Revelationary car features

[Cactussed]

Something which you tried in a new car and thought 'Wow, this is great!'

For me, living in Oz at the time, cruise control was brilliant!
So was owning a sat-nav when I moved to London.

[edo]

New HDD based navigation in the new bmw's. Hit a button and a human who can see where I am finds stuff for me and sends it straight into the navigation system. helps me keep my eyes on the road. (And I can send stuff straight to the car from google maps)... Very handy.

[kambites]

Wheels.

[jet_noise]

Dear Cactussed,

damped ashtray lid in a Ford Scorpio, class,

regards,
Jet

[Rawwr]

Volvo BLIS.

[Torquey]

Heated front screen - Focus.

[GravelBen]

Forced induction

[Mr E]

GravelBen said:

Forced induction

Good call. I miss my turbo.

[masermartin]

Cruise control I agree with - and again my first experience of that was in Aus on a Falcon hire car. I would have been done for speeding on a downhill stretch of freeway if it hadn't been for cruise control, have ensured I've had it on the daily hack ever since.

ABS was a big eye-opener to me.

For me, it's also about the little things. For example, the little clip to hold your parking ticket in the windscreen (Saab, among others no doubt). The screw-thread for the alternator when adjusting the fan belt, so you didn't have to attack it with a tyre-lever and hope it stayed where it was while you tightened it up (Peugeot).

Oh, and the little lights at the bottom of the door which allow you to see the puddle you're just about to stick your foot in, the millisecond before you do so (just about everything has them these days)

[ferkle]

Mr E said:

GravelBen said:

Forced induction

Good call. I miss my turbo.

Me too - which is why I am in the market for something with one again (maybe two if I am lucky)

[GravelBen]

ferkle said:

Mr E said:

GravelBen said:

Forced induction

Good call. I miss my turbo.

Me too - which is why I am in the market for something with one again (maybe two if I am lucky)

Is it selfish that I have 3?

[Hitch78]

Power steering.

Electric windows.

Parking sensors.

The development in quality in in-car audio.

The rest is just bumpf; can't remember the last time I used a sat nav or cruise control. But most people love gadgets so they'll keep on coming.

[angusc43]

I love the air suspension on my E500.

I can have the best of both worlds - wafty round town like an old 124 or AMG-like (lower ride height, stiffer springs and stiffer dampers) for hooning. Or something half way. Self levelling at all for corners. No pitch. Remarkable. Sort of Citroen suspension done by Germans.

[davepoth]

VTEC.

[redtwin]

First thing in my own car: rain sensing wipers.

First thing in any car: automatic gearbox.

[Snoop Bagg]

Auto dimming rearview mirror, when every other car seems to have fog lights on.

[Spoof]

Heated seats & Steering wheel - RR.

[threesixty]

The dual view sreen in the range rover that allows the driver to see the sat nav whilst the passenger watches a film.

Absolutley stunned by that. Normally technology appears elsewhere in our lives and then makes it into the car.

[Mr Will]

redtwin said:

rain sensing wipers.

Agreed, fantastic bits of kit.

[Cactussed]

GravelBen said:

Forced induction

Actually, yeah. Fist time I tried a decent turbo car, I knew I needed one!