Most useless extra on a car.
Discussion
I’ve been reading the thread in the BMW section on what options to spec, and got me thinking what I would not want:
Built in car manufactures radio, (as on a new Hyundia’s I recently hired) and Sat nav, I fail to see why when the car is sold in three years anyone would want to be stuck with old technology when current technology is available so cheaply, (built in car phones appear to have died for this reason).
Heated seat, if you live somewhere they are needed, (and I have ) then the clothing you are wearing means you don’t get the benefit, and it’s so cold you go out early and run the car to temp before you get in. ( I’ll ignore the argument I once read that they stimulated blood flow, and could cause piles).
“Privacy glass” currently removing this form the wife’s car as it a nightmare at night mare.
But today I was out with friends all of whom had the seat belt adjuster (on the b pillar) at the highest point, now living in Asia my 5ft 8 makes me a big guy, but the seat belts in my car are at the lowest point, so many people have the seat belt crossing their chin, and couple this to the seat back set reclining way back, and it is actually exposing them to injury from the belt.
So my current favorite useless extra is adjustable seat belt.
Another thing I can do without are ash tray, I’ve never used one for ash, and I don’t know anyone who does.
Built in car manufactures radio, (as on a new Hyundia’s I recently hired) and Sat nav, I fail to see why when the car is sold in three years anyone would want to be stuck with old technology when current technology is available so cheaply, (built in car phones appear to have died for this reason).
Heated seat, if you live somewhere they are needed, (and I have ) then the clothing you are wearing means you don’t get the benefit, and it’s so cold you go out early and run the car to temp before you get in. ( I’ll ignore the argument I once read that they stimulated blood flow, and could cause piles).
“Privacy glass” currently removing this form the wife’s car as it a nightmare at night mare.
But today I was out with friends all of whom had the seat belt adjuster (on the b pillar) at the highest point, now living in Asia my 5ft 8 makes me a big guy, but the seat belts in my car are at the lowest point, so many people have the seat belt crossing their chin, and couple this to the seat back set reclining way back, and it is actually exposing them to injury from the belt.
So my current favorite useless extra is adjustable seat belt.
Another thing I can do without are ash tray, I’ve never used one for ash, and I don’t know anyone who does.
I love my heated seats. I hate driving with coats and bulky clothing on. If you drive somewhere to hike, bike or board and you're coming back to the car cold and wet, they're superb. I don't think I'd buy a daily driver / workhorse without them tbh.
I find front fog lights more useless, despite living somewhere which gets foggy.
I find front fog lights more useless, despite living somewhere which gets foggy.
Another fan of the heated seats here too. Just because it is cold wet and miserable outside, doesn't mean that I want to ride in the car dressed for those conditions.
Also reinforce the dislike of front foglights. I've never encountered conditions where their use was any significant improvement over dipped beam - They are just toys that are abused by inconsiderate w
kers glaring other road users because they think they are "wicked, innit!"
Also reinforce the dislike of front foglights. I've never encountered conditions where their use was any significant improvement over dipped beam - They are just toys that are abused by inconsiderate w
kers glaring other road users because they think they are "wicked, innit!"
Worse than useless, on balance. The world would be a better place without them. Berw said:
I’ve been reading the thread in the BMW section on what options to spec, and got me thinking what I would not want:
Built in car manufactures radio, (as on a new Hyundia’s I recently hired) and Sat nav, I fail to see why when the car is sold in three years anyone would want to be stuck with old technology when current technology is available so cheaply, (built in car phones appear to have died for this reason).
Heated seat, if you live somewhere they are needed, (and I have ) then the clothing you are wearing means you don’t get the benefit, and it’s so cold you go out early and run the car to temp before you get in. ( I’ll ignore the argument I once read that they stimulated blood flow, and could cause piles).
“Privacy glass” currently removing this form the wife’s car as it a nightmare at night mare.
But today I was out with friends all of whom had the seat belt adjuster (on the b pillar) at the highest point, now living in Asia my 5ft 8 makes me a big guy, but the seat belts in my car are at the lowest point, so many people have the seat belt crossing their chin, and couple this to the seat back set reclining way back, and it is actually exposing them to injury from the belt.
So my current favorite useless extra is adjustable seat belt.
Another thing I can do without are ash tray, I’ve never used one for ash, and I don’t know anyone who does.
Not that I would disagree that some wouldn't want such items. But I think it's pretty naive to say they are useless.Built in car manufactures radio, (as on a new Hyundia’s I recently hired) and Sat nav, I fail to see why when the car is sold in three years anyone would want to be stuck with old technology when current technology is available so cheaply, (built in car phones appear to have died for this reason).
Heated seat, if you live somewhere they are needed, (and I have ) then the clothing you are wearing means you don’t get the benefit, and it’s so cold you go out early and run the car to temp before you get in. ( I’ll ignore the argument I once read that they stimulated blood flow, and could cause piles).
“Privacy glass” currently removing this form the wife’s car as it a nightmare at night mare.
But today I was out with friends all of whom had the seat belt adjuster (on the b pillar) at the highest point, now living in Asia my 5ft 8 makes me a big guy, but the seat belts in my car are at the lowest point, so many people have the seat belt crossing their chin, and couple this to the seat back set reclining way back, and it is actually exposing them to injury from the belt.
So my current favorite useless extra is adjustable seat belt.
Another thing I can do without are ash tray, I’ve never used one for ash, and I don’t know anyone who does.
In the UK it's not so cold that you wear special clothing, but it's cold enough that heated seats can be very pleasant.
Ash trays - are you serious???
Buy any used car in the UK and chances are the ash tray has been used at some point.
Heated seats = lovely for a bad back, and I love having a cool car and warm seats
Tinted windows = I like them
Ashtray = not seen a new car with one, do they still have them?
Front fogs = I don't have them but I have had them on other cars and been in heavy pea souper fog where they've given better visibility than normal dipped beam
Tinted windows = I like them
Ashtray = not seen a new car with one, do they still have them?
Front fogs = I don't have them but I have had them on other cars and been in heavy pea souper fog where they've given better visibility than normal dipped beam
joebongo said:
My E38 has the clock synchronised with the atomic clock in Rugby through a special aerial built into the rear windscreen. They could have taken the time signal through RDS, but no, this is BMW we're talking about :-)
If that works the way I think it does (standard FM radio broadcast within the UK?), that would be extremely annoying because if you were, for example, in France near the coast, it would keep re-syncing to UK time. Edited by kambites on Monday 8th November 08:27
Heated seats- I like (but then I live in Switzerland!)
There are several options on our car that seem slightly pointless/quite unnecessary/a pain in the arse- for example front fog lights (have never used them); ashtrays; and f*cking automatic f*cking wipers. In that order.
How difficult is it to flick on the wiper switch when you deem it necessary? The auto function on our Golf is random at best, and either smears the screen when it's not needed, or failes to wipe enough in the rain. Complete load of b0llocks.
I'd also add that automatic parallel parking is utterlry unnecessary; and even though we have cruise control on both cars, I never use it.
There are several options on our car that seem slightly pointless/quite unnecessary/a pain in the arse- for example front fog lights (have never used them); ashtrays; and f*cking automatic f*cking wipers. In that order.
How difficult is it to flick on the wiper switch when you deem it necessary? The auto function on our Golf is random at best, and either smears the screen when it's not needed, or failes to wipe enough in the rain. Complete load of b0llocks.
I'd also add that automatic parallel parking is utterlry unnecessary; and even though we have cruise control on both cars, I never use it.
300bhp/ton said:
kambites said:
How about (non-memory) electrically adjustable seats. I mean what exactly is the point supposed to be?
Greater adjustability than manual seats?Berw said:
No not serious, there are too many serious people here. But I lived in Scandanavia for many years, heated seats were no use, never saw the benifit, you got in the car with loads of clothes on and the heat of the seat never got through.
Well ok, try assuming there are more places in the World than Scandanvia and hot parts of Asia 
Even more so when you are talking to people on a UK based forum where I suspect the vast majority of users are UK based
joebongo said:
My E38 has the clock synchronised with the atomic clock in Rugby through a special aerial built into the rear windscreen. They could have taken the time signal through RDS, but no, this is BMW we're talking about :-)
Do I win?
That's excellently unnecessary Do I win?
Even if you don't see a "use" to privacy glass, the vast majority of people who spec it do so for the look, not the actual privacy. After having heated seats in the UK for a couple of years, my mum's scared of the thought of a car without them!
Front parking sensors would be my call.
ETA - Ooh, I forgot how incredibly irritating most automatic wipers are.
Edited by McSam on Monday 8th November 08:31
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