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MP3 connection to provide a better music selection rather than advancing through six CDs. The remote start is really cool, especially at night because it makes me feel safer.
I've lived without nearly all of them for all my driving years, and I'm pretty sure I can continue living without them. The only one that really interests me is the "premium-branded stereo," but more accurately, I just want a stereo that sounds good and I don't really care whether it has a "premium" name or not. Real-time traffic is a nice idea too but not having it certainly won't be a deal breaker. Plus I can get it on my GPS if I really want/need it.
3. A spare key hidden outside the car, since I would happily live without the doors locking themselves whenever they damned well please.
One feature I really miss about my old SHO is the combo keypad under the door handle. I used to keep a spare ignition key in the trunk, which could be opened using the keypad. Heck, sometimes if I didn't want to walk around with a big spiky lump in my pocket, I'd take the keys out of the ignition when I got to my destination, lock the car, throw the keys in the trunk, and go on my way.
I seem to recall Ford is still offering the external keypad on some cars. That would be a tiebreaker for me if I were otherwise at my wit's end trying to decide between a keypad-equipped Ford and some other car.
I love mine. And the heated seats (and if I replace this car, heated seats are a requirement). Kind of upset that the newer Sport version of my car that I want has heated seats front and rear, but the fatter sport steering wheel is not available with heat... Never neded or wanted it, i thought, back in Seattle, but then again, I rarely had to deal with days below freezing. on 10-15 degree mornings here both those things are damn nice to have.
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Originally Posted by Bazzwell
Gadgets, gadgets and more gadgets. More ways to drain the wallet with things that will be nearly useless and out of date (or broken/lost) before the credit bill gets paid.
Noit necesarily. It used to be that added luxury features in cars were guaranteed points of failure, but reasonably modern electronic components like these tend to last a long time. As I said, I have heated seats and steering wheel in my 12 year old, 180k mile car and they still work just fine.
I don't have any of those things and don't miss them. I guess I should check the car stereo, though. It came with an upgrade stereo although I am a talk radio/ news radio listener. I think its a BOSE. It is a good radio.
Air conditioning, power windows, intermittent wipers, reclining seats, tilt steering, fading dome lights, automatic door locks and fob, now those are must haves.
One feature I really miss about my old SHO is the combo keypad under the door handle.
Yup, that was a neat feature that I really liked. If needed, like when we'd put in at one spot on a river and get out at another, I'd just throw the keys under the seat. I kept halfway expecting one day to have the combo feature malfunction with my keys in it, but it never did.
It is funny as time goes what features are thought of as necessary. I'm no different, though.
Several years ago I looked for a new stripped-down pickup which was tough to find. The only extra features I wanted (other than bench vinyl seat, no floor carpeting, manual 4x4, and manual trans) was a decent sounding radio and an air conditioner...two things that earlier in my life I would not have cared about.
A remote start is nice on cold mornings if you car isn't in a warm garage.
I too have lived without gadgets in cars for so long.
There was a (in)famous quote from an executive of the largest car manufacturer in the UK back in the 1960s when, asked why some British cars didn't have a car heater as standard whereas these new fangled imports did, he replied 'What's wrong with a coat?'
I'm probably getting soft in my years (I'm not old!) but I do like having reversing sensors and the quickclear front windscreen has been very useful during the last few miserable weeks here in the UK.
As for SatNav, the problem with that for many people, it seems, is that they fail to realise that it needs to be used in conjunction with a working brain.
iPod/iPhone connection is ideal but not that important. All that other stuff is not necessary (for me and are not factors when buying a car).
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Never neded or wanted it, i thought, back in Seattle, but then again, I rarely had to deal with days below freezing. on 10-15 degree mornings here both those things are damn nice to have.
