Gadgets vs Essentials

[stevesey]

Was idling the time away on the M4 tonight, I was thinking about those car gadgets and luxuries that are now essentials.

10 years ago I was driving a 66 MGB and a 92 Cavailer, whilst the wife had a 83 Astra (which we got 175K out of in the end). Anyway when the MGB was built the heater and overdrive were optional, the Astra was one of the last "simple" everything manual cars, the Cavailer had Central Locking, Power Steering and ABS (optional).

More recently I added Air-Con to the must have list for next car. When looking around for the Merc the list expanded to include - Climate Control, Crusie Control and ESP/BAS. And having now having had automatic wipers, they've joined my list of must haves.

Got me thinking, what must haves am I missing out on driving a 9 year old Merc - I couldn't come up with anything. Came up with some gadgets e.g. Sat Nav - but there are decent aftermarket radio head units that will give you that, so I decided to restrict my list to stuff you couldn't easily/properly add as an after market item. Likewise my fathers new seat has lots of trival features/gadgets, like the interior light coming on if you slide the cover open on the vanity mirror!! Fun but I can't see that being a must have or favourite feature.

So two questions:

a) What must have am I missing out on (or have we reached a plateau).

b) Favourite gadget/feature

Nominations please...

 

[Old Hat Shop]

a) i don't think you're missing anything, Steve. Mine has the minimum (I did put in CD\MP3 player though) but IMHO the joy is in the driving not playing with toys.

b) My favourite gadget is the electric window, oh, and the sunroof. Anything else is a waste of electric and a potential fault.

c) Worst possible gadget? that stupid thing on the back of a new Corsa? The bike rack. (Anyone know price of it?) And what next, the bespoke protective bag for dirty cycling shoes?

Paul

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Auto on/off headlights.

 

[whitenemesis]

Since getting car I have upgraded to;
COMAND, saves me hours by helping me avoid the jams. (and it looks class)
auto-folding door mirrors, very good visual indicator the car is locked (great at scaring the cats away)
Thermotronic, Stops my feet freezing in the summer and my head cooking in the winter (and it looks cool)
Rain sensing wipers, saves all that swapping settings (I could NOT believe MB don't have manually adjustable intermetent wipe!)

Coming next will be;

Integrated MB phone system (SAP bluetooth), I can read texts in the cluster!
Linguatronic, 'cos I'm a sad s*d and need some one to talk too!!

My fav so far? Has to be the rain sensor, hands-free wiping but also love the auto lights and self dimming dash lights

 

[stevesey]

Auto on/off headlights.

Hm - hadn't thought of that one, possibly more gadget than must have, but I do fancy the idea. Might make a interesting DIY project, LDR, capacitor, transistor, relay - should do it (just need to get the time constant right). Are they two stage - sidelights if a bit dull, then headlights?

 

[whitenemesis]

No, straight to dipped headslights

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hm - hadn't thought of that one, possibly more gadget than must have, but I do fancy the idea. Might make a interesting DIY project, LDR, capacitor, transistor, relay - should do it (just need to get the time constant right). Are they two stage - sidelights if a bit dull, then headlights?

Just main headlights auto on/off - you wouldn't want them to go onto sidelights every time a car passed you with headlamps on, would you? They would go hand-in-glove with your rain sensitive wipers.!!

 

[stevesey]

Just main headlights auto on/off - you wouldn't want them to go onto sidelights every time a car passed you with headlamps on, would you? They would go hand-in-glove with your rain sensitive wipers.!!

Good point - location of LDR (trim at bottom of windscreen, facing upwards) and a longish time contant should take care of those sort of issues.

 

[verytalldave]

Something rarely seen on modern cars because of air con..........sunroofs.
I have one on my 2004 W203 and it certainly lifts the cabin to another level.
Not really a gadget - or essential - it just adds to the overall experience.

 

[rf065]

Auto dimming interior mirror & heated/dimming door mirrors

Russ

 

[angus falconer]

Auto-dipping rear view mirror. Along with rain sensing wipers I thought "what a waste of time" when I bough the car. Now I love both of them

 

[angus falconer]

...and automatic gearboxes (as opposed to "jerky automated manual gearboxes)

Although I like the new Audi dual clutch box too - this is the first real rival to a traditional auto box.

I never want to change gear manually again.

 

[angus falconer]

Xenon lights - expensive but make a massive difference

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Reversing sensors.

 

[verytalldave]

Auto-dipping rear view mirror. Along with rain sensing wipers I thought "what a waste of time" when I bough the car. Now I love both of them

I was of the same opinion as you but now I must admit, rain sensing wipers really do work well. MUCH better than a normal delay wipe. Makes motorway driving in the drizzle much less stressful.

 

[angus falconer]

I was of the same opinion as you but now I must admit, rain sensing wipers really do work well. MUCH better than a normal delay wipe. Makes motorway driving in the drizzle much less stressful.

Yes - I was a cynic but and converted.

And when some clunker is following me with one of his headlights pointong to the sky I don't even notice as the rearview and door mirrors dip. Relaxing.

 

[angus falconer]

heated door mirrors - invlauable in wet weather

 

[M6AJJ]

Call me old fashioned, but I also like the sun roof. Climate Control is great, but it doesn't come near to the "Warn summer evening with the roof open"

 

[verytalldave]

Call me old fashioned, but I also like the sun roof. Climate Control is great, but it doesn't come near to the "Warn summer evening with the roof open"

See my previous post number 9 on this topic for my comment on sunroofs.
Totally agree. :razz:

 

[st13phil]

...but it doesn't come near to the "Warn summer evening with the roof open"

You must have along memory. (Sorry, couldn't resist )