Small features you like about your car...

[E65Ross]

What small, seemingly insignificant features on your car do you like that many might not think twice about?

For me, I love the absolutely enormous arm rest; it just makes it feel so much more relaxing.

Another is the auto park feature is nice, once you come to a stop the parking brake will come on so you can take your foot off the brake.... It's nice and also helps prevent you blinding the person behind you.

So, over to you.

[E65Ross]

Boydie88 said:

E65Ross said:

once you come to a stop the parking brake will come on so you can take your foot off the brake.... It's nice and also helps prevent you blinding the person behind you.

Never had a car with a hand brake before?

Yes, but you have to put your foot on the clutch, put the car into neutral and raise your foot, apply handbrake. Then to go you need to lower handbrake after lowering the clutch and selecting 1st etc. Or in an automatic with a handbrake you'd need to put the car in neutral I think.... This is literally for off the footbrake and job done. Push the accelerator and the parking brake releases straight away.

I also love the automatic boot opening and closing function. Heated windscreen washers and wiper blade area to stop the blades sticking to the screen. To be honest, the 7 has quite a few nice little features

[E65Ross]

Hammerhead said:

Tyre Tread said:

XF- The fact that the stereo mutes slighly when reversing so you can hear the beeps from the reversing sensors. I wan't really aware of this till I changed cars and the Superb doesn't do it. nearly hit a low wall as had loud music on and didn't hear the beeps.

Yes, there is that too, though it can be annoying when you're listening to the radio and miss a bit of information ("And that was the new tune from.. beep beep beep"). But yes, I'd rather have the function than a cracked rear bumper

Add keyless entry & start to the XF list.

Edited by Hammerhead on Tuesday 7th October 15:38

My car does this too

[E65Ross]

schmalex said:

Gotcha, thanks

All this E92 / EP3 / W210 bks confuses the st out of me!!! Why people can't just say BMW 3 Series / Honda Civic etc just baffles me

Because if he said bmw 3 series he could mean any 3 series coupe, saloon or estate since 1976. E92 tells you that what era it is and that it's a coupe. I don't understand them all but it's not hard to find out.

I'd never just say on here I drive an E65. I'd say I drive a BMW E65 7 series or just E65 7 series (as most know a 7 series is a BMW model).

Agree though, to say just "EP3" can be confusing.

[E65Ross]

Baryonyx said:

E65Ross said:

Agree though, to say just "EP3" can be confusing.

Not really, that nomenclature is even more readily understood than BMW'S system. Whereas you mention that the E90 is a 3 series but then the E92 is a coupe, and then you have to get into the actual '3XYZ' designation just to understand what is actually being talked about.

With Honda you can say EP3, FN2, DC2, DC5, EK4, EK9 etc etc and there is no doubt at all as to what you're talking about.

I wasn't specifically talking about EP3, but the names in general (including BMW's E or F numbers)

[E65Ross]

Fox- said:

schmalex said:

Maybe it's just me then.

I can just imagine the conversation in the pub...

[i]<girl (pulse optional)> "So, what car do you drive?"

<car geek> "E92 with the N54 engine. It's epic"

<girl (pulse optional)> "Come again"

<car geek> "you know. The E92. It's great. But only with the manual box, as the autobox slurs it's shift between 2nd and 3rd a little too much and I hate the lack of precision control"

<girl (pulse optional)> Actually. I've discovered I'm gay. Have a nice evening

<car geek> "Oh, FFS. A manual 330 coupe. Not the latest shape but the one before"

<girl (pulse optional)> "You should have said instead of talking in some geek tongue. Goodnight"[/i]

It's just bloody confusing for normal people to have production designations being thrown around. In fact, it's almost annoying as people referring to their car as "the" rather than "my" when referring to their car.

All IMVHO of course

This isn't a pub full of normal people, it's a car enthusiasts website.

I doubt that hilarious conversation you've just detailed would ever happen.

Exactly. If someone who I know isn't into cars asks what car I drive I just turn round and say "an old BMW 7 series". If I know they're remotely into cars I might say "a BMW 745i"....and only if I know they're a bit of an anorak would I ever say "E65 745i". But to clearly tell a car enthusiast which car I drive exactly an E65 745i is what it is.

[E65Ross]

adamfawsitt said:

That sweeping my foot under the rear of the car opens the boot - perfect when your hands are full (7 Series)

That I don't need to turn the car on or off and it is open when I walk up to it and locks when I walk away (Tesla)

Love that with the boot on the 7 series!

[E65Ross]

gazchap said:

E65Ross said:

Love that with the boot on the 7 series!

Mind = blown. I had an E65 745i and didn't know you could do that! Was it an option or something?

I think he means the new shape, F01. I don't think it's available with the E65. I just said I like that feature, not that I had it

[E65Ross]

bunyarra said:

The hatch on the F type soft closes ... little thing but nice touch.

Pah, mine opens itself fully by a button on the key, and closes fully by itself by a button in the boot

Soft close is a nice touch, my old E38 7 series had it. You just need to "drop" the boot lid.

[E65Ross]

Ian Griffiths said:

The fact the radio doesn't turn down and the wiper doesn't wipe when I reverse. Until such time I become an invalid who can't press buttons, I don't need the car to do it for me. And if I want to move the mirror I'll that myself as well.

Did one want a starter motor to start his engine, or will you do it manually because you aren't an invalid? You mention you like to use cruise control, why is this? Is it too difficult for you to maintain your speed by small variations in the amount of plantar- or dorsiflexion of you ankle to adjust for hills?

It's not about whether you can or can't do it, it's about having things which just make driving that little bit easier

[E65Ross]

CharlesAL said:

I like the black roof lining in my Golf, makes the whole interior match. And the stereo is good by my standards (probably not compared to more modern ones though).

Is dual zone climate control considered a useful feature by many? I have it but don't see the point at all, never felt the need to have one side different to the other.

I often prefer the cabin to be slightly warmer than most of my passengers, so it's nice for them to be able to have it set to their temperature than to mine. If you only ever drive on your own, no, there isn't really much point, but if you have passengers regularly it can be.

It's also good if you're transporting food, on my car I can set the footwell on the passenger side to be cold, thus it keeps food a bit colder for longer; but then I also have a cool-box function in the centre console which is nice

[E65Ross]

gizlaroc said:

Ian Griffiths said:

For me, having the mirror move when I want it to be where it is makes things more difficult.

You set the control to the other mirror to get it to stop. You have an option.

I wonder if he even likes electric mirrors at all? I mean, why would you want the passenger side mirror electric when you can just reach across and adjust it yourself?

[E65Ross]

GetCarter said:

rambo19 said:

Heated windscreen, the main reason I by fords.

Yeah because..... I decided to NOT buy that Rolls Royce Phantom or Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and decided on a Mondeo because..... It has a heated windscreen!

My 7 series has heater elements at the bottom under the wipers to stop them sticking to the screen. Plus, I use Gtechniq G1 on the screen which really helps prevent ice freezing, plus some lukewarm water melts any ice, and the water then immediately runs off the screen before it gets chance to freeze.

That way, I get to buy a car I want and not get something I don't want but has a feature that comes in handy approx 10 days per year.

Edited by E65Ross on Monday 20th October 10:34

[E65Ross]

Tyre Tread said:

ZNSsupercars said:

when i was on my holiday i rented a chevy aveo LS and this is just cool i love the door handles at the back!!!!!!!!

Thans for your time,
Zachary
PISTON HEAD FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its half term isn't it?

No, that's next week I believe. Can't wait, less traffic

[E65Ross]

alane29 said:

Z4 E85 sports button on gearbox

That must be an awkward place to press a button whilst driving

[E65Ross]

Interior lights coming on when you turn the car off if it's night time (ie the driving lights have been on)

[E65Ross]

DSharp said:

BMW E61, can adjust where you want the heated seats to focus.

Means I can target wherever is aching from the gym most

Got this on my 7 series but I've never really used it to be honest...I just have it set to 50/50 for arse/back