Five most useless features in a car
Discussion
My car has front bumper cameras which let you see out of tight junctions. They are quite pointless as I always forget where the switch is so spend ages turning the camera on. It also has self parking which is really pointless as, having lived in London for many years, I'm quite good at reverse parking.
However, it does have a Head Up Display which is bloody brilliant
However, it does have a Head Up Display which is bloody brilliant
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?
In the hot weather with climate control, it is supposedly more efficient to use the recirc as the air inside would already cool, rather than cooling hot air from outside to bring into the cabin.However, some have auto recirc and i think it switches in and out dependant on interior air quality.
Sort of.
Maybe this has been said, haven't read through everything.
But re sidelights...
It annoys my if someone is sitting on the side of the road, perhaps waiting for someone in a shop or takeaway with their headlights on. It is too bright and a bit dazzling given the brightness of most headlights. This is the perfect situation for sidelights, so would disagree with them being pointless.
To add to the thread though - CD players are pretty pointless now.
But re sidelights...
It annoys my if someone is sitting on the side of the road, perhaps waiting for someone in a shop or takeaway with their headlights on. It is too bright and a bit dazzling given the brightness of most headlights. This is the perfect situation for sidelights, so would disagree with them being pointless.
To add to the thread though - CD players are pretty pointless now.
Automatic lights,
Auto wipers they never work properly, they start off slow then go to warp factor ten the moment there is more than a slight drizzle I just use rain x and the quick swipe when required.
Huge great info screens sat nav screens can't stand them I like to see were I'm going at night
Modern cars are far far to lit up on the inside
And you can add mood lighting to that list
What an absolute load of pointless pap.
Automated reverse I'm sorry if you can't reverse park then you shouldn't have a driving licence
Auto wipers they never work properly, they start off slow then go to warp factor ten the moment there is more than a slight drizzle I just use rain x and the quick swipe when required.
Huge great info screens sat nav screens can't stand them I like to see were I'm going at night
Modern cars are far far to lit up on the inside
And you can add mood lighting to that list
What an absolute load of pointless pap.
Automated reverse I'm sorry if you can't reverse park then you shouldn't have a driving licence
The vast majority of "Auto........" things although I'm a grumpy old man who thinks "I want to be in control of the car" rather than "I want to look at face book while the car does everything for me!"
)
PS I do love Auto-dimming wing mirrors however, because they genuinely have no other way of dimming currently (no switch etc) when they need to be dimmed.
PPS Full disclosure, my car has 4 of the list above, all switch to manual except the dipping rear mirror which is a pain to use manually.
- Auto-dipping headlights - You're too stupid to dip them yourself when you see a car coming, better let the car decide whats right.
- Auto-headlights - You're too stupid to turn your own lights on when it's dark, better let the car decide whats right.
- Auto-dimming rear mirror - You're too stupid to move that plastic tab 1cm to stop yourself being blinded by the burke behind you with his "Auto-dipping headlights", better let the car decide whats right.
- Auto-temperature setting to 0.5'c - You're to stupid to turn the "hot/cold" dial to a position that you like, better let the car decide whats right.
- Auto-wipers - You're too stupid to switch on your wipers when it rains, better let the car decide whats right.
- Auto-parking - You're too stupid to park, better let the car decide whats right. I mean how are you even allowed to drive?
)PS I do love Auto-dimming wing mirrors however, because they genuinely have no other way of dimming currently (no switch etc) when they need to be dimmed.
PPS Full disclosure, my car has 4 of the list above, all switch to manual except the dipping rear mirror which is a pain to use manually.
Edited by IanH755 on Thursday 21st September 18:02
I can do 5 things I cursed until I got and now totally get:
1) Heated steering wheel, used to think, pointless, man-up... actually on a cold day when you just "feel" cold to your bones lovely.
2) Cooled seats, that sounds pointless who'd need that. They make a seat exceptionally comfortable on a hot day, no cold face and sticky back, that's a thing of the past.
3) Keyless entry and start, seriously, you can use a key how lazy are you. Getting in a car and going very relaxing and no scratched steering column, touch a square on the handle, wing mirrors fold in, locked, simples.
4) Bluetooth phone connection, just don't answer your phone whilst driving and pull over. Stuff happens, try not to do it, but I think best modern safety feature. There is always a reason right or wrong, make it as safe as possible.
5) Reversing cameras, OK it's bad enough I owned up to needing the bleepy things, now a camera. Well now I have it, it was an adjustment so easy and safe to reverse now. I live on a quiet street and the level of view (not to be relied on of course) is amazing, no danger of hitting a daft kid who runs behind a moving car.
OK, so none of those appear on my NA MX-5 and I wouldn't want them to. On my daily though I will try to get as many of those as possible and if I had to chose only one car I'd probably prioritise one with those rather than driving feel.
I am getting old though.
1) Heated steering wheel, used to think, pointless, man-up... actually on a cold day when you just "feel" cold to your bones lovely.
2) Cooled seats, that sounds pointless who'd need that. They make a seat exceptionally comfortable on a hot day, no cold face and sticky back, that's a thing of the past.
3) Keyless entry and start, seriously, you can use a key how lazy are you. Getting in a car and going very relaxing and no scratched steering column, touch a square on the handle, wing mirrors fold in, locked, simples.
4) Bluetooth phone connection, just don't answer your phone whilst driving and pull over. Stuff happens, try not to do it, but I think best modern safety feature. There is always a reason right or wrong, make it as safe as possible.
5) Reversing cameras, OK it's bad enough I owned up to needing the bleepy things, now a camera. Well now I have it, it was an adjustment so easy and safe to reverse now. I live on a quiet street and the level of view (not to be relied on of course) is amazing, no danger of hitting a daft kid who runs behind a moving car.
OK, so none of those appear on my NA MX-5 and I wouldn't want them to. On my daily though I will try to get as many of those as possible and if I had to chose only one car I'd probably prioritise one with those rather than driving feel.
I am getting old though.
Nanook said:
Syncromesh gearboxes, if you can't rev match, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
It's subjective. If you you feel that interior mood lighting is just as useful as power steering and ABS then that's all that matters ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
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?
I use that regularly, helps to demist quicker if outside air is moist. Also if passing recently manured fields! Drew106 said:
Maybe this has been said, haven't read through everything.
But re sidelights...
It annoys my if someone is sitting on the side of the road, perhaps waiting for someone in a shop or takeaway with their headlights on. It is too bright and a bit dazzling given the brightness of most headlights. This is the perfect situation for sidelights, so would disagree with them being pointless.
To add to the thread though - CD players are pretty pointless now.
My recent car (sold at 19 years old) had a tape player! I changed it after a few years for a CD player. My current car has a CD player, but also a memory to store CD contents. I downloaded all my iTunes music onto a stick and transferred to the cars memory. 48% full now.But re sidelights...
It annoys my if someone is sitting on the side of the road, perhaps waiting for someone in a shop or takeaway with their headlights on. It is too bright and a bit dazzling given the brightness of most headlights. This is the perfect situation for sidelights, so would disagree with them being pointless.
To add to the thread though - CD players are pretty pointless now.
loose cannon said:
Automatic lights,
Auto wipers they never work properly, they start off slow then go to warp factor ten the moment there is more than a slight drizzle I just use rain x and the quick swipe when required.
Huge great info screens sat nav screens can't stand them I like to see were I'm going at night
Modern cars are far far to lit up on the inside
And you can add mood lighting to that list
What an absolute load of pointless pap.
Automated reverse I'm sorry if you can't reverse park then you shouldn't have a driving licence
For me:Auto wipers they never work properly, they start off slow then go to warp factor ten the moment there is more than a slight drizzle I just use rain x and the quick swipe when required.
Huge great info screens sat nav screens can't stand them I like to see were I'm going at night
Modern cars are far far to lit up on the inside
And you can add mood lighting to that list
What an absolute load of pointless pap.
Automated reverse I'm sorry if you can't reverse park then you shouldn't have a driving licence
Auto lights work OK
Auto wipers work OK
Sat Nav dims from light blue to dark background at night
I don't have park assist, but reversing camera is fine.
Old Man Fred said:
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, 
kING FOG LIGHTS WHAT ABSOLUTE fFastdruid said:
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?
Following stinky diseasels belching out clouds of noxious fumes. Frequently use it for that very purpose.
Nanook said:
Syncromesh gearboxes, if you can't rev match, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
Seriously though, the auto wipers on my wife's A1 are pretty damn stupid, a lot of people seem to agree about those!
Starter motors. If you can't hand crank a car yourself, then...ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
Seriously though, the auto wipers on my wife's A1 are pretty damn stupid, a lot of people seem to agree about those!
Mr2Mike said:
Nanook said:
Syncromesh gearboxes, if you can't rev match, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
By your criteria, the roads would be pretty empty.ABS. If you can't steer and brake at the same time, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Power steering, if you're not strong enough to steer without it, you shouldn't have a driving licence.
Am I doing this right?
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