Five most useless features in a car

Five most useless features in a car

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Discussion

Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Halmyre said:
This is a personal observation - YMMV.

INTERMITTENT WIPERS
They NEVER work at the required speed. I’ve got five degrees of intermittency, and not one setting survives more than two or three sweeps before I’m fiddling with it, or switching it off altogether and just using the flick-wipe facility.
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.

This is where I find automatic wipers come into their own. The ability for them to go from an occasional wipe to full bore when passing a HGV spraying gallons everywhere back to an occasional wipe is fantastic.




Fartgalen

6,630 posts

206 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Halmyre said:
This is a personal observation - YMMV.

ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT
Maybe it helps if only you ever drive the car, or you and your partner are the same height, but this was definitely the least-used feature on one of my cars – in eight years of ownership, I never touched it after the first couple of weeks of fiddlage. Once you've got the rake/height/lumbar/fore-and-aft positions, how often do you subsequently adjust them?

INTERMITTENT WIPERS
They NEVER work at the required speed. I’ve got five degrees of intermittency, and not one setting survives more than two or three sweeps before I’m fiddling with it, or switching it off altogether and just using the flick-wipe facility.

SUN ROOF
It lets in noise, it lets in water and it breaks down. Fully open, you can’t use it above fast walking speed due to turbulence and, tilted open, it lets in even more noise. And if it’s glass, it just reminds you of how dirty your roof is.

ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS
My latest car has manual winders in the rear – oh, the deprivation! But honestly, I can’t remember the last time anyone opened the rear passenger windows. The damn things don’t even go all the way down anyway – might as well have them fixed.

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.
Electric seats - use them all the time. Esp the cars that have memory, since after the missus has driven I simply press my recall button and seats and mirrors return to exactly my required position.

Intermittent Wipers - use them all the time. 7 or 8 preset speeds or on rain sensor. Very handy.

Sun roof - never had a problem with any car with a sunroof and can quite happily cruise along with them open. Don't have one at the moment though.

Electric rear windows - use them fairly often in summer to ventilate the car.

Sidelights - mostly useful for parking on unlit streets.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Automatic wipers. I've had a few cars with this including my 3 series and they just don't work. Even on the most sensitive setting, my screen is normally covered in water before they kick in (long after I'd need the screen to be cleared.) It wasn't an issue on the Honda as there was still an intermittent setting but on the BMW I can have them on either normal or nothing at all. The intermittent setting only works in auto mode (which still kicks in far too late.)

Cup holders. I suppose as I don't do a lot of travelling in my own car they are completely pointless. Even on pool cars if I'm travelling and I need a drink I pull over, grab a break, food and drink then drive away. I've never felt the need to store a cup in my car when I'm driving.

I don't really get the sidelights issue. I use them a lot (today in fact). There are times when you don't need full lights to see but if conditions are a little dull then it's useful for other motorists to spot you more easliy than if you don't use them.

B.J.W

5,782 posts

214 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Cruise Control

Never seen the point of it. Just steering a car has never seemed right to me.

I have it on my Audi - never used it.

SteveSteveson

3,209 posts

162 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Torquey said:
In 14 years of driving I don’t think I’ve used sidelights. If new cars are required to use dipped headlights (or DRL’s) at all times then I don’t see why we ever need sidelights.
With auto headlights and DRL's I sort of agree. But I think DRL's are one of mankinds most stupid inventions to be honest.

The trouble with DRL's is, they don't light the back of the vehicle or the number plates and are often blindingly bright and not dipped.

Using sidelights would make far more sense than DRL's...... but that would just be common sense.
Seriously, you find DRL's and dipped headlights blinding? Very odd. DRLs make cars far more visible at a distance IMO.

petrolsniffer

2,461 posts

173 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
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 delay

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
andygo said:
That utterly stupid keyless system in my wifes Focus.

Get in the car using standard remote blipper. So far so good. Press the start button. If, (and it is an if as often it doesn't)the car recognises the presence of the keyfob, it will start. ok, I can go with that...

Now, where should I put the bloody keyfob? Theres nowhere to hang it. Use one of the drinks holders? Where do I put my drink?

Its the most pointless thing ever. Whats the matter with a bloody ignition key? At least you know where it is once in the car.

  • Sorry for the weak rant.
This. I have exactly the same issue in my wifes focus. And I know someone suggests my pocket then they have not seen the set of keys she uses. The fob, a door key and about a million assorted key rings and trinkets.

My Skoda cuts the power to the lights when I remove the key. This is excellent, I never turn them off.

Electric boot - Takes three times as long as a manual boot. So you are stood like a lemon in the rain waiting for the thing when the whole process could have been completed in 2secs. It's not like you have to actually open a boot it's on hydraulics.

Memory seats tied to keys. I borrowed a 997, took me ages to figure out why the seat kept adjusting itself everytime I got in it.



STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT
I find these very useful, especially the memory seats.

INTERMITTENT WIPERS
Mine work fine. I really like them.

SUN ROOF
I really want one!

ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS
Coupe BMWs rear windows open outwards, which does seem a tad pointless to me actually. Most annoyingly if I unlock the car and hold the button all of the windows open, yet when locking the car and holding the button only the front windows close!! RAGE!

SIDELIGHTS
Never thought about these. My car has automatic lights and turns the sidelights on at will.

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Electric rear windows are a pain when you're used to not having them - I sit as far back as my seat will go and the number of times I've opened the driver's side rear window at a ticket gate in a multi-storey car park isn't even funny! laugh

Haven't had any problems with the sun roof in my knackered old Skoda, I wish more cars had them now but would prefer electric and fully opening over manual and tilting

My Kia cuts the power to headlights when you remove the key and all lights when you open the driver's door - you need to consciously turn them back on if you need parking lights. Why don't all cars do this?

STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
dave7692 said:
The bottle opener in my Golf.

Just. Why....
This might be because glass bottles are very common in Germany?

Still, doesn't change how useless it really is!

Crosswise

410 posts

185 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Halmyre said:
This is a personal observation - YMMV.

ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT
Maybe it helps if only you ever drive the car, or you and your partner are the same height, but this was definitely the least-used feature on one of my cars – in eight years of ownership, I never touched it after the first couple of weeks of fiddlage. Once you've got the rake/height/lumbar/fore-and-aft positions, how often do you subsequently adjust them?

INTERMITTENT WIPERS
They NEVER work at the required speed. I’ve got five degrees of intermittency, and not one setting survives more than two or three sweeps before I’m fiddling with it, or switching it off altogether and just using the flick-wipe facility.

SUN ROOF
It lets in noise, it lets in water and it breaks down. Fully open, you can’t use it above fast walking speed due to turbulence and, tilted open, it lets in even more noise. And if it’s glass, it just reminds you of how dirty your roof is.

ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS
My latest car has manual winders in the rear – oh, the deprivation! But honestly, I can’t remember the last time anyone opened the rear passenger windows. The damn things don’t even go all the way down anyway – might as well have them fixed.

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.
I'll agree with you on the electric seat adjust to an extent, I've never had it or needed it. However, the rest are all features I use regularly and value, I open the sunroof and a window for a nice flow of air with no buffeting, if I'm driving with the driver's window open I like to drop a rear window a little for the same reason, it's also nice to be able to decide if your rear seat passengers can operate their own windows or not. I use sidelights when it's not dark but visibility is poor enough that lights make my car stand out more.

As an aside, I'm fascinated to know what car you have purchased which doesn't have electric rear windows? The wording leads me to believe it's modern in which case I'm amazed that anyting other than a lightweight track car or a Tata Nano come without electric windows, or your car is a Mk1 Ford Cortina in which case it would make sense. My XJ6 has electric windows front and back and that's nearly 40 years old, I'm shocked that it hasn't caught on.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
SteveSteveson said:
JimbobVFR said:
Boot release on the key fob. My A2 has this and it's less than useless. You still need to lift the hatch using the handle where the release is, also if you use the fob to release the boot the car will automatically relock when closed, handy if you put the keys down while arranging your stuff.
Much easier to push the button and then flick the boot with hands full than try and get the key in. Also, less likely to damage the paint stabbing around for the key hole in the dark.
There is no key hole, unlock the car on the normal button and use the rubber switch built into the handle to open it or use the boot release button which releases the latch, however you then use the same handle to lift it up, your hand is resting on the boot release anyway while lifting it up, hence pointless. Also as mentioned in the cars locked and you release the boot closing it automatically relocks the car.

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Crosswise said:
As an aside, I'm fascinated to know what car you have purchased which doesn't have electric rear windows? The wording leads me to believe it's modern in which case I'm amazed that anyting other than a lightweight track car or a Tata Nano come without electric windows, or your car is a Mk1 Ford Cortina in which case it would make sense. My XJ6 has electric windows front and back and that's nearly 40 years old, I'm shocked that it hasn't caught on.
Back in the real world, the vast majority of normal hatchbacks and such have manual windows in the back on the lower spec models...

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
SteveSteveson said:
Eh? If dipped headlights are causing problems with your vision then you should probably get that checked out... They are designed to not cause problems in the dead of night, so lord knows how your having problems during the day.
SteveSteveson said:
Seriously, you find DRL's and dipped headlights blinding? Very odd. DRLs make cars far more visible at a distance IMO.
rolleyes

ok it's going to be one of those.....


Bright lights will glare more off of wet roads and cause greater distraction. A bright light also means it's much harder to see past the light, want proof hold a torch infront of your face (at arms length) and then try and see objects 10 feet in front of you.

Judging speed and distance is harder when what you are looking at is a bright light, rather than an object.

During WW2 bright lights where used to "hide" ships at sea and reduce the visual signature of aircraft, during certain ambient lighting conditions. These same things happen with cars also.

A less intense light will just as easily 'mark' a car in gloomy or dusk lighting. But without any of the negative affective of brighter lights.


Your last comment "DRLs make cars far more visible at a distance". Exactly how far away do you need to see a car?

Seriously, seeing a car at 2 miles away instead of 1500 yards away offers what realtime advantage?

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
SteveSteveson said:
Eh? If dipped headlights are causing problems with your vision then you should probably get that checked out... They are designed to not cause problems in the dead of night, so lord knows how your having problems during the day.
SteveSteveson said:
Seriously, you find DRL's and dipped headlights blinding? Very odd. DRLs make cars far more visible at a distance IMO.
rolleyes

ok it's going to be one of those.....


Bright lights will glare more off of wet roads and cause greater distraction. A bright light also means it's much harder to see past the light, want proof hold a torch infront of your face (at arms length) and then try and see objects 10 feet in front of you.

Judging speed and distance is harder when what you are looking at is a bright light, rather than an object.

During WW2 bright lights where used to "hide" ships at sea and reduce the visual signature of aircraft, during certain ambient lighting conditions. These same things happen with cars also.

A less intense light will just as easily 'mark' a car in gloomy or dusk lighting. But without any of the negative affective of brighter lights.


Your last comment "DRLs make cars far more visible at a distance". Exactly how far away do you need to see a car?

Seriously, seeing a car at 2 miles away instead of 1500 yards away offers what realtime advantage?
DRLs make a car far less visible at a distance when it's pissing down with rain and your rear lights aren't turned on because it only turns on the imagine strips at the front!

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
SteveSteveson said:
JimbobVFR said:
Boot release on the key fob. My A2 has this and it's less than useless. You still need to lift the hatch using the handle where the release is, also if you use the fob to release the boot the car will automatically relock when closed, handy if you put the keys down while arranging your stuff.
Much easier to push the button and then flick the boot with hands full than try and get the key in. Also, less likely to damage the paint stabbing around for the key hole in the dark.
There is no key hole, unlock the car on the normal button and use the rubber switch built into the handle to open it or use the boot release button which releases the latch, however you then use the same handle to lift it up, your hand is resting on the boot release anyway while lifting it up, hence pointless. Also as mentioned in the cars locked and you release the boot closing it automatically relocks the car.

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Load covers, 5th headrest, dual zone a/c, reading lights, adjustable seatbelt height thing.

The miserable-ometer in BMWs that is the instant mpg needle thing.

Picnic table in Mk1 CR-Vs. How are you supposed to sit at it?
The sink (and shower in top model) was actually handy though.



STW2010

5,714 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
300bhp/ton said:
Seriously, seeing a car at 2 miles away instead of 1500 yards away offers what realtime advantage?
That's 30 seconds if both cars are doing 120 mph. driving

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
andygo said:
That utterly stupid keyless system in my wifes Focus.

Get in the car using standard remote blipper. So far so good. Press the start button. If, (and it is an if as often it doesn't)the car recognises the presence of the keyfob, it will start. ok, I can go with that...

Now, where should I put the bloody keyfob? Theres nowhere to hang it. Use one of the drinks holders? Where do I put my drink?

Its the most pointless thing ever. Whats the matter with a bloody ignition key? At least you know where it is once in the car.

  • Sorry for the weak rant.
Do you need to use the fob to open the door? My Laguna II had keyless - walk up to the car with the card in pocket, open the door (sensor behind handle unlocks the door when it senses your hand and knows the card is close), get in, start, drive.

Loved it, apart from the occasional time when it's French roots would shine and it'd open the door then set the alarm off biggrin

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
Crosswise said:
As an aside, I'm fascinated to know what car you have purchased which doesn't have electric rear windows?
My wifes 2009 Focus ST3 has manual winders in the rear.