Specs/add-ons - what’s useful and what really isn’t?

Goose76

After months of research and watching almost every CarWow review known to man, I finally settled on and purchased my new car earlier this week. Not knowing much about cars, what struck me during my time looking up potential new cars was the sheer range of different specs and optional features that so many newish cars come with these days. It was so easy to get distracted by the specs instead of the actual car!!

So it got me thinking, what do the knowledgeable motor community deem to be near essential features and what are the most pointless ones that are not worth paying for, in your opinion?

My inexperienced opinion:

Worth having some luxury car I saw reviewed - can’t remember which one - had a setting that remembered each drivers steering wheel, seat and mirror position and would adjust all accordingly whenever that particular driver got into the car.

Also, reverse camera. For a nervous driver like me and just for genera safety and peace of mind - yes please.

Pointless Apple Car Play / Android Auto, if your car already has Bluetooth and you can take calls/ play music from your phone, what is the point? Google Maps booted up on the phone on a secured mount would have you sorted (surely?!)

ongarite

I would have the opposite of you.
Android Auto, Apple Carplay as my top feature.
Car UI , in built sat navigation are usually only OK and outdated nearly immediately.
With Apple and Google's software you have best maps and media apps right on front of you with seamless integration.

Goose76

ongarite wrote: »

I would have the opposite of you.
Android Auto, Apple Carplay as my top feature.
Car UI , in built sat navigation are usually only OK and outdated nearly immediately.
With Apple and Google's software you have best maps and media apps right on front of you with seamless integration.

Fair enough, I’ve next to no experience with Apple Car Play etc so was curious as to why so many people seem to deem it essential

kaahooters

Android auto is a must.
If you have a new high end android phone, galaxy s9 or better or the iPhone 11up, the screens are prone to burn in (showing images from most used apps ECT burned in to the screen.) if your using maps on the phone it will get a ghost image after a few months of usage. Super annoying like.

Hurrache

Goose76 wrote: »

Pointless Apple Car Play / Android Auto, if your car already has Bluetooth and you can take calls/ play music from your phone, what is the point? Google Maps booted up on the phone on a secured mount would have you sorted (surely?!)

Both are great and far better than Bluetooth.

GustavoFring

Android auto and carplay are normally really cheap options (if not standard on a lot) on most cars and it's the way most manufacturers are going these days.

Decent headlights are another wortwhile option, reversing camera is ideal if you've pets or kids that might wonder behind the car and heated seats are great in winter.

corkgsxr

kaahooters wrote: »

Android auto is a must.
If you have a new high end android phone, galaxy s9 or better or the iPhone 11up, the screens are prone to burn in (showing images from most used apps ECT burned in to the screen.) if your using maps on the phone it will get a ghost image after a few months of usage. Super annoying like.

I use maps every single day on a S10 plus. Never a hassle.

hoodie6029

Cruise control. I wouldn't buy a car without it.

Atlantic Dawn

Xenon headlights
Cruise control
Dual climate
Auto folding mirrors
Keyless entry with button start

I find the reversing camera is more a distraction, it's fine in a really quiet area where you know nobody will cross from a blindspot.

pinktoe

Must have
Cooled seats, especially for long journeys you'll feel more refreshed. Not really pushed about heated seats.
Keyless entry and start.
Cruise control
Proper Air Con (some cars are pathetic from the factory).
Memory position seats if other people drive your car.
Preferably 300bhp plus engine.
Automatic wipers
Leather seats just for ease of cleaning after the dog


Most pointless;
Massage seats, I have never enjoyed these. It's like a mixture of tennis balls and rolling pins randomly pressing different areas.
That beeping noise when a seat detects weight on it with no seat belt attached. Not every weight is a human so at least give me the option to turn in off.

Hurrache

My wife wouldn't give up her heated seats.
I still tend not to fully trust the reversing cameras.
My wife's car has keyless entry and when I use my car I still pull the handle on my own expecting it to open.
Electronic handbrake is similar, I go to pull off in my own with the hand brake on expecting it to release.
One thing I didn't expect to miss is the speed limit sign recognition, it's dead handy.
But I do like Android auto, mostly for Spotify integration.
Electric seats, unless you and your partner are fairly different in size and your car has memory functionality, or memory associated with different keys, is the biggest waste. You use it once to set up, and that's it.

trellheim

Memory functionality on the drivers seat - yes - the wife and I use this all the time as we only have the one car makes life really easy

Electronic handbrake a massive pain, most useless addition in many years

blind spot monitor very useful been saved a few times

Adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, love it , makes motorway driving an absolute breeze

reversing camera +++++ oh yes

vectra

Electric handbrake is the handiest thing ever.
LED/Xenon headlights
Heated seats & steering wheel if available.
Adaptive cruise control over normal cruise.
Front assist ( whatever other manufacturers call it )
Front and rear parking sensors over a reverse camera. ( but thats just me as I rarely if ever use it.)
Auto lights.
Carplay/Android Auto. ( use waze and you have Nav and traffic sign recognition )
Lane assist can be handy.
Blind spot! I don't know as I never had it so don't miss it, just watch your mirrors.

VANG1

Sun roof

Cruise control
Air con
Heated front window if it’s an option....old car had this was so handy

Guy:Incognito

trellheim wrote: »

Electronic handbrake a massive pain, most useless addition in many years
s

In what way do you find them a massive pain? Havnt had one for a while but when the missus had her Scenic II it was great. Turn the car off, handbrake is on. Start car and pull off, handbrake releases. Never had to even think about it unless stopping without turning the car off and then it was just pull the switch on the dash and again, just pull off when ready.

Frees up space in the centre console for something better than a handbrake lever (literally anything is a better use of the space)

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

In what way do you find them a massive pain? Havnt had one for a while but when the missus had her Scenic II it was great. Turn the car off, handbrake is on. Start car and pull off, handbrake releases. Never had to even think about it unless stopping without turning the car off and then it was just pull the switch on the dash and again, just pull off when ready.

Frees up space in the centre console for something better than a handbrake lever (literally anything is a better use of the space)

Trellheim likes to create donuts at the weekends

_Kaiser_

Xenon lights or better with auto function
Auto wipers
Auto mirrors (dimming and that the nearside mirror drops automatically when reversing)
Cruise control
Logical and easy to use media/function interface
Bluetooth (never had Android Auto but willing to give it a go)
Memory seats
Climate control
Parking sensors front and rear
4WD/Quattro with a 3L engine

.. so pretty much everything I have now really

Things I'd like...

- Tan leather interior. Always had black and it's practical but the tan just looks better
- Sunroof (had it in the first A6 that had to go back and it was nice to have)
- adaptive cruise (assuming I'd trust it enough that is!)
- auto-folding mirrors
- remote start/heating (for those cold winter mornings)

The biggest issue I have is finding something that has what I have now (and doesn't come in a godawful interior like that nasty brown leather or white), with the extras I'd like and the budget I'm prepared to spend.
I may actually (seriously) end up buying a slightly older A8 (than the newer A6 I'd aim for) so that I'm more likely to have the higher base spec - although the estate A6 looks nice. I can't decide if I like the A7

Oh well, probably won't be an issue for another year anyway. One good thing about CV-19 is I'm doing f-all mileage for the last 6 months so keeping the current car is a lot easier.

pinktoe

Another nice deature is panoramic roofs as the car feels more spacious. Once you have one you'll feel claustrophobic in any car without one.

TrailerBob

Auto wipers are very handy.
I dislike the way auto DRLs are set up without tail lights on, but auto lights are also handy
A simple to use climate control system
Cruise control
Armrest at the right height for my elbow

I still prefer to operate the vehicle and have a few handy aids rather than having too much electronic interference. Our Kuga and Rav4 both have all the above, and both have manual handbrake.. which I also like in my Luddite way, as it's simple and doesn't go wrong. Although the Rav4 has hill hold which is a handy feature. The Landcruiser has cruise control.. .... and seats......

Harry Palmr

Get items which aid safety then comfort. Everything else is secondary

tossy

Have Dynamic light assist in the Golf, it obscures the part of the beam that would blind oncoming drivers and moves it to track the movement of the car - i've never seen it get caught out even coming around a bend with elevation changes etc it also keeps the beam below the taillights of the car ahead of you but lights up the roadside around it like you had your full beams on its probably one of the coolest extras i've ever had.

Idleater

tossy wrote: »

Have Dynamic light assist in the Golf, it obscures the part of the beam that would blind oncoming drivers and moves it to track the movement of the car - i've never seen it get caught out even coming around a bend with elevation changes etc it also keeps the beam below the taillights of the car ahead of you but lights up the roadside around it like you had your full beams on its probably one of the coolest extras i've ever had.

Yeah, got matrix LED lights "standard" (with the spec) and they are working fantastic. Full headlights on to the side of the road and traffic coming against, haven't had another driver flash.

Auto dimming mirrors work nicely too.

Sign recognition was a meh-bundled feature but it works well, shame it doesn't display when using Android auto on my car.

tossy

Idleater wrote: »

Yeah, got matrix LED lights "standard" (with the spec) and they are working fantastic. Full headlights on to the side of the road and traffic coming against, haven't had another driver flash.

Auto dimming mirrors work nicely too.

Sign recognition was a meh-bundled feature but it works well, shame it doesn't display when using Android auto on my car.

I coded in traffic sign recognition as it uses the same camera, it’s a bit gimmicky but it is handy to glance at the instrument cluster to see what the speed limit is when you’re on an unfamiliar road.

Carplay and aircon. Maybe the heated windscreen too.

Couldn’t care less about anything else.

Eric Cartman

Cruise control, climate control, auto wipers and lights, xenon lights - all absolute 100% essentials now.

adaptive cruise control, memory seats, heated and cooled seats, top spec audio system - absolute desirable / worth waiting for a used car that has them.

ipod kit/bluetooth/aux in - not a deal breaker buying but absolutely needed as a retrofit which are usually available.

air suspension - an option that would heavily sway me towards a model and I would seek a car with such.

ddarcy

After having adaptive cruise control of say it’s a must now. Plus you get all parking sensors with it too so a double bonus.

Heated seats are nice.

I miss my old mondeos heated windscreen, but are harder to find now.

Apple car play / android auto

This may seem odd but multiple USB ports (looking at you VW!)

The auto lights package. I didn’t need it in Dublin, but need it out in rural Ireland (tight roads etc, so having high beams turn off automatically is a big plus)

Reverse camera as well, id say it’s necessary on the bigger cars.

Dual zone air con, means I don’t freeze / burn my arse off when a woman’s in the car! Also stops any argument about temperature! This is now mandatory too for me.

dmigsy

Essential features:
Automatic transmission
Auto-hold electric handbrake
Android auto
Heated seats
Reversing camera
Adaptive cruise control is nice if you do a lot of motorway miles

Once you get used to these things there's no going back.

Pointless:
Keyless entry / start
Dynamic Chassis Control - have on my car and don't use it very often
Auto folding mirrors - have them but wouldn't miss them
Auto wipers - have them but wouldn't miss them
Sun roof - had one before and don't miss it

Gooey Looey

My last car (Mazda 6) had the safety kit with a light on the wing mirror that came on if there was a car in the next lane in your blind spot. You didn't even need to look, it was in your peripheral vision, if it was lit you knew it was lit. If you tried to change lane with it lit you'd get a warning. Very handy in multi lane traffic.

Another safety feature the car had that I never had to test was emergency breaking. Under 70kph in traffic the car was supposed to do an emergency stop to prevent you hitting the car in front.

Adaptive lights were also part of the safety upgrade, the headlights turn into the corners as you turn. The Xenon lights dipped automatically for oncoming cars

Dravokivich

kaahooters wrote: »

Android auto is a must.
If you have a new high end android phone, galaxy s9 or better or the iPhone 11up, the screens are prone to burn in (showing images from most used apps ECT burned in to the screen.) if your using maps on the phone it will get a ghost image after a few months of usage. Super annoying like.

I've never had that problem and constantly using my phone. I also regularly use Google maps while driving too.

kirving

Dravokivich wrote: »

I've never had that problem and constantly using my phone. I also regularly use Google maps while driving too.

It depends on whether you have an OLED phone or not, as OLEDs are much more prone to burn in than LCD's.

Despite their inferior contrast and black colours looking grey at night, LCDs are a more proven technology, which is why the vast majority or manufacturers have stuck with them.

Kevin Irving

Kevin Irving wrote: »

It depends on whether you have an OLED phone or not, as OLEDs are much more prone to burn in than LCD's.

Despite their inferior contrast and black colours looking grey at night, LCDs are a more proven technology, which is why the vast majority or manufacturers have stuck with them.

Very few have stuck with them at this stage.

Dravokivich

Kevin Irving wrote: »

It depends on whether you have an OLED phone or not, as OLEDs are much more prone to burn in than LCD's.

Despite their inferior contrast and black colours looking grey at night, LCDs are a more proven technology, which is why the vast majority or manufacturers have stuck with them.

Its an OLED screen. Had it almost 2 years now.

I had nothing but bother with Google Maps burning into OLED screens so badly that the phone would barely be usable, was one of the main reasons I bought the regular iPhone 11 last year for the LCD.

kirving

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Very few have stuck with them at this stage.

Which manufactures have not stuck with LCD (swapped over to OLED)?

I was in a new B class last week and it was almost certainly LCD and has rubbish contrast.

Recent Volvo's have been LCD, as has any Tesla I've been in. VW say they use LCD but I haven't been in one with the digital dash, and I've yet to be in a car with one.

Dravokivich wrote: »

Its an OLED screen. Had it almost 2 years now.

I've had OLED screens on phones as far back at 2007, and never had any issue, but my LG OLED TV is shortly due to be replaced under warranty. Not that every screen will suffer it, but it's certainly more likely.

Kevin Irving

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Which manufactures have not stuck with LCD (swapped over to OLED)?

I was in a new B class last week and it was almost certainly LCD and has rubbish contrast.

Recent Volvo's have been LCD, as has any Tesla I've been in. VW say they use LCD but I haven't been in one with the digital dash, and I've yet to be in a car with one.



I've had OLED screens on phones as far back at 2007, and never had any issue, but my LG OLED TV is shortly due to be replaced under warranty. Not that every screen will suffer it, but it's certainly more likely.

Sorry I thought you meant phone manufacturers not car ones.

Royale with Cheese

I had an 05 Ford Focus LX, it was supposed to be the base spec but because it was some limited first run of the new model they threw in a load of extras for free (the standard LX didn't even come with alloys). It had a heated front windscreen and I've since owned a couple of far more expensive cars which didn't, I really miss it.

My last car had a sunroof, I used it maybe 3 times in the 2 years I owned it.

Quantum Erasure

Electric windows, alloy wheels, the lot

Eric Cartman

kaahooters wrote: »

Android auto is a must.
If you have a new high end android phone, galaxy s9 or better or the iPhone 11up, the screens are prone to burn in (showing images from most used apps ECT burned in to the screen.) if your using maps on the phone it will get a ghost image after a few months of usage. Super annoying like.

cheap panel, what car was that ?

the_syco

Cruise control, and auto wipers. Electronic folding mirrors, esp if connected to the alarm - handy to use as a visual check if your alarm is on.

At least an aux-in, but the Apple or Android connection would be nice.

=-=

Quickclear technology. Ford, Jag, and some other company uses it in their front windscreens. Find it super handy to demist & defog windows whilst leaving the windows closed.

kirving

Eric Cartman wrote: »

cheap panel, what car was that ?

I think that's the point, car manufacturers won't use unproven tech, but consumer electronics can take that risk and replace if needs be.

I have a decent color screen on my dash which is nice for the digital speedometer mostly, but I have no desire to go to a full digital dash untill they're fully OLED.

Night driving with an LCD, even showing black is a dreadful experience. I often turn my nav sceen full off and dim the dash when night driving on the motorway, its a much more relaxed experience and easier to see out.

Best implementation of active cruise so far I've had has been in a VW Passat, but haven't tried very many to be fair. Will be a must have in future for me.

Memory seats were great in my last car, I had a city setup and motorway setup. Half electric on my current car is rubbish in comparison. I'd love a full memory setup with steering wheel and mirrors as I share the car sometimes.

I tend to favour simplicity and build quality over outright tech. I have no desire for a car with Android Auto if it's hard to connect and on a crappy screen with cheap buttons.

beggars_bush

Lot of lads here getting lost without Google maps etc


Its an interesting thread, all dependant on how much driving people are doing and in what location

Eg lane assist. I'd say if you were using the M50 5 days a week it is important, but down in rural Leitrim it's not necessary
Heated windscreen - if you go to work early in morning this is very useful

Nobody had mentioned a towbar, which I think is really handy for bike racks and trailers

TrailerBob

Where I live, a towbar comes as standard


But you're right, it's horses for courses. One thing I avoided when buying this time was the larger alloys, and it's a shame because they look lovely, but the lower tyre profile would suffer on our roads (dual cabbageway).

whizbang

Best implementation of active cruise so far I've had has been in a VW Passat, but haven't tried very many to be fair. Will be a must have in future for me.

I couldn't live with the Passat adaptive cruise. Maybe at 4am when there's nothing on the road.
Every time you enable it, you have to reset the distance to less than a country mile, and it still resets itself

AutoWipers still not good enough on most cars,
Same with Autoheadlights,
90% of autodip mirrors are off colour, and dont dim enough.
I have never come across a car that dims a digital dashboard enough at night.

Hurrache

Apart from adaptive cruise control which I haven't used enough to comment other than I liked it when I used it, your points are completely contrary to my experience.

Autowipers I've used have been faultless, you just need to adjust the intervals and the rain levels to match your preferences, and auto lights you just leave on, no messin' required with those. Same goes for autodip mirrors, never felt they weren't dimming enough.

kirving

Hurrache wrote: »

Autowipers I've used have been faultless, you just need to adjust the intervals and the rain levels to match your preferences, and auto lights you just leave on, no messin' required with those.

Wipers on my current car detect rain fine, but the wiper response is too slow, and there are only 2 sensitivity settings. Terrible implementation.

"Auto Lights" have got to be the most infuriating "extras" I can think of. So many cars on the road in rain, fog, low sun, dusk, with no lights on the rear and often the front, but a lovely green light on the dash.

DRL's should be on, at all times, with no notification to the driver, the notification just confuses people.

And before anyone says it's stupid people, it's not. It's so prevalent in particular brands, that it clearly absolutely confusing to a reasonable person.

If I ask anyone on this thread, to sit behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car in the rain and bet their life on whether the front and rear lights are on or not, solely by looking at the dash when the switch is set to Auto, noone would take me up on the offer.

vectra

whizbang wrote: »

I couldn't live with the Passat adaptive cruise. Maybe at 4am when there's nothing on the road.
Every time you enable it, you have to reset the distance to less than a country mile, and it still resets itself

AutoWipers still not good enough on most cars,
Same with Autoheadlights,
90% of autodip mirrors are off colour, and dont dim enough.
I have never come across a car that dims a digital dashboard enough at night.

You must have got a dodgy Passat, the one I had was faultless with those issues you had.

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Kevin Irving wrote: »

"Auto Lights" have got to be the most infuriating "extras" I can think of. So many cars on the road in rain, fog, low sun, dusk, with no lights on the rear and often the front, but a lovely green light on the dash.

Those are DRLs, not auto lights and do not produce any green lights on the dash.

Kevin Irving wrote: »

DRL's should be on, at all times, with no notification to the driver, the notification just confuses people.

That's _exactly_ what happens with DRLs....

Hurrache

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Wipers on my current car detect rain fine, but the wiper response is too slow, and there are only 2 sensitivity settings. Terrible implementation.
...
DRL's should be on, at all times, with no notification to the driver, the notification just confuses people.

What brands?

I've had them on Nissan and Skoda and there's about 5 or so settings for the wipers.

Re the DRLs, throw Renault and I'm sure Opel into that mix and in all 4 there's no notification on the dash to indicated DRLs are on, you only get one once the lights come on.

kirving

Zoe Melted Knob wrote: »

Those are DRLs, not auto lights and do not produce any green lights on the dash.

What is meant by this symbol?

un5byh7sqpd2x0

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Can you tell me if my "auto lights" are on in the rain, or dusk, or low sun?

What is meant by this symbol?

Those are your dipped headlights on (auto or otherwise) which also do turn on the rear lights.