Stuff fitted to your car that you never seem to use

[warren t claim]

I'm one of those wankers that simply has to get use out of every feature on his car, mobile phone, fleshlight,etc. About the only button that I rarely prod is the onto turn my traction control off. I'll use my cruise control at any opportunity and I'm forever playing with the rheostat to adjust the instrument illumination.

 

Am I the only sad case on here?

[Bren]

Speaking for the british public, i'd say bonnet release.

[Jazoli]

My work van has wind up windows ffs so no toys or gadgets there, missus's car is well specced so I make sure I use all the toys apart from turning off the TC as there's barely enough power to spin the wheels anyway.

[anonymous user]

I drive a base model, it's lucky to have seats so no extras like heated mud-flaps, but let's see, door-locks and hand-brake not used much due to absent mindedness, rear seats usually folded to make more space for the dogs.

[FakeConcern]

On my XM there is a long line of big square buttons on the dash, most of which I have no idea what they do. However I have to adjust the electric armrest every couple of miles.

[michael1703]

fleshlight

Ain't that the thing you put your cock in?

 

I rarely use the handbrake and rarely lock my cars

[dollywobbler]

My XM is povo spec. There's not very much to play with. I do tend to use the rear wiper when I have to though. Even when it's really dark and I can't even see if the rear window is wet! (actually, the XM doesn't build up spray due to the design, so more in the Nippa).

 

On the odd occasion I've started the 2CV since it came off the road, I've operated everything it has. I somehow feel that I can keep all of the electrical stuff (like lights) healthy by exercising them.

 

The e-Golf had quite a few toys, including parking assist and adaptive cruise control. I used both a fair bit. There was lots of tech I didn't use though. An awful lot! Never got near getting my mobile paired with it, or programming the heating to come on in the mornings.

[beko1987]

Foglights. Never used those tbh, they dont work anyway!

 

Zx has a rear sunblind that i put up once and never used it again!

 

Used all of the buttons in the xm though, even the foglights once (fogs and dipped made the lights better, and i didnt get flashed as it wasnt immediatly apparent they were on cos they were mounted in a sensible place!

[FakeConcern]

That reminded me the XM has sunblinds, but not tried them!

[I_am_Diesel]

That little switch that moves your headlights up and down if you have a load in the back or towing a trailer/caravan.

[burraston2006]

I never use the hand brake. It giffer matic so I just leave it in park! I also ignore (think they are lying) the parking sensors. So far I've hit the garage wall several times and gouged the wing on the gate post and the bumpers are scrapped!! Still ignore them as I know best!!

[EssDeeWon]

There are loads of buttons on the R75 Connie that I have never pressed, and probably never will. Not even sure if half of them do anything......

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The SOS button on the roof of my BMW, I daren't push it in case it dials 999 or something. I've pushed the spring loaded button cover that exposes the actual switch I a missile launch type scenario, one day I'm going to look in the manual.

I've got a thing about rear wipers, in that I refuse to use them because it messes with the symmetry of the view following traffic gets, I never use the central mirror anyway, 30 years of being a chauffeur, I suppose . This means I always turn off the auto front wipers if I need to reverse, OCD ? Nah, no really not, well much.

 

Obvs, don't use that funny lever on the left of the steering column that makes a little green light flash on the dash.

[anonymous user]

anyone going to be brave enough to admit to the indicators and mirrors being superfluous?

 

Sorry I hadn't seen the post above, must be telepathic

Edited July 2, 2015 by anonymous user

[fordperv]

The rear wind down windows, i never have anyone travelling in the back so they never get opened, i do wind them down and up every so often so they don't stick

[MrBiscuits]

Not so much in my own car, just the fog lights. Fronts are useless, rear unnecessary 99.9% of the time.

 

In unfamiliar motors its more the stuff I forget to use. After years of 2 pedal action it seems very easy to forget the clutch when pulling up after a long run along the motorway. Rear wipers - can never work out how to switch 'em on. 6th gear?? What's that for?

[Skizzer]

+1 on front fogs. The ones on the Renault have black plastic covers on: what are you supposed to do, park up as soon as you hit a fog bank and unclip them? Health and safety, 1970s style.

 

Also:

Low ratio

Sunroofs (because broken, sealed shut or both)

Towbars - 3 of the fleet have one, only ever towed a trailer once

Radio tuner once I've found Radio Four

 

Oh, and the airbags, touch wood.

[OwdChina]

I never use the hand brake.

Yup, the foot operated parking brake as it's known over here. I rebuilt the whole dammed thing about 20 thousand ago for Massachusetts vehicle inspection. It got pressed once by the tester to make sure it worked.....never been pressed since. There is no test in California.

[Pillock]

I don't turn the traction control off, mostly because it's hidden in a menu I think. Everything else gets used though, because I can.

 

On the Touran, I daren't turn off the TC because with typical VAG TDI power delivery, it spins the wheels too easily with it on.

[saucedoctor]

Aircon. I have to remember to turn it on now and again so that the seals don't dry up or whatever it is that's supposed to happen.

[seth]

The indicators.

[Sloth in a bowl]

The back seat, I prefer to drive from the front seat.

 

The Skoda's bluetooth as my car and phone refuse to speak to each other

Lane following auto assist, the very idea of the car having inputs into the steering gives me the willies big time

[HH-R]

 

My 75 has a right jazzy feature on it - a button which raises a sun shade across the whole rear windscreen.

It is fucking excellent, It folds out in about 2 seconds, in a scissor motion.

 

When I got the car, my dad said "what's the point in that... you'll never use it". I press it at least 3 or 4 times a week, still after 2 years.

 

Total opposite to the thread intention, I know. I never use the 6CD changer though. I'm not sure I've even put a CD in there, other than for the express purpose of checking it did work when I bought it.

 

 

Is it not really tempting to write something horrible in huge letters on it for if/when someone annoys you on the road?

[Spiny Norman]

Can't remember ever switching on a set of front foglights, couldn't even tell you which of the last half dozen cars I've owned had them or not.
Almost never use aircon, apart from the winter to dehumidify the cabin so it doesn't steam up.
Electric mirrors. I set the mirrors the day I buy a car and unless they get clobbered I never feel the need to move them.
Never had a car with iThing or bluetooth capability so wouldn't know what to do with it even if I did.

[xtriple]

Never use/used the blootooth (don't use the phone all that often!) or the usb socket thing or the i-pod cable in the armrest, hate the auto- park thing as it feels fucking odd and can't park anywhere within a foot of the kerb, never use the paddles to change gear (have tried them and used 'sport mode') as: why bother? Never use the sat nav (cos I never go anywhere).

 

Not keen on 'auto wipers/lights' as they seem to either be hyper active or asleep... Had to have the 'keyless' thing disabled by the dealer as I park too close to my front door and it never locks itself..; In short, I think all these modern things are just there because if they aren't, no one will buy the car, but once they have the car, it's just 'bragging' rights rather than something actually useful. No one I know uses all these things as most are confused by them/ don't know they have them or what they do.

 

Things that ARE useful, electric windows in the rear (Chester loves them and can use them himself!). air con 'cos I like being cool. and power fold mirrors as too often round here some pisshead will come along and knock them off over the weekend, love mine even more as they fold in automatically whenever you shut down the car!

[robinmasters]

I can't remember using a remote keyfob for a while, they seem to break shortly after I buy a car, and I can't see the benefits of being able to unlock the doors from a few yards away.

 

Haven't used the remote boot release in my current car, but in my defence it doesn't work.

[Aston Martin]

Fog lights front and back. The fronts maybe spot or driving lights, I've no idea.

 

The CD player, AM.

[Junkman]

The mirrors.

Simply not required in the UK. There is never anybody behind me.

[LC Torana]

The horn.

 

Had my Rover 75 since 2001, and wouldn't know what the horn sounds like, or whether it even works.

[cort1977]

Yup, the foot operated parking brake as it's known over here. I rebuilt the whole dammed thing about 20 thousand ago for Massachusetts vehicle inspection. It got pressed once by the tester to make sure it worked.....never been pressed since. There is no test in California.

Off topic but how does California enforce their draconian smog rules without a check?