Soundwave Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Thought this might be a mildly interesting topic, a sort of reversal of the "most useless features on a car" thread. I know we're generally the type of people who have an odd affinity for povvo spec motoring, with as few frills and as much brown fabric as possible. But what features of more modern non-poverty cars do you actually rather like? This is a safe thread, we don't judge here. Not out loud, at least. For me... heads-up displays. Yes, I know, they're gimmicky as all hell, and probably incredibly expensive when they break. But I drove my dad's 2018 Mazda 6 the other day and I loved having all the essential info in my field of view, in a non-instrusive manner that meant I didn't need to keep looking down at the dials. It even showed sat nav directions so I didn't have to bother looking at the screen. Given my neuroticism and tendency to check-and re-check everything all the time, I found it extremely pleasing. Though my Fabia isn't due for replacing for a long, long time, I reckon my next modern will have to have one. So, over to you... what are your modern feature guilty pleasures?EDIT - Scratch the "modern" bit, let's just hear what your favourite luxuries and gadgets in a car are. St.Jude 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asimo Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Four wheel brakes operated by one pedal are really quite desirable. chadders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnoyingPentium Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 The knowledge a car won't quite go like a concertina when it hits something. big_al_granvia, 1duck, Jerzy Woking and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catsinthewelder Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I like the auto lights and heated screen on my Focus. MiniMinorMk3, martybabes, AnnoyingPentium and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wgl2019 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Auto dimming mirrors...... something that just works quietly in the background but is immediately noticeable when not available. GrumpiusMaximus, Crackers, Ted Eggs and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 21 minutes ago, Soundwave said: I know we're generally the type of people who have an odd affinity for povvo spec motoring You don't speak for us all man! I like electrically adjustable seats because I'm a dribbling, limp-armed pen pusher and don't like cranking knobs and levers manually. Auto dimming rear view mirrors because it makes the tailgating Audi Q1 drivers' lights dim just like the driver. Powerfold mirrors. A pen holder. Otherwise they get lost right at the bottom of gloveboxes, door bins etc and you can never find them. Puddle lights just because they feel like a wee comfort blanket when stepping out into the cold, dead night. juular 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundwave Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, Split_Pin said: You don't speak for us all man! I did say generally... Split_Pin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoverFolkUs Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Heated front windscreen. Absolute godsend with very few drawbacks that I can think of Dual clutch transmissions. Arguably superior in many ways to conventional TC automatics, although it does depend on the programming of them, sometimes they can behave unfavourably at low speeds as discussed on here previously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nullzwei Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Hill hold. Not sure if it counts as a modern feature though as the two cars i have owned with it were both over 20 years old. A 02 reg Subaru Forester s-turbo and an 02 reg Mercedes s210 320cdi. RoverFolkUs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popsicle Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 For me satnav and phone connection to the stereo, no more boxes of map books for every county under the passengers seat and my own 40+ hours of Spotify music to listen to and some podcasts. RoverFolkUs and CreepingJesus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoverFolkUs Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Bulb failure warnings A feature that is actually useful. Albeit I suppose it's been around for many years now, I'm still counting it as modern? Tony McVeigh and Popsicle 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Cruise control Auto choke That's about it - I can live without both but they make life easier. Other than that I want to tell the car what to do thanks very much High Jetter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundwave Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 11 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said: Bulb failure warnings A feature that is actually useful. Albeit I suppose it's been around for many years now, I'm still counting it as modern? It's been around for ages, but the more modern systems are definitely more useful since they actually tell you which bulb is out rather than just screaming "OMG A BULB IS OUT. Not telling you where though." at you, as some of the earlier systems did. RoverFolkUs and AnnoyingPentium 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I don't obsess over MPG but it is sometimes handy to check in once in a while to make sure all is well. I'm not sure how accurate they are but a general indication is still useful. Popsicle and AnnoyingPentium 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinmasters Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Those little transparent plastic clips on the edge of the windscreen for holding your car park ticket are flippin' amazing. Electrically adjustable passenger side mirrors are also pretty handy. The only really modern feature I'm currently lusting after is a 360 degree camera on our work vans. AnnoyingPentium and Split_Pin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Norman Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Rocket launchers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Guru Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Not really a new thing, but having grown up with Cortinas and Mk II Escorts and having the back and front change ends on occasions, , I really like all wheel drive cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 5 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said: Bulb failure warnings A feature that is actually useful. Albeit I suppose it's been around for many years now, I'm still counting it as modern? Yes and no. Except that I had to replace a number plate bulb, and I found some LED bulbs @MikeRhad given me years ago. Obviously doesn't draw enough current, so the warning still comes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 My Allroad has a jukebox. I can plug in a USB device and upload music to the jukebox so the car stores it. I like it very much. That and heated seats. Mmmmmmm i also like the auto boot opening function and button to close it. Means I can hit the button and walk away. Other people need to be educated on these, as they are likely to bugger it up when they try opening it conveniently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_al_granvia Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Disc brakes all round, safety cell that means the car will take a hit, reliable mechanics, galvanised shells and panels sutty2006, AnnoyingPentium, MJK 24 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treehugger Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Cruise control for the motorway. bunglebus, AnnoyingPentium, sutty2006 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheggers Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Not so much a new feature, but for me the greatest advance is in heating and ventilation. I can't remember the last time I had to wipe the inside of a window MJK 24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Heated Mirrors - we didn’t even realise our van had them until we were doing a journey from London to Norfolk in freezing fog 😬 Thought I’d press the HRW button on the dashboard for the fun of it and the mirrors magically cleared! Prior to this, I’d presumed it was a redundant switch for a higher spec van with glass in the rear doors. Especially as our van is povvo spec and doesn’t even have airbags or ABS. Not a feature I use more than a few times a winter, but very useful to have in certain conditions Split_Pin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 9 hours ago, Split_Pin said: I don't obsess over MPG but it is sometimes handy to check in once in a while to make sure all is well. I'm not sure how accurate they are but a general indication is still useful. Nice to see the ‘instant’ MPG readout too, if you want to do some informed hypermiling Split_Pin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goosey Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Departure time - I can set the time I’m going to be leaving and the cars warmed up and defrosted ready to go loserone 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Guru Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 1 hour ago, AxWomble said: Nice to see the ‘instant’ MPG readout too, if you want to do some informed hypermiling The instant mpg means nothing. Take your foot off the accelerator it goes to 99 or 999 mpg. You’re not using petrol at that point only but you knew that anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Bodger Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 12 hours ago, Nullzwei said: Hill hold. Not sure if it counts as a modern feature though as the two cars i have owned with it were both over 20 years old. A 02 reg Subaru Forester s-turbo and an 02 reg Mercedes s210 320cdi. That was standard fitment on our C reg Subaru Estate so not exactly modern! Why it hasn't been fitted to virtually every car since then is totally beyond me. Nullzwei 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxWomble Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 27 minutes ago, Scruffy Bodger said: That was standard fitment on our C reg Subaru Estate so not exactly modern! Why it hasn't been fitted to virtually every car since then is totally beyond me. Our old AX had that when we bought it - in the form of a very lightweight shell and two sticking calipers 😂 catsinthewelder, warch, CreepingJesus and 3 others 1 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruffy Bodger Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 30 minutes ago, AxWomble said: Our old AX had that when we bought it - in the form of a very lightweight shell and two sticking calipers 😂 Thinking about it more it was also on our nearly 50 year old MGBGT recently as the front brake hoses had collapsed. Silver linings and all that 😂 AxWomble 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markeh Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Cruise, DAB, CarPlay/Android Auto and basically all of the heated things, whether it be seat, wheel or screen. Hill hold's not bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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