Basic functions of a car you never/rarely use

[New POD]

  On 06/11/2020 at 00:23, Datsuncog said:

Don't think I've ever used the headlamp washers, or the headlamp leveller adjustor, 

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On the omega, the headlamp washers work for the first few seconds of the screen wash cycle IF you have the lights on.

It has automatic adjusters for headlamp level. 

[Jazoli]

I have to laugh at the 'I have aircon but never use it' brigade, I guess some of you like sitting in a hot steamed up car then, same for CC, why wouldn't you use it if you had the opportunity? It makes long journeys easier, you can always tell the drivers who don't use cruise, they are the ones you overtake a dozen times as their speed constantly changes on an empty motorway.

I try to never use the brakes on motorways and rely on observation and anticipation.

[Rod/b]

I never use the A/c on/off button. It’s permanently switched on.

I haven’t used the heated rear seats in my truck. I doubt they’ve been used since the day it left the factory.

[spartacus]

Sidelights,I put the headlights on, all the time. DRLs are stupid, people imagine they have their lights on but it's only the fronts, great on the bypass in the rain. It's probably a different thread but I can't understand a feature that only puts on your front lights.

Heater recirculation.

[New POD]

  On 06/11/2020 at 06:04, Jazoli said:

I try to never use the brakes on motorways and rely on observation and anticipation.

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I reckon in a 160 mile round trip journey I made a couple of weeks back I used the brakes 20 times. 

[Timewaster]

The 4x4 on my Outlander! It is there as a requirement for work but really it is the ground clearance that makes a difference where you can get to.

There was one place I had to go, long, long wet muddy track, a bit touch and go in places, my colleagues were in proper 4x4s, a Hilux and a Ranger. 

We finally made it to the place to find this remote house and the guy who lived there had a K11 Micra. 

[strangeangel]

I've never used the HRW or rear washer on the BX because they're broken, and I haven't missed them in the five years or so I've had the car.

 

The motorhome has cruise control, which I find useless simply because of the crowded roads, and the propensity of nobheads to pull out in front of you without warning. The aircon stopped working last year; were it the case that I lived (or even used it) somewhere insanely hot, like Spain or Greece etc. then I'd get it fixed, but I don't so it'll most likely stay broken.

 

[RayMK]

Heated seats.  Low gear on the auto.  Unnecessary unless towing, which I don't.  Stop/start. Always switched off.

1st gear on the Reliant. No synchro on 1st means it's a pain to use and also causes the engine to kick on its mountings unless extremely careful. It will pull away with no fuss and hardly any need to slip the clutch in 2nd.  2nd or even 3rd will get it up most hills around here without bother - just avoid stopping on a steep hill.

[bunglebus]

I tend to use features if they're fitted - AC is great in the summer (and using recirc means it's not trying to cool hot air all the time), and aids demist in the winter. 

Cruise I use all the time, even in lower speed limit areas. I particularly like the limiter function in the Sprinter vans I sometimes drive, just set it to the speed limit and drive normally. Very good in London with lots of cameras, I can concentrate on avoiding scooters and buses.

Heated rear window and mirrors get used at this time of year.

Don't often adjust headlight height and have dash illumination turned up as it's not that bright in mine anyway.

I use the total opening fucntion so I can drop all the windows from outside when returning to a hot car.

I like a decent sound system, that's always on.

Only automatic feature I have that irritates me is the wipers come on as soon as I operate the screen washers, so dry wipers go up the screen, I prefer to get some water on the screen first. I might ask the VW specialist if this can be coded out.

Having said all that, I have often remarked that all a car really needs for me is a speedo, fuel and temp gauges and auto choke. Other than that I'm not bothered.

[barefoot]

I never use the fuel guage.

Since it packed up in the T2 some 70,000 miles ago, I refill everything based on mileage.

[sierraman]

Parking lights. You just get pestered by people going ‘you’ve left your lights on m8!’

[davehedgehog31]

  On 05/11/2020 at 23:33, loserone said:

Don't you get stuck behind broken / chipped diesels ever?

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Yep, I put the windows down and get a lungful. 

[Jerzy Woking]

Rear windows, either electric or manual. Very, very rarely have passengers. And unlikely to have any until March 21.

[St.Jude]

Child locks.

I don't have children, or the need to kidnap people. 

[w00dy]

Seat back pockets. They look awful crammed with bags and I hate them going baggy so it's empty or nothing for me.

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

  On 06/11/2020 at 09:09, sierraman said:

Parking lights. ....

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And those.

[Richard_FM]

I hardly ever have passengers in the rear so the rear windows hardly ever get rolled down.

I've only used my front foglights in daylight once when I fit some fog on a rural road.  I used to use them at night occasionally when going up the drive to Marple British Legion Club as it's so steep & winding.

 

[bunglebus]

  On 06/11/2020 at 10:53, w00dy said:

Seat back pockets. They look awful crammed with bags and I hate them going baggy so it's empty or nothing for me.

 

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Yeah I'm with you on on that - forgot I had them until you mentioned it

[reb]

Seat back pockets are for carrying massively out of date AA Road Atlases and nothing else.

[Mrs6C]

For anyone who is a smoker, do you use the cigarette/cigar lighter for its originally intended function? The socket is used by many for charging and/or powering various devices, but how about for lighting up?

[DVee8]

  On 06/11/2020 at 01:13, Out Run said:

Voice recognition. Waste of time.

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Mine Dosn't understand my Mackem accent 🤔🤣😂

[Spiny Norman]

  On 06/11/2020 at 06:04, Jazoli said:

I have to laugh at the 'I have aircon but never use it' brigade, I guess some of you like sitting in a hot steamed up car then

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You guess wrong. It's rarely warm enough here to warrant AC and I'm a windows open kinda guy anyway.

 

  On 06/11/2020 at 06:04, Jazoli said:

you can always tell the drivers who don't use cruise, they are the ones you overtake a dozen times as their speed constantly changes on an empty motorway.

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Or...  I can tell the CC users for exactly the same reason, they're the ones relying on their car to regulate their speed for them and don't react quickly enough to the natural ebb and flow of traffic speeds, causing them to brake when normal people just back off the throttle a tad, and create jams. Or maybe they're just not paying enough attention?

I had a car with CC once and it was far more mental effort to ensure I wasn't getting too close to the cars in front than it was worth. I suppose if you spend hours on a road network that allows you to drive at a constant speed I could see the point, but I don't often drive on roads like that.


In-built sat-navs are another one. I rarely drive anything new enough to have a fully up to date map set and it wouldn't be the first time Ive been told I'm gping across a field instead of the shiny new bit of ring-road I'm hurtling along.
On the odd occasion I need one I'm far more likely to use Google Maps.

[crad]

  On 06/11/2020 at 12:54, Mrs6C said:

For anyone who is a smoker, do you use the cigarette/cigar lighter for its originally intended function? The socket is used by many for charging and/or powering various devices, but how about for lighting up?

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i did until it broke because french

[reb]

  On 06/11/2020 at 12:54, Mrs6C said:

For anyone who is a smoker, do you use the cigarette/cigar lighter for its originally intended function? The socket is used by many for charging and/or powering various devices, but how about for lighting up?

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Only when the other 10 lighters in the car run out of gas.

That's actually one of the strangest things about quitting for me, no longer the need to stash lighters everywhere I spend time.

[Spiny Norman]

Headlamp washers are fine if they're backed up by wipers but they tend to be not working on most of the old shit I drive. One exception was my last Volvo 240 which has a handy feature where you can check if they're working.
You can actually see the ends of the blades pop up over the edge of the bonnet as they sweep up  the lamps!

[Slowsilver]

  On 06/11/2020 at 12:54, Mrs6C said:

For anyone who is a smoker, do you use the cigarette/cigar lighter for its originally intended function? The socket is used by many for charging and/or powering various devices, but how about for lighting up?

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I find it strange that these sockets which were designed specifically for a cigarette lighter got hijacked as accessory sockets and now some (most) new cars still have them fitted but without the lighter. They are not really ideal for this new purposes as the plug has no way to grip in the socket apart from the spring tension. I find that mine always want to work their way out when driving, so my phone ends up not fully charged. If these were redesigned specifically as accessory sockets they could be similar but quite a lot smaller and have maybe a bayonet fitting to stop them falling out.
 

[M'coli]

CC is ace, but I've never owned a car that had it, just pool cars or vans. I love being able to speed up or slow down with a few clicks of a button (the Insignia I drove with it you could switch it off to slow down and then switch it on again to speed up.)

However I did find myself on the approach to the M62/M1 interchange switching it off and saying, "Holly, give me manual!"

[New POD]

  On 06/11/2020 at 13:19, Spiny Norman said:

You guess wrong. It's rarely warm enough here to warrant AC and I'm a windows open kinda guy anyway.

 

Or...  I can tell the CC users for exactly the same reason, they're the ones relying on their car to regulate their speed for them and don't react quickly enough to the natural ebb and flow of traffic speeds, causing them to brake when normal people just back off the throttle a tad, and create jams. Or maybe they're just not paying enough attention?

I had a car with CC once and it was far more mental effort to ensure I wasn't getting too close to the cars in front than it was worth. I suppose if you spend hours on a road network that allows you to drive at a constant speed I could see the point, but I don't often drive on roads like that.


In-built sat-navs are another one. I rarely drive anything new enough to have a fully up to date map set and it wouldn't be the first time Ive been told I'm gping across a field instead of the shiny new bit of ring-road I'm hurtling along.
On the odd occasion I need one I'm far more likely to use Google Maps.

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When I use CC I almost always turn it off by pressing the button, rarely is there a need to press the brake.  I suspect some people stop concentrating.  

[Cookiesouwest]

Heated seats. Try them once, to check they work, when car joins the fleet and they are never switched on again. 

[Lacquer Peel]

Will defend heated seats to the death.