SW17LS

LED technology is the way of the future, eventually you'll see HID replaced with LED overall.

The biggest benefit of LED we don't get here, super adaptive LED technology isn't legal in the US. Google it on Audis and MBs.

w4rjd

I have a well equipped 2016 with the Luxury package and more options than I should have purchased. Got a really good price plus and additional $2K credit via my Morgan Stanley account. The trade was a BMW E60. This car is just pure fun to drive. Hate the Navigation interface and the controller thing. Tires could and should be better than the Bridgestone crap. Really find the LED lights good, Sports plus mode a hoot, ML radio is a blast. Like every accessory and still not sold on the Darth Vador front. Good news is I only see the interior. This is not your grandfather's Lexus!

spoogenet

Indeed, and it only got 'good' due to auto high beam, the same light without that got 'acceptable.' Then compare it to the ES which got 'acceptable' with auto high beam and 'marginal' without.

What they and the government overlook in general with LED lights is the eye strain on drivers who can see their flicker in certain designs. Unfortunately it is such an easy thing to mitigate but they don't take it seriously. Obviously those who design the lights and write the rules don't see the flicker.

SW17LS

No offense, but I've never heard of anybody seeing them "flicker" until now. It's like saying brake lights should be designed with people who can't see red in mind.

spoogenet

No offense taken. Perceived flicker is a complex thing that depends on multiple factors, such as the change in light intensity, the duration of the change, the spectral content, and an individual's perception of light and color. LED as a light source can be designed such that flicker is more or less perceptible. Since many people have a higher threshold of perceived flicker, the need to minimize it is often not discussed or is overlooked in the design.

I don't quite follow your analogy, though -- a color blind person who cannot "see" red can see the light and its change in intensity, though they may not see it the color the same way or be able to clearly distinguish it from another color. When those bulbs get brighter, it means the car's brakes are on, regardless of the color. It would be a poor choice to color-code the lights such that if they come on green, it means one thing, and another if they come on red.

SW17LS

My point is that when designing a certain feature or implementing a solution in a vehicle they cannot anticipate the impact on every consumer or driver, and they cannot prepare for every obscure sensitivity that people may have. Products are designed and developed for the masses.

Perhaps a better analogy would be saying that "the car should not have the gearshift to the right of the driver because I don't have a right arm". The vast majority of people do have right arms.

The vast majority of people do not see a flicker in LED lights. So to say that they are "overlooking" something in the design is a little extreme. Its unfortunate for you as someone who has this issue, but it is what it is.

My sister in law cannot see a 3D movie. Her eyes just don't register the picture as 3D, she sees two mirror images as I do when I look at the screen without 3D glasses. She simply avoids 3D movies.

spoogenet

While we're getting further from the original topic of the car....

I agree with your general point that vehicle design cannot account for everything possible or "obscure" sensitivities.

I disagree that calling it an oversight or overlooking the issue is "extreme." While you may not have heard of the perceived flicker, it is a well known phenomenon and is quite documented. A simple Google search will get you started on a path to enlightenment! (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun) It is entirely reasonable to expect a designer to be familiar with the benefits, caveats, and trade-offs of their trade. I'm also well aware that anything impacting the cost of a vehicle's design will be under scrutiny, and a business will encourage lower costs on things that don't impact sales. I recognize I may be in a niche, but my concerns in vehicle lighting center around the safety impact of allowing poor designs -- and it IS relatively cheap to design better.

Ready4aGS

Other than the lights, what are the major differences between a 2015 F Sport and a 2016 F Sport. I know the 2016 has 311HP vs 306HP in 2015. Anything else ? Is the 12.3 navigation available in 2015 as well?

I was originally in the market for a 2016 but if i can get a good deal on a 2015 then i wouldn't mind that.

dmac250

got the 16' last night, its worth the upgrade.....looked at the 15's to...still nice and if the price drops enough thats still a good option.

lexual_rc

You got an 2016 RC or 2016 GS? I think the new 2016 GS has different color calipers too.