This idea is not as bad as it seems, I quite like it. However the same people who dont read their handbooks will be the same people who wont watch the owners DVD. These will be the same people who will still post on the Forums " How do I turn my lights on"

 

Bingo! No tears here.

Whenever I get a new toy (camera, TV, DVD player, etc.) the first thing I do is track down it's PDF manual on the internet and save it to a folder on my computer. Searchable PDF's offer many advantages over the hard copy.

So, in this regard, I'm already ahead of the curve

 

Interesting.

I use the manual a lot, but I am old school. I would be fine with a PDF of the whole thing, and a user guide printed in the glove box for the simple stuff, like setting the clock, changing a tire, etc.

 

I am a little surprised at this. Believe it or not, there are still humanoids out there that don't use, or even own, a computer. And I don't mean in those people living in the caves of Tora Bora. My own 88 year old WWII veteran father, for example. Perhaps the dealer could offer paper (manual) or plastic (CD) when you buy your new Patriot?

 

I heard



Yes Standard Paperback version will be available upon request,
They will also have a basic Paper manual with the CD,
Just with so many more features, compared AC on/off Where the jack is hidden, etc...
makes sense to put it on CD
I myself would like to see the additional features they will have available on CD,
Just good luck trying to play it when your on the road,
Just what you need, DVD with instructions on how to use your DVD player

 

call me old fashioned, but I prefer having the paper manual... it comes in handy when something happens when I'm out on the road. I'm not to sure I'd have access to a DVD when traveling to see what a dash error or something means. I like the idea of having it on a DVD, but think that a paper manual should be required and the DVD be optional... but that's just my two cents.

 

This is true now... but you could just print out the specific pages that would be worth while having in the vehicle in case of an emergency. I don't think we need the whole section on how to operate the cup holders or seat belts and such.

 

No, no, no, 1,000 times NO. A DISC

You have no idea how much I am/was looking forward to receiving that little military looking container with the D-ring closures that was included with a used 2007 Patriot I looked at.

Well, I suppose there is an electrical slot included on the console computers can be plugged into.

This is insane. What moron thought this up--I thought all the morons departed with Daimler back to Germany. What are we supposed to do? Print the thing off a stuff it into our drink holders?:doh:

If I sound like I'm fuming it's only because I am.

 

D ring?
All i got was a manly purse looking thing, with velcro

 

A fabric "pouch"



large enough to hold the manual closed with fabric straps and D rings. Very military looking.

 

I think that the day has arrived when a digital media format is much cheaper than a printed matter. In fact, I believe it is even considered to be more environmentally friendly.

Personally... I would finally get rid of that bulky item in the ever shrinking glove compartment.

 

I have downloaded the owners manual PDF for each year because when you get a question here it is not as simple as saying RTFM because of the contents and errors included each year. Remember the discussion on tail lights where if I recall the manual for 07 and 08 was wrong and it was not corrected until 09 (amber vs non amber replacement)
My manual still in the glove box but I refer to the PDF much more often.

 

Does this mean we have to rethink the whole "RTFM" thing now? Would it be "ITFCD" (Install the ****ing CD) going forward?

 

I bought the 2008 service manual on CD and prefer it over the paper manuals of the past. Its keyword searchable and can print the pages I need when I need them - and don't have to worry about getting them dirty. No bookshelf space taken up either.

 

I am ok with the cd thing but I think that it should be there on paper if you want it and you should not have to pay $40 or more to get it. I agree with the above post that said that there are still those who don't have a computer and I am ok with those folks.

 

I'll lament the loss of the paper manual. While much of it is useless, I always read it over from cover to cover- that's how I find out about the neat little controls and features that I hadn't thought of (so I didn't look for them). My wife's Acura came with a full size owner's manual and a smaller "quick reference guide" (come to think of it, I think a 92 Saturn I used to own had that sort of thing too). That guide will suffice for most things, but sometimes it's nice being able to pull out the manual and see what kind of bulb/other item you need when you're in the parking lot of the parts store.

 

ummmmm, that CD automatically comes with some kind of device in the vehicle to view it, correct? I'm sure as he11 not going to fire up my lap top every time I want to know something in the manual. (which even after a year and a half is still about twice a month)

 

Very interesting, thank-you for posting.

The reason to drop the manual is to reduce expenses. As strange as it sounds they would likely save millions when you think about it. Getting rid of the manual may be a great idea, just not what is important in my mind.

Their focus should be on building "better" cars people want to buy.

Chrysler Kills Owner's Manuals

http://www.cnbc.com/id/32952493


this will mean more people coming to the forums asking
"how do I do <this> or <that>?"

 

Looking into my crystal ball, in the near future I see -
OPTIONS: Printed Owners Manual - $20.00

Oh well, that's progress (I guess?)

 

For certain information that is rarely needed, but often in emergencies, one needs to be able to read it in the vehicle on a deserted highway in BFE. I strictly use the downloadable .pdf versions for all my vehicles already, but would been the owners manual for some emergencies.

 

It does look a little like something you'd hang from your LBE.

But it does take up a lot of space.

 

I like having the printed manual and if it is to not be standard with every vehicle I agree there should be the option of purchasing one for say $10 or something like that.

 

The manual is my reading material of choice when my wife goes into a store where men do not go. I will buy a paper manual, or print off a paper manual to keep in the car. A CD is not acceptable to me unless it can be viewed in the car without an external viewing device. This is only a good idea if they plan to have a view screen built into the dash in all of the cars.

 

Well, if they just charged their costs for the manual, it would only be a couple bucks. (I am a printer) So not an expensive option.