.

 

Yup. It's gimmicky. Just like the manettino and the F1 levers. All the better to pretend you're Schuey or some other hotshot racer.

Unfortunately, all the Big Boys are following in BMW's dubious footsteps -- never say no to a techno-gimmick.

This is why a "pure" sports car like the Elise is so appealing.

 

I think the Elise has a starter-button too.

Cute car and a blast to drive, but getting in/out is strictly for Spiderman.

Aston Martin introduced the separate starter button in its DB7 Vantage with this wonderful piece of Britishspeak in the brochure: "... for that sense of occasion upon engine startup."

Eventually real non-wimps will demand the return of the handcrank.

 

Quite right!

I was referring to the refreshing lack of techno-crap on the Elise. They're adding so many computer assisted gadgets and sub-systems in "sports cars" these days, the driver is rapidly becoming merely a passenger.

I don't really want a piece of silicon in charge of the steering. Or even the throttles.

 

The button does not work while the engine is running. on the 430 Thats one of the first things i tried on the ones i drive.

 

Right. when you turn the key the button lights up but when on the light goes out.

 

Actually, it is a fun little event to fire up the V12 and hear the deep growl as it wakes up. I was just thinking about how having a second step with a big red button really does make it feel eventful.