Five most useless features in a car
Discussion
Years ago I was on a marketing course and there was an excellent presentation on value-add in the auto industry and how certain manufacturers think hard about what features they add to a car. The ideal formula was something along the lines of cost to incorporate (ie build cost) x value of the benefit to the user (typically the driver) x frequency that the benefit is experienced. The highest scoring example was the fuel cap holder on the inside of the flap. It cost peanuts to incorporate but most drivers appreciated it every time they filled up. I think Honda was the manufacturer they were referring to. The opposite example was talking seat belt reminders. It seemed like a good idea but very quickly pi**ed people off to the point of real annoyance, therefore of negative value.
Shaw Tarse said:
petrolsniffer said:
Fastdruid said:
I'd agree, I liked the Puma intermittent wipers which (as a previous poster notes) can be set to any intermittency you want but even then I find if the rain is itself intermittent you still end up playing with it all the time.
How do you do this???? I've done it by accident a couple of times but never known how to set the delayAlso works on older Focus?
kING RAIN DOESN'T ALWAYS FALL AT THE SAME fkING FREQUENCY!!! Thank you God, thank you so very much you evil bd!! !That fuel cap thing is excellent, and I'm always annoyed when I don't drive a car with it (but also noticed that Tesco petrol pumps have a little recess to sit your cap in!)
I guess the modern equivalent of that is the new Ford "petrol caps" that are actually built into the filler neck and you just shove the nozzle in - misfueling no more and no cap to worry about!
I guess the modern equivalent of that is the new Ford "petrol caps" that are actually built into the filler neck and you just shove the nozzle in - misfueling no more and no cap to worry about!
Toaster Pilot said:
I guess the modern equivalent of that is the new Ford "petrol caps" that are actually built into the filler neck and you just shove the nozzle in - misfueling no more and no cap to worry about!
Yep, confused the hell out of me the first time. I was wondering where the cap was! In a hire Focus I had in the US there was a sticker on it saying there was no cap so obviously Ford had noticed it confused people.There was a simple feature absent from one car that caused great frustration. I had a Nissan 200sx. It was really difficult to get the driver's seat back at the correct angle for my comfort. Every time I had to access the rear seats from the drivers side the seat would return to the default angle and I had to start all over again. Memory seats are great.
matthias73 said:
Paul O said:
Halmyre said:
This is a personal observation - YMMV.
SIDELIGHTS
Here’s a free tip - if it’s dark enough that you think you need sidelights then it’s dark enough that you need headlights. Maybe some people are trying to save wear on their bulbs, or are worried about the increased fuel consumption.
Agree with this, particularly on new cars with DRLs. DRLs allow you to be seen, headlights allow you to see stuff. Don't see the point of the side lights any more on cars that SIDELIGHTS
Here’s a free tip - if it’s dark enough that you think you need sidelights then it’s dark enough that you need headlights. Maybe some people are trying to save wear on their bulbs, or are worried about the increased fuel consumption.
They are often known as parking lights.
You know, so that if you are parked somewhere dark for a little bit, you can leave them on to let other cars know you are there without draining the battery.
https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-rider...
Edited by ch108 on Thursday 7th November 19:33
BMW heaters...... You have some sort of dual zone climate control action down by the gear stick. This allows you to set the desired temperature for either side of the cabin. Very nice. But then look up towards the top of the dash and there is a wheel which makes the cabin hotter or colder if you wind it up or down, respectively.
I have had this in both my 840 and M5 and still don't fully understand it.
Just have one or t'other, surely!
I have had this in both my 840 and M5 and still don't fully understand it.
Just have one or t'other, surely!
ch108 said:
Those new turn lights, which means when the cars headlights are on, when you turn a corner it automatically switches on one front fog light depending on which way you are turning. It just looks daft and is of no relevant use especially if the car headlights are on anyway.
I find the turn lights are good for turning onto a drive or travelling on country lanea where there could be sonething in front od where you wil be turning Edited by ch108 on Wednesday 6th November 19:25
otolith said:
It's intended to remove distractions at night. I never used it much, but I can see why people might like it.
My dads Saab 9-3 had this and he liked it. If you used it and went above 5k revs (i think) the rev gauge would light up, under 1/4 tank of petrol caused it to light up and over 70 mph iirc, Gad-Westy said:
I feel like I might be in the minority with this one but every single car I've ever owned has had a function to recirculate the air inside the car rather than drawing in fresh air. I cannot recall ever actually using it, ever. What am I missing?
The warm smell of your own farts?Gad-Westy said:
I feel like I might be in the minority with this one but every single car I've ever owned has had a function to recirculate the air inside the car rather than drawing in fresh air. I cannot recall ever actually using it, ever. What am I missing?
You obviously don't live in the smelly farming countryside!Gad-Westy said:
I feel like I might be in the minority with this one but every single car I've ever owned has had a function to recirculate the air inside the car rather than drawing in fresh air. I cannot recall ever actually using it, ever. What am I missing?
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