Basic functions of a car you never/rarely use

[Talbot]

It occurred to me today that there are a few basic functions of a car that I very rarely have need to use, not only in my current car, but generally in a most cars I've owned.

The one I noticed today is the heated rear window.  I've never actually used it in my current Merc and I can't recall the last car I've ever used one on.    The rear window never really mists up, and on the odd occasion it's a little bit misty, I never worry about it, as it'll clear within a few miles.  It seems slightly odd to me that people used to fit aftermarket heated rear window stripes on cars back in the 80s, I can't imagine what for.

It's also incredibly rare for me to use fast-speed wipers.  I think I've done so once with my current car.  It probably happens about once every two years or so and even then it's for as short-a-time as possible.

I've heard people say they never use the horn on a car and given the condition of some cars I've seen, they've clearly never used the rear wiper.  What basic functions of a vehicle do you just not use? 

[Stanky]

Saab 'night mode' on the instrument cluster. Total waste of time

Average speed mode. Other than regularity trials who cares?

 

[Stroller133]

Probably sidelights, especially with most recent cars with drl and auto lights. 

[adw1977]

I can't imagine not having a heated rear window, I've never driven a car that didn't have one and use it frequently, especially in winter.

Maybe not basic, but I've never used cruise control, although I've owned at least one car that had it fitted.

Front fog lights almost never used, unlike a lot of other motorists!

[clayts450]

HRW - use it all the time, as Rovers are notorious for misting up. 

Fast speed wipers - I use them when passing trucks on the motorway in heavy rain.

For me, I rarely use the aircon in the Streetwise - more of a 'wind the window down' type fella. Mind you, I did in the van on a couple of days this summer.

Spare wheel - never needed one : pretty much a dead weight being carried around.

In-car entertainment - very rare I turn the radio on, much prefer the sound of the engine.

The '5 second indicator' feature

 

[Talbot]

4 minutes ago, Stanky said:

Saab 'night mode' on the instrument cluster. Total waste of time

That surprises me.  I've only ever driven one SAAB at night with night mode and I thought it was superb.  But then on other cars I always have the dashboard illumination as dim as it will go.

[tooSavvy]

Handbrake (.... in my *Auto)

*yeah.... Auto....

Nah - After ramming 'PARK' I get a queasy feeling the wheels are rocking so on goes the HB... Ooh 3clicks (guess no one else used it) lol

[Alusilber]

Apart from the obvious demisting function, HRWs are great for defrosting too. On frosty winter mornings, makes me want a car with a heated windscreen too.

[brownnova]

Indicators in my Audi...

[Talbot]

Odd really.  The one vehicle I've had with a heated front screen I made use of quite a lot.  Combined with heated wingmirrors, that's more than enough to be able to drive safely.  The rear window waits until the rest of the car has warmed up.

[rainagain]

The dial that lowers your head lamps when you have a full boot. Another fantastic idea from Europe. The vast majority of drivers have no idea what it does, the ones that know like myself forget to use it. 

[SiC]

26 minutes ago, Talbot said:

I've never actually used it in my current Merc and I can't recall the last car I've ever used one on.    The rear window never really mists up, and on the odd occasion it's a little bit misty, I never worry about it, as it'll clear within a few miles.

Aircon helps a lot to keep a car demisted. Also most modern new cars will automatically turn on the HRW and wing mirrors when below a certain temperature. Almost invariably don't show the warning light when doing this. Probably these two reasons why it doesn't mist up. 

[brownnova]

The dash light dimmer... the only time I ever use it is if I’ve been polishing the inside of the car and I accidentally knock it... 

[JJ0063]

Never use cruise or speed limiter, I never have really - just prefer driving properly! 

[Lacquer Peel]

31 minutes ago, Stanky said:

Saab 'night mode' on the instrument cluster. Total waste of time

Not quite the same but you can completely turn off the instrument cluster/dash illumination in my Volvo, I found it good for driving for a long time at night, just focused on the road. 

[loserone]

Cruise is very useful on a 12 hour cruise across Europe.

I tend not to use the radio much these days, even on long journeys.  

[Jamie]

Electric folding Mirrors. 

 

[davehedgehog31]

Recirculated air

[loserone]

Just now, davehedgehog31 said:

Recirculated air

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

[Richard_FM]

The rear heated window on my Mum's old Fiesta died after a few years, & didn't have a rear wiper either so needed wiping both in & out at times.

[Ghosty]

Rear fog lights are hardly ever necessary.
Never had a car where fast wipe is useful.
Same for headlamp dipper. 

[GMcD]

AM on the radio.

Front fogs. I switch them on to check they are working prior to MOT time and that's about it.

Dual zone mode on any climate system as the numbers have to match or it annoys me.  

[captain_70s]

My cars have so few toys I use everything...

Historically I've never really used heated mirrors, although heated rear screens see a lot of use because my cars take in water like the Britannic after hitting a mine and steam up accordingly. I've also never used the instrument panel dimming function as everything I drive has dash lighting old enough to be dim by default.

[Spiny Norman]

Air conditioning.  If I ever buy a car with working aircon it's broken by the time I sell it because I never use it.
 

[Datsuncog]

Don't think I've ever used the headlamp washers, or the headlamp leveller adjustor, but most of the other toys on the Forester get a reasonable amount of usage.

Cruise control is handy for the motorway, and the quickclear function for the front windscreen is terrific - first time I've ever had this on a car, and it beats hell out of smearing a damp chamois pad all over the screen on winter mornings.

Also, this is the first time I've had a working rear screen demister since I sold my Escort in 2008 so I make full use of it in this damp climate. Luxury!

[Out Run]

Voice recognition. Waste of time.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Rear fogs. Hyperwipe setting on the windscreen wipers. Also the towbar - don't think the CX has ever hauled anything since new.

[Soundwave]

My modern has cruise and a speed limiter. Never used either.

[Conan]

Heater. Once a year it comes on maybe.

[New POD]

6 hours ago, JJ0063 said:

Never use cruise or speed limiter, I never have really - just prefer driving properly! 

How far do you drive? 

Most of my driving is journeys of 80 plus miles. On the motorway, I use cruise control (almost) all the time, set at a true 70 mph or 50 mph if going through road works. 

It's become so second nature, I use it around town at a true 22 mph ( it won't work lower or 30mph. Even if it's only for 10 seconds or 5 seconds. 

It's better in an auto, because if you are forces to brake, and then press resume, it will do the gears for you.  Ie if you set it at 120 mph, slowed to 25 mph, pressed resume it woukd drop down to second, and then accelerate you briskly back to 120.  

Wife wont use it. If she's driving her speed fluctuates from a true 65 to a true 75, for no particular reason. 

I don't think there's anything I don't use on the omega.