Car features that you cannot live without...
Discussion
....and have spoiled cars that don't have these features for you. Excluding things like power steering / ABS etc, I am talking about modern features that would make it a difficult decision to buy a car without.
For me it's LED headlights, DAB radio and aircon. I want to replace my current car, it has LED headlights. Going from a car with Xenon straight into LED on the same night showed how much brighter and how much more road the LED headlights lit. I hate them when fitted to other people's cars, but for me it's a feature I need on my next car. Same as DAB and A/C nowadays. With FM having less stations and the ones I like to listen to only being available on DAB, it's a no brainer.
But, if I really really had to, I'd probably go back to a car without LED headlights if it had DAB and A/C, and was all I could afford.
What about you people of PH?
For me it's LED headlights, DAB radio and aircon. I want to replace my current car, it has LED headlights. Going from a car with Xenon straight into LED on the same night showed how much brighter and how much more road the LED headlights lit. I hate them when fitted to other people's cars, but for me it's a feature I need on my next car. Same as DAB and A/C nowadays. With FM having less stations and the ones I like to listen to only being available on DAB, it's a no brainer.
But, if I really really had to, I'd probably go back to a car without LED headlights if it had DAB and A/C, and was all I could afford.
What about you people of PH?
Aircon and Cruise control are the big ones for me.
I had dumb cruise control on my old car but the new one has adaptive cruise and I love it in heavy traffic where you can just leave the throttle alone and it will follow the car in front. I've also become a big fan of lane following (Lane Tracing Assist in Lexus speak), basic lane departure warning is very annoying but full on lane following is great on the motorway.
I had dumb cruise control on my old car but the new one has adaptive cruise and I love it in heavy traffic where you can just leave the throttle alone and it will follow the car in front. I've also become a big fan of lane following (Lane Tracing Assist in Lexus speak), basic lane departure warning is very annoying but full on lane following is great on the motorway.
Air conditioning, physical knobs and buttons, remote central locking, rear electric windows, analogue fuel gauge and manually adjustable front seats.
I've got a couple of classic Toyotas that have electrically adjustable front seats. I find manually adjustable seats quicker and more convenient for sliding backwards or forwards and getting into position than relying on a slow electric motor.
I also much prefer an analogue fuel gauge over trying to guess how much fuel is left based LCD squares/bars going out or relying on the range function.
As for the rear electric windows, I tend to have my windows at least slightly lowered all year when driving, and A/C aside, IMO it's easier to ventilate, generate air flow and prevent/clear condensation if you can operate all four windows rather than just the front two.
I've got a couple of classic Toyotas that have electrically adjustable front seats. I find manually adjustable seats quicker and more convenient for sliding backwards or forwards and getting into position than relying on a slow electric motor.
I also much prefer an analogue fuel gauge over trying to guess how much fuel is left based LCD squares/bars going out or relying on the range function.
As for the rear electric windows, I tend to have my windows at least slightly lowered all year when driving, and A/C aside, IMO it's easier to ventilate, generate air flow and prevent/clear condensation if you can operate all four windows rather than just the front two.
Another vote for aircon, haven't had an ordinary car without it for 20yrs at least. (Optional although still preferred on fun cars).
Ditto some sort of Bluetooth/AA connection for listening to music and podcasts off my phone
Cruise control can be handy on long trips, but it's not essential. I can and do manage perfectly happily on cars without it.
Overall I'd rather have too little tech in the car than too much, and have to configure it all the time.
Ditto some sort of Bluetooth/AA connection for listening to music and podcasts off my phone
Cruise control can be handy on long trips, but it's not essential. I can and do manage perfectly happily on cars without it.
Overall I'd rather have too little tech in the car than too much, and have to configure it all the time.
AC and cruise are pretty much a must for any car I'm going to use as actual transport at all, rather than just a fun car, I like them in fun cars too though because I enjoy using those for normal stuff.
There are plenty of things I like or really like, power seats and heated seats for example, and a decent stereo, but I will forego all of those. AC and cruise? No.
There are plenty of things I like or really like, power seats and heated seats for example, and a decent stereo, but I will forego all of those. AC and cruise? No.
CaptainScarlet1967 said:
I've got a couple of classic Toyotas that have electrically adjustable front seats. I find manually adjustable seats quicker and more convenient for sliding backwards or forwards and getting into position than relying on a slow electric motor.
Actually that's a good point I need to add electric seats to my list, Mrs geeks is unable to reach and pull herself forwards on a manual seat and given she is 4'11 and I am 6'1 this happens a lot 
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