Just curious. I work in the tech industry and with the constant changes in software and hardware, it's imperative to read the manuals.

I ask this because manufacturers are adding more and more tech features yet moving further and further away from comprehensive printed manuals. I for one hate to refer to a digital file or disc to get the info i need.

Thoughts?

 

I have always liked to read the paper versions best & still do. That said the car stores the manual on its hard drive for instant access which is real nice if you forget how something you don't use much works.

 

Always read them--and keep the online on the PC--so we can answer questions here from those who don't.

 

I used to like to read the printed manuals in the same way I used to read a printed newspaper and hardcover books. Now I read online on my laptop, phone, or tablet.

With all the same manuals in PDF format, it's easy to print specific sections as needed and easily search. I've been in what's now called IT for 30 years, and do everything electronically with my data stored in the cloud. Fewer trees to kill and less clutter.

 

Paper manuals are going away, you get quick overview in a paper manual then online of disc based manual. that said the manuals are huge, so reading everything is difficult. I do try to skim the section relating to the features I am using, safety, Audio, etc.
Audi unfortunately is stuck in the 90's as they have NO online or electronic copy, just the huge book that comes with the car!

 

I read the manual twice, all the way through, before bought the car.

Often I refer back to it.

 

I read it cover to cover after buying the car.

 

Same here. I flip through the entire thing after purchase. That is also my first step when trying to figure something out like resetting the up down feature of the electric windows or most recently seeing if I could adjust my clutch.

 

I prefer online/PDF's because they're easier to search. I can keep the PDF on my phone, tablet, or PC and refer to it whenever I want, whether I'm in the car or not. I used to be the exact opposite not too long ago. lol.

 

I keep a PDF of the manual on my iPhone so I always have a copy with me for troubleshooting.

 

This is me too. The DAY I take my car home, I stay up late reading the manual, just totally engrossed in it.

 

I'll take the opposite road and say I have never "read" the manual. I will look things up when I am trying to figure out something but never in my 40+ years of driving have I read one nor have had issues by not reading it. I don't think those that haven't read should be looked down upon either.

That said, I do understand the responses to read the manual to those asking questions about things easily found in the manual.

 

Its one of the first things I do when I get a new vehicle. Call me old fashion, but I prefer to read the paper manual, and use the pdf for reference.

 

Like many others here, I have read the manual cover to cover. I also have the PDF version on my tablet and generally use that version more than the paper one as a reference piece. I suspect this tread will get responses more from those who read their manual so I would not presuppose that the tread is representative of the entire population of car drivers. I also agree that paper manuals will soon be a thing of the past. They are just going to be to expensive to publish but even so, I think everyone should read their manuals. You always learn something that you would not have otherwise known.

 

Same here, I love reading the instruction manual. I still think they could reduce it significantly by cutting down the useless stuff like how to buckle your seat belt! Come on, if you need a page and a half (with diagram) to buckle your seat belt, do us a favor, go drive into a concrete wall at 100 mph without wearing it....Game over - Thank you *lol*