Features that you MUST have on your new car
Features that you MUST have on your new car
Author
Discussion

adycav

Original Poster:

7,615 posts

247 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Inspired by the "features that would stop you buying a new car" thread, I wondered what features you really need or want on your car.

To some it will be an engine, brakes and a seat. Others will want climate, nav, leather, cruise etc.

For me it is quite simple.

The only things I must have on a car are a reasonable wireless with a socket for my MP3 player and, if the car is wide, mirrors that fold in so I can get it down my rather narrow drive and into my garage.

My curent car (Mercedes CLK) has so much stuff on it and I never use any of it, apart from the V8 engine.

What say you?

smile

SillyALFALove

135 posts

206 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Thge only must have is air con / climate..

Beyond that everything else can be worked around, though the ford I ran last winter was ace for having a heated front screen (ford have this exclusively I think?)

Munter

31,331 posts

271 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Fun car. It MUST have as few things as possible. Even the MX5 has electric windows which is a shame.

Work car. Cruise control and Aircon.

adycav

Original Poster:

7,615 posts

247 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
See I use aircon/climate very rarely indeed. I like fresh air and will always open a window instead.

Don't like cruise control.

Never use auto wipers/lights.

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

197 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Wheels

OnTheOverrun

3,965 posts

207 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
I must enjoy driving it and/or it must perform a specific task.

nogsk

347 posts

198 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.


TheDetailDoctor

9,073 posts

240 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
The abilty to plug a USB stick into it to play MP3 files, Bluetooth phone.

useyourdellusion

5,648 posts

220 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Manual box.

adycav

Original Poster:

7,615 posts

247 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
nogsk said:
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.
Torrents

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

220 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
adycav said:
Inspired by the "features that would stop you buying a new car" thread, I wondered what features you really need or want on your car.

To some it will be an engine, brakes and a seat. Others will want climate, nav, leather, cruise etc.

For me it is quite simple.

The only things I must have on a car are a reasonable wireless with a socket for my MP3 player and, if the car is wide, mirrors that fold in so I can get it down my rather narrow drive and into my garage.

My curent car (Mercedes CLK) has so much stuff on it and I never use any of it, apart from the V8 engine.

What say you?

smile
What's the car for?

If it's a weekend toy then the only features it needs are fun and character. A V8 engine wouldn't go a miss either.

Daily driver might pose different options, but soft top would rank high and remote central locking.

If it's a luxo barge then comfy seats, climate and all the trinkets would be "wants" if I'm honest.

If it's a 4x4 then live axles, locking diffs, electronic removable anti roll bars and a good TCS system biased to off road. Also probably a diesel engine and manual gearbox.

Munter

31,331 posts

271 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
nogsk said:
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.
Basically did that. Didn't realise the car would play MP3s from CD for a while. So went from a CD to MP3s. Noticed precisely bugger all difference. Considering your in a tin can doing 70 mph with road and wind noise and all the other external noises, noticing the difference I suspect means your either lying, or some kind of music we who's prepared to go the great lengths for something 99% of people wouldn't notice. smile

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

256 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
nogsk said:
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.
insufficient capacity on CD. Even a 6-disk changer has inadequate variety.

I rip all my stuff at 320Kbps VBR and, as mentioned, you're in a car where the very things that distinguish MP3 from uncompressed CD sound (i.e. dynamic range an' that) get bumraped into oblivion by road/wind/engine noise.

DrTre

12,957 posts

262 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Buttons. Just lots and lots of buttons.

Ken Sington

3,964 posts

268 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Had a go in a M6 last year and it had a head up display. Brilliant piece of kit making it way easier to stick to limits when in speed mode, so I would want one of those please.

Lost soul

8,712 posts

212 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Munter said:
nogsk said:
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.
Basically did that. Didn't realise the car would play MP3s from CD for a while. So went from a CD to MP3s. Noticed precisely bugger all difference. Considering your in a tin can doing 70 mph with road and wind noise and all the other external noises, noticing the difference I suspect means your either lying, or some kind of music we who's prepared to go the great lengths for something 99% of people wouldn't notice. smile
A car is the worst place for hi fi quality , no way would you notice a difference

Fordo

1,572 posts

254 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
for me:

- air con / climate control.

- power steering, abs, airbags, seatbelt pretentioners, elecy windows- but thats pretty usual for most cars these days.

- heated seats - thought it was point, unles I tried it in a friends car in the dead of winter. At risk of being misquoted: warm bum on a cold day is not to be underestimated.

- mini jack line in- for mp3 or whatnot



sat nav doesn't bother me- a £80 tom tom does a better job than a £500 bmw optional extra sat nav. besides, i can read a map.

parking sensors i dont care about either. i know the size of my car. i think parking sensors are reducing people spacial awareness a bit, when their cars.

Edited by Fordo on Friday 11th June 14:02

TwistingMyMelon

6,516 posts

235 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Lost soul said:
Munter said:
nogsk said:
Leather, air, bluetooth, and a decent sound system, with CD player. Not fussed about Ipod, MP3 stuff.

Which, while I'm on the subject, is something that really intrigues me - Why all the fuss about MP3 player requirement - most mp3 music is rubbish compared to a 'proper' CD - not one burnt at home.

Unless you rip/burn record altering the compression rate the default is 128kbs - try a simple test? Play a decent CD through your system, then play it as an MP3 through your player of choice - the difference is surprising even on a 'standard' system.
Basically did that. Didn't realise the car would play MP3s from CD for a while. So went from a CD to MP3s. Noticed precisely bugger all difference. Considering your in a tin can doing 70 mph with road and wind noise and all the other external noises, noticing the difference I suspect means your either lying, or some kind of music we who's prepared to go the great lengths for something 99% of people wouldn't notice. smile
A car is the worst place for hi fi quality , no way would you notice a difference
I notice in my car, CDs have a lot better sound quality against properly encoded MP3's on my Ipods or Memory sticks. But it so much more convenient having MP3s though, download, drag then drop and its on a memory stick.

Whitean3

2,197 posts

228 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
Willy Nilly said:
Wheels
x4. Any less just will not do.

in fact, x8 would be better where I am- need a set for the winter tyres too.

Edited by Whitean3 on Friday 11th June 14:06

Ranger 6

7,705 posts

279 months

Friday 11th June 2010
quotequote all
I want to enjoy driving it.

Climate, leather and Bluetooth would be ticked on the options list.

MP3 playback from the Autochanger as well as the head unit would be good as well as I've got used to it now.

4wd and ground clearance on one of them (the two family cars that is) is fairly important too.