Car features that you cannot live without...
Discussion
It’s like Maslow’s “pyramid of need” or whatever it’s called.
Apple CarPlay
Aircon
Electric windows
In terms of convenience and just sheer usefulness CarPlay is one of the great automotive innovations this century imo. It brings even old cars pretty well up to date in terms of features.
As to AC, well that’s just civilised. These last few days really prove it - then theres that amazing feeling when you’ve been driving the car and it’s 17c inside, you stop and open the door and get hit by this wall of heat…
Apple CarPlay
Aircon
Electric windows
In terms of convenience and just sheer usefulness CarPlay is one of the great automotive innovations this century imo. It brings even old cars pretty well up to date in terms of features.
As to AC, well that’s just civilised. These last few days really prove it - then theres that amazing feeling when you’ve been driving the car and it’s 17c inside, you stop and open the door and get hit by this wall of heat…
sam.rog said:
Heated steering wheel.
Latest car has one and I would be a little aggrieved if the next one didn t.
Before having one I would have laughed at anyone who had it on their list of must haves. But here I am. Repenting.
Came on here to post exactly this. When I viewed my car I saw that feature and thought I'd never use it. How wrong I was, I love it!Latest car has one and I would be a little aggrieved if the next one didn t.
Before having one I would have laughed at anyone who had it on their list of must haves. But here I am. Repenting.
Other feature I couldn't be without is the head-up display. I now find it odd having to look down at the speedo if driving other cars.
DKS said:
Jinba Ittai said:
Apart from AC, it would be heated steering wheel. Far more effective at warming me up in the winter than heated seats, I would happily forgo heated seats for a heated steering wheel.
The feature which I wish cars had, but I have never seen (that could be a new thread topic) is an electrically adjustable rear view mirror. I frequently have to jump in and out of pool cars - Ford Tourneos. I have to lean forward to reach the rear view mirror so my body is out of position when trying to adjust it; when I lean back into driving position, the mirror is often then slightly out of position, which irritates me. An electrically adjustable and memory rear view mirror would be a godsend.
My Vauxhall Signum Elite had that, was extremely impressed! A friend (who left it to me) managed to knock the mirror off the screen and we spent an hour or so re-attaching it all. Was amazed to see it move when we were fiddling with the seats! The external mirrors also remembered their position with each seat memory. The passenger side mirror dipped when in reverse, but only if the left mirror was selected. Clever stuff!The feature which I wish cars had, but I have never seen (that could be a new thread topic) is an electrically adjustable rear view mirror. I frequently have to jump in and out of pool cars - Ford Tourneos. I have to lean forward to reach the rear view mirror so my body is out of position when trying to adjust it; when I lean back into driving position, the mirror is often then slightly out of position, which irritates me. An electrically adjustable and memory rear view mirror would be a godsend.
TheAngryDog said:
My first car was a Sierra Sapphire GLS, electric windows in the front, keep fit windows in the rear. I don't think it had a heated front screen. No a/c, had halogen candles, PAS and ABS and a manual sunroof. This was in 1999. How did we survive summers in the car back then?
I survived sitting on plastic car seats in hot summers. 
AC - I did a 5 day trip to Normandy in the 928 last year, with no AC (O ring blew). It was the hottest week of 2025. I was sweating like a glass blower's arse, but, I can live without AC. I managed when I was a cub in my job, in a 306, wearing a suit and tie, full days on the road, in the summer of 1996. 6.
Apple/Android - I have them on the BMW. I barely, if ever, use them. not sure what I gain given Spotify is loaded into the ICE system.
Sat Nav - nice to have but pigeon sense is often best (see summer of 1996 and valuing 8 pubs a day)
However.....
Cup holders.
As mentioned above, I live on coffee and there are no cupholders in my classics, which drives me nuts and scalds me nuts.
Castrol for a knave said:
AC - I did a 5 day trip to Normandy in the 928 last year, with no AC (O ring blew). It was the hottest week of 2025. I was sweating like a glass blower's arse, but, I can live without AC. I managed when I was a cub in my job, in a 306, wearing a suit and tie, full days on the road, in the summer of 1996. 6.
Apple/Android - I have them on the BMW. I barely, if ever, use them. not sure what I gain given Spotify is loaded into the ICE system.
Sat Nav - nice to have but pigeon sense is often best (see summer of 1996 and valuing 8 pubs a day)
However.....
Cup holders.
As mentioned above, I live on coffee and there are no cupholders in my classics, which drives me nuts and scalds me nuts.
Yep - summer of 96 I upgraded from a Corsa with drum rear brakes, no power steering, no air con, winder windows etc to a...Saxo VTR with electric windows and a windy sunroof. Obviously later cars have had air con but never seemed much of an issue growing up in the UK. The odd hot day you just had your windows down and sunroof open, which of course is cool as fook when you are 18 and want everyone else to suffer your tunes from the tape player..Apple/Android - I have them on the BMW. I barely, if ever, use them. not sure what I gain given Spotify is loaded into the ICE system.
Sat Nav - nice to have but pigeon sense is often best (see summer of 1996 and valuing 8 pubs a day)
However.....
Cup holders.
As mentioned above, I live on coffee and there are no cupholders in my classics, which drives me nuts and scalds me nuts.
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