'Must Have' Options

[Lets Torque]

Hello PH,

I got this idea off the 'Options That Ruin A Car' but instead of saying what things ruin a car. This thread will be the opposite and be what options are 'must have's' on a car.

I will start off..

Vauxhall Insignia

It must have the Sat-Nav option ticked.



If you don't tick it then you are left with a gap at the top of the dash and it looks like your missing out on something.

MINI Cooper/Cooper S

Must tick the Sunroof option



It looks great and when you sit inside it makes the dark interior a bit lighter.

[RobCrezz]

Never bought a brand new car

[Baryonyx]

Air Conditioning.

I didn't have it in my MX5 and I realised how much I missed it. When it was hot, even on the cold setting the fans still blew hot air into the car. It was disgusting. I don't think I'd buy a car without it now. Given that I like to have one good car that does everything I want it to, Air Con is on my list of things to look for! It gets well used now in my Volvo, and I don't worry about it; if it runs out of gas £30 will sort that out!

[iva cosworth]

I would not tick tha sunroof option on any car.

Never use them ,they leak,they rattle,they stick shut.

Oh and they drain rainwater into the sills rusting them prematurely

[RobM77]

Any car: If it's available on a car, Sat Nav is a must for me. I normally drive on my own and reading maps whilst driving is dangerous, and road signs are pretty useless, so I always use a Sat Nav to go anywhere new. Sticking it to the windscreen and taking it off and hiding it again just gets tedious after a while, so I love having it integrated. It's also nice to have the radio fade out so you can hear each instruction. Even if I don't need to know the way to somewhere, I like to have an ETA so I can plan my journey. Oh, and the traffic function is fantastic. I simply couldn't live without Sat Nav.

For any BMW I've driven, the standard wheels are a must have. Anything bigger just seems to ruin the ride.

Caterham: Full race harnesses. Driving is so much better when you're using your leg and arm muscles to control the car, rather than to hang on as well!

[kambites]

RobM77 said:

For any BMW I've driven, the standard wheels are a must have. Anything bigger just seems to ruin the ride.

I wouldn't restrict that to BMW. I think I'd say it about almost all modern cars.


I think in any "family" type car, I'd want dual zone climate control to save us fighting over the temperature.

[Garlick]

V8 engine (petrol).

Works in my daily, works better in my fun car

[Lets Torque]

Garlick said:

V8 engine (petrol).

Works in my daily, works better in my fun car

I like your thinking

[pilchardthecat]

It's not often an option these days, but LSD

[Bill]

Garlick said:

V8 engine (petrol).

Works in my daily, works better in my fun car

Would you consider a V10, at a push?

[mat205125]

My minimum requirements have extended as years have passed, however for all but the most extreme track biased cars, I'd specify a CD player and AC as a bare minimum requirement.

[Rick_1138]

Ipod\mp3 connectivity, climate control\basic aircon.

Thats about it. everything else is a bonus, but i have been used to 15 year old jap and VAG boxes, so new cars are like spaceships in comparison lol.

[Goa'uld]

Without starting another topic, the 'should bloomin well have' options would be topped by bluetooth. Quite honestly in this day and age with all our spangly tech and gadgets (or gadj if you are a muppet from the ch5 gadget show) it seems bonkers that you would still have to spec this as an option. The manufacturers are so safety focused to the point that the car design is dictated by safety constraints however they don't fit standard bluetooth to ensure that their idiot drivers don't end up holding the phone to talk in the car.

I will qualify this with the fact that the only times people have ever nearly hit my car have been when they are in carparks or roundabouts with one arm pressing the phone to their stupid self important head and not controlling the vehicle.

ETA and yes it would be far safer to just not talk at all while in the car but that is not a realistic prospect for 99% of people.

Edited by Goa'uld on Wednesday 15th June 13:09

[5lab]

for me the answer is cruise control - to the point where I've retro-fitted it to cars where its not available.

ipod connectivity. As above, I've fitted stereos which do the job to all my cars, but if I was buying something new, I'd not want an ugly aftermarket stereo in there

[Ari]

iva cosworth said:

I would not tick tha sunroof option on any car.

Never use them ,they leak,they rattle,they stick shut.

Oh and they drain rainwater into the sills rusting them prematurely

What sort of car do you drive!?

Sunroof a must for me if it's not a convertible, and I've never had one leak, rattle or stick.

[kambites]

Goa'uld said:

Without starting another topic, the 'should bloomin well have' options would be topped by bluetooth. Quite honestly in this day and age with all our spangly tech and gadgets (or gadj if you are a muppet from the ch5 gadget show) it seems bonkers that you would still have to spec this as an option. The manufacturers are so safety focused to the point that the car design is dictated by safety constraints however they don't fit standard bluetooth to ensure that their idiot drivers don't end up holding the phone to talk in the car.

Well plenty of us don't want it, so if it was something that actually cost money to install I'd agree. But since you're probably only looking at 50 quid for the parts, I'd tend to agree.

[LukeSi]

On the E90 3 series I am going to say the must have options are;

M Sport Suspension, Firms up the ride but not too much. And the electric adjustable seats.

[roachcoach]

This far already and no-one has said ESP.......

and I thought most were epic fans



ESP :P

[Ari]

My "wouldn't buy without" list:-

Cruise control
Heated seats
Centre armrest
iPod connection/Bluetooth phone connection
"Small" alloys (pref 16, but 17 inch absolute max). Hate the road noise 18's and above generate, not to mention the inevitable kerbing.

[roachcoach]

Ari the comedy of your post under my last is epic