What are your must have car accessories/gadgets/tech?

TJ Mackie · 12-02-2018 07:32PM #1

Just wondering what you can/can't live without when it comes to your car. Aside from the obvious like dashcams, satnavs and bluetooth - what are some of your must-haves and nice-to-haves when it comes to car tech/maintenance?

wonski · 12-02-2018 07:37PM

Funnily enough dash cam or sat navigation are not on the top of my list. Bluetooth is, though.

Heated seats at that time of the year are a blessing. Next car will have them, too.

OldMrBrennan83 · 12-02-2018 07:40PM

This post has been deleted.

colm_mcm · 12-02-2018 08:43PM

Sunroof, last 4 cars had one and would really miss it if the next one didn’t have one.

That said, aircon or cruise would probably be a bigger deal, but most cars would have those.

ShadowHearth · 12-02-2018 08:48PM

Android auto. I just could not live without it. No more usb keys, cds etc. Just spotify. Need sat nav? No problem - google maps. Best thing ever.

Auto wipers and auto lights too. First car that I own to have those and now I can't imagine going without it.

Nice things, but not essentia:

Open car and lights come up. Might sound stupid, but I park my car at work, which is very dark. I finish work late too. So opening the car actually very handy to see where the hell am I going.

Four Phucs Ache · 12-02-2018 08:54PM

The most technical thing I've ever had is auto wipers.Hated them.

Can't live without an armrest though.

Eric Cartman · 12-02-2018 08:56PM

8+ Cylinders

GavRedKing · 12-02-2018 08:59PM

I've not had much tech or gadgets in cars down through the years, but heated seats in the ST is very welcome for about 3 or 4 months of teh year.

I suppose the heated windscreen is good in the ST, its standard though I think but helpful.

jimbis · 12-02-2018 09:07PM

2000watt 230v Power inverter.

Eric Cartman · 12-02-2018 09:09PM

jimbis wrote: »

2000watt 230v Power inverter.

what vehicle is that in ? second battery / alternator ?

Zoney · 12-02-2018 09:12PM

360 vision! Perfectly centred car parking within lines and avoid kerbs. Parking assist is great too even if it's not really feasible in a busy car park.

Adaptive cruise control is a dream on longer trips especially on busier 100 km/h N roads.

Not sure I'd give up my automatic tail gate, but on the other hand the warning beeping when it lowers is a pain, with the alternative being to hoist it down manually with no gas assistance. The manual notes "some resistance is normal".

I'd be fine giving up auto lights and wipers. Also climate control, actually prefer manual dials.

Least useful feature in the car is the option to change the sound scheme. Jungle beats for indicator sounds isn't top of my list.

jimbis · 12-02-2018 09:18PM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

what vehicle is that in ? second battery / alternator ?

Transit which has a second battery already. all standard set up though.

steveshort · 12-02-2018 09:24PM

An engine

Duke O Smiley · 12-02-2018 09:26PM

Audi's MMI screen or whatever equivalent. I think most new-ish cars have them now anyway, but I'd struggle to go back to something like this:

Also not tech related but tinted windows is another one.

CiniO · 12-02-2018 09:28PM

I have few favorite must haves like clitmate control, leather steering wheel, auto wipers, auto dimming rear mirror or cruise control, oil temperature indicator, but in general I can enjoy driving any car even the most basic provided that I like it.

Some accessories I find totally useless f.e. heated seats, auto lights, ash tray, etc..

Voodoomelon · 12-02-2018 09:29PM

There's just no going back from a BMW comfort seat. Whatever about anything else, the seat is crucial.

^^Heated seats totally useless? Madness.

Cee-Jay-Cee · 12-02-2018 09:29PM

Heated seats. Everything else I can do without. If I had to pick one other option is cruise control.

I have auto lights, HIDs, BT, auto wipers, auto dimming mirrors, heated seats, cruise control in my current car but heated seats is the only one I wouldn’t be willing to give up.

GustavoFring · 12-02-2018 09:32PM

Xenons or decent LEDs.
Heated seats.

Two things I won't do without.

Heated screens aren't available on a lot of makes but it's number three.

OldMrBrennan83 · 12-02-2018 09:42PM

This post has been deleted.

bop1977 · 12-02-2018 09:49PM

Xenon lights
Auto lights
Auto dimming mirror
Auto wipers
Bluetooth
Cruise control
Heated front windscreen (sadly missed from my 99 focus)
Heated seats (despite voodoomelon’s objection, they rock and they keep take aways hot)
And finally a DSG gearbox.
I’m getting old when I won’t get a car without most if not all of the toys above.

Eric Cartman · 12-02-2018 09:55PM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

There's just no going back from a BMW comfort seat. Whatever about anything else, the seat is crucial.

^^Heated seats totally useless? Madness.

"thats useless, you don't need that" - people who've never had ad auto dimming mirror or heated seats. Never met a single person who would voluntary do without those.

Voodoomelon · 12-02-2018 09:55PM

bop1977 wrote: »

Xenon lights
Auto lights
Auto dimming mirror
Auto wipers
Bluetooth
Cruise control
Heated front windscreen (sadly missed from my 99 focus)
Heated seats (despite voodoomelon’s objection, they rock and they keep take aways hot)
And finally a DSG gearbox.
I’m getting old when I won’t get a car without most if not all of the toys above.

You misunderstood my post, Cinio said they were useless, not me!

mickdw · 12-02-2018 09:57PM

Auto lights and wipers are fantastic.
I always like folding mirrors as you can see the car has locked.
BT, air con and Auto dimming rear mirror are pretty basic now but must haves.

Things I'd like but don't have would be android auto, 300 bhp, radar cruise, auto dipping headlights. Auto gearbox
Remote cabin heater - a lot of the electric / hybrid cars have this.
Electric steering column I thought would be brilliant but it got on my nerves within 1 day.

Voodoomelon · 12-02-2018 09:58PM

Thought you had an auto Mick, in what way did the electric column bother you?

Eric Cartman · 12-02-2018 10:00PM

mickdw wrote: »

Auto lights and wipers are fantastic.
I always like folding mirrors as you can see the car has locked.
BT, air con and Auto dimming rear mirror are pretty basic now but must haves.

Things I'd like but don't have would be android auto, 300 bhp, radar cruise, auto dipping headlights. Auto gearbox
Remote cabin heater - a lot of the electric / hybrid cars have this.
Electric steering column I thought would be brilliant but it got on my nerves within 1 day.

A lot of higher end cars, especially diesels have it. I have it on the Range Rover and have used it every single day for the last month, its unreal.

higster · 12-02-2018 10:01PM

Going beyond “normal” Bluetooth etc...

Memory seats linked to individual keys (I’m 6’3”, she is 5’5”).
Heated seats and steering wheel (current weather might be a factor here)
Keyless entry/exit
& I do like auto dim lights.

TrailerBob · 12-02-2018 10:18PM

Being that my daily drive is 15 years young.. it hasn't many of the fancy bits like auto anything..

But an armrest at exactly the right height... that it does have.. I don't mind turning on my own wipers, but I can't do without my armrest!

job seeker · 12-02-2018 10:20PM

Cheap(ish) tax..

beertons · 12-02-2018 10:29PM

TrailerBob wrote: »

Being that my daily drive is 15 years young.. it hasn't many of the fancy bits like auto anything..

But an armrest at exactly the right height... that it does have.. I don't mind turning on my own wipers, but I can't do without my armrest!

Yes yes. Tried to get one fitted to the van seat, but no joy, wouldn't work.

Indicators are a must have too. Seems alot of the newer cars don't have them fitted.

JoeA3 · 12-02-2018 10:40PM

Climate control.
Heated seats.
Auto lights / wipers, auto dimming mirror.
Xenons / LED’s.
Auto folding mirrors
Decent audio system - with Bluetooth streaming - Nav is a bonus.

Would not consider a modern car without all the above ticked.

Motormadcork · 12-02-2018 10:46PM

Armrest, comfortable seats, aux and a sunroof if I was lucky.

What are your must have car accessories/gadgets/tech?

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