What in-car features/tech do you simply not use?
Discussion
Just a random thought I had whilst driving the other day. My current car is the first I've had with a multitude of steering wheel buttons/controls... had it over 3 years now, and I've never used them! They don't even register with me; I guess after moving my hand towards the volume knob for the stereo for almost 20 years, it's basically muscle memory to me now.
Last car had a bigger-than-phone-sized screen with sat-nav etc. but never used it due to Google Maps on the phone (to be fair, wasn't compatible with CarPlay)
Previously I've a couple of cars with sunroofs; however don't think I ever opened one.
Last car had a bigger-than-phone-sized screen with sat-nav etc. but never used it due to Google Maps on the phone (to be fair, wasn't compatible with CarPlay)
Previously I've a couple of cars with sunroofs; however don't think I ever opened one.
Opening sunroofs
I simply don't see the point, it gets more light for the rear passengers especially but don't get the point opening the glass part too. It's not like it's a full convertible that you can get the open air experience
Car voice control
Unlike the phone voice assistants, they are just so bad and useless
I simply don't see the point, it gets more light for the rear passengers especially but don't get the point opening the glass part too. It's not like it's a full convertible that you can get the open air experience
Car voice control
Unlike the phone voice assistants, they are just so bad and useless
WY86 said:
Launch control car has it never used it, the self park feature used it like once didn't like the sensation of hands and feet off the controls. I have never used Apple carplay as much prefer using the in car Nav mainly as i hate how phone holders look.
But you don't need a phone holder with car play? The phone can go in a cubby/arm rest whilst plugged in?GroundEffect said:
But you don't need a phone holder with car play? The phone can go in a cubby/arm rest whilst plugged in?
True but i have a wireless charging pad which after a while over heats my old phone if i am running things like youtube or Spotify, i also see a large number of people with fairly new cars that still use phone holders. jake19831 said:
Id be interested in knowing how many people use the Assisted Parking feature to auto-park your car for you.
I do. It's brilliant. I'm quite good at parking but the Mercedes system is better. It gets it spot on first time, every time. At night, when it's raining and visibility is bad, it's superb. What's not to like?
Voice command. Waste of time. I can move my hand around to press things even when driving. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Or shall I just drive around shouting repeatedly at my car for not understanding a single word I’m saying?
Lane assist. As others have said it’s bloody dangerous.
Cup holders. I have never ever felt the need to use one.
Lane assist. As others have said it’s bloody dangerous.
Cup holders. I have never ever felt the need to use one.
I never open my sunroof, and mostly keep the blind shut on it.
I have never played a CD in this car, and use the slot to mount a phone holder.
There is an electric blind in the rear window that I have only ever operated to demonstrate to people that it exists.
Not had the opportunity in 6 years of ownership to use the Snow mode in the gearbox.
I have never played a CD in this car, and use the slot to mount a phone holder.
There is an electric blind in the rear window that I have only ever operated to demonstrate to people that it exists.
Not had the opportunity in 6 years of ownership to use the Snow mode in the gearbox.
Yet to try auto-park, to be honest I'm not 100% sure how to work it and most of the time I'm in too much of a rush to mess around. At some point I might find a quiet place to give it a try.
Launch control - never used, I did mean to try it out on the wife's JCW before we handed it back but forgot.
Not a big fan of cruise control, too much of a faff unless it's not very busy. Although it doesn't help that the controls for it on my Focus are not that intuitive, the wife's MINI has a better layout so use it more often there.
Paddle gear changes - almost never used.
Auto dimming headlights - tried it once and although it seemed pretty competent I couldn't relax so went back to flicking the switch the old fashioned way.
Launch control - never used, I did mean to try it out on the wife's JCW before we handed it back but forgot.
Not a big fan of cruise control, too much of a faff unless it's not very busy. Although it doesn't help that the controls for it on my Focus are not that intuitive, the wife's MINI has a better layout so use it more often there.
Paddle gear changes - almost never used.
Auto dimming headlights - tried it once and although it seemed pretty competent I couldn't relax so went back to flicking the switch the old fashioned way.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Zetec-S said:
Paddle gear changes - almost never used.
I used them on the day I bought the car, decided it was a crap invention, and not touched them since. Switching to Sport mode or Sport + and continuing to use full auto does the exact same job, but better. Like many others, I haven't yet tried the auto park and I don't like the lane assist. I also very rarely use the rear climate control (it's a stand alone system, not just ducted air from the front) unless I accidentally hit the "Max" button while attempting to press something else.
No idea if the front fog lights or the horn still work.
No idea if the front fog lights or the horn still work.
In about 15 years of having them, I've never used a variable height boot floor in the "up" (level with boot lip) position.
I can see how it would be useful should I need to move a washing machine or fridge freezer (which I haven't), but for everything else I'd rather have the 3 inch drop inside to stop everything falling out, and more boot space.
The other item I've not used for years is a spare wheel. The last car came without a spare. Within a year of getting the car, I got a sidewall puncture the pot of goo was never going to fix and ordered a spare wheel kit on my phone whilst waiting for breakdown recovery. The spare wheel kit arrived a day later, went in the boot and I've never had another puncture in the about ten years since!!
I can see how it would be useful should I need to move a washing machine or fridge freezer (which I haven't), but for everything else I'd rather have the 3 inch drop inside to stop everything falling out, and more boot space.
The other item I've not used for years is a spare wheel. The last car came without a spare. Within a year of getting the car, I got a sidewall puncture the pot of goo was never going to fix and ordered a spare wheel kit on my phone whilst waiting for breakdown recovery. The spare wheel kit arrived a day later, went in the boot and I've never had another puncture in the about ten years since!!
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