Most useless features on a car.

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Steelerz37

Senior member
Feb 15, 2003
693
0
0
by far the new tire pressure monitoring system, going to be mandatory on all cars in a year or 2...have fun changing out your wheels
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
Originally posted by: MustangSVT
ceter consoles.

WHO THE FVCK else needs to konw the speed besides teh driver?

and its extra time that u need to glance over... seesh.


I have never seen a center console that told you what the speed was. Hmm, my kids would dig it
EDIT: nevermind, I forgot about that stupid low end Toyota model
 

phantom309

Platinum Member
Jan 30, 2002
2,065
1
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: phantom309
05 Subaru Legacy GT

"Dual Climate Control" - This means that the HVAC has two identical controls, located 6" apart, on the center of the dash. This is so that the person sitting 8" to your left can theoretically have his/her own "climate". If you're alone in the car, you have to adjust both of them to get the car to change temperature.

Heated seats which take exactly as long to warm up as the car's regular heater does.

My car is also equipped with the "Ultra Vibrating Shift Knob" which might be of some use for extremely lonely female motorists, but which just makes my arm go numb.
The shift knob vibrates because it is connected to the transmission via solid metal linkage. This is typical and normal of cars with a longitudinal drivetrain layout. The vibration would only seem unusual IMO if you were used to tranverse layout cars (i.e. most FWD) that use cable shift linkage.
You're right, of course, but the Leg is particularly bad - worse than my WRX. It also doesn't help that the BMWs I looked at were beautifully smooth in that area. But you know, whenever my car's wierd little quirks start getting to me, I find a deserted road, nail it at 80MPH in 4th and all is forgiven again...

 

Bullhonkie

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2001
1,899
0
76
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: phantom309
05 Subaru Legacy GT

"Dual Climate Control" - This means that the HVAC has two identical controls, located 6" apart, on the center of the dash. This is so that the person sitting 8" to your left can theoretically have his/her own "climate". If you're alone in the car, you have to adjust both of them to get the car to change temperature.

Heated seats which take exactly as long to warm up as the car's regular heater does.

My car is also equipped with the "Ultra Vibrating Shift Knob" which might be of some use for extremely lonely female motorists, but which just makes my arm go numb.
The shift knob vibrates because it is connected to the transmission via solid metal linkage. This is typical and normal of cars with a longitudinal drivetrain layout. The vibration would only seem unusual IMO if you were used to tranverse layout cars (i.e. most FWD) that use cable shift linkage.

That and you shouldn't be resting your hand/arm on the shifter anyway. If it's going numb from only grabbing the shifter to actually shift, you may want to take it to the dealer to get it looked at.
 

Rayden

Senior member
Jun 25, 2001
790
2
0
The glove compartment isn't accurately named and everybody knows it. So, I'm proposing a swift orderly change. Cause behind its door, there's nothing to keep my fingers warm.
 

Shadowknight

Diamond Member
May 4, 2001
3,959
3
81
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Here's a pic of a similar car to mine. See the hole/slot on the left sid eunderneath the fog light switch... WTF is that for? It's too skinny to fit anything decent into. It's too shallow for sunglasses and they'd bounce right out. Maybe my TV remote would fit but no use for that in the car.

And see the cup holders in front of the shift stick? If I have a large soda in there from McDonalds or something, I can't shift into park without denting the cup.
I'm driving a similar car; totally agree with those two complaints. Here's another one. In the previous car I drove, a Ford something or other, you press down the window button and the window automatically goes down all the way. Nice feature. With the Pontiac GrandAm, you have to hold it PRECISELY the right amount of time or the feature won't work. It's a complete pain for a feature that is essentially useless when it requires that much precision to use properly.

As someone who likes having access to AM for the occasional sign listing a particular station with emergency or traffic broadcasts, I'm annoyed when the built-in car stereo only works with FM.


The new Buick Lucerne has heated windshield washer fluid! Sounds like a great idea--anyone has that feature?
I'd freak at using that; heated liquids on glass in winter is a very very bad idea.
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Vic
Cruise control. Should be outlawed IMO.
Why?
Inflexibility of speed among individual drivers is a major cause of congestion and accidents. Think prick in the left passing lane doing exactly 3 mph over the limit and won't move or speed up for anyone. Why? His cruise control is on, even in the city, and he don't turn it off for no one. That's bad driving period. The safest driving is continually adjusting to the flow of traffic.

Vic for Mayor.... heck. Vic for President.
 

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: Vic

Inflexibility of speed among individual drivers is a major cause of congestion and accidents. Think prick in the left passing lane doing exactly 3 mph over the limit and won't move or speed up for anyone. Why? His cruise control is on, even in the city, and he don't turn it off for no one. That's bad driving period. The safest driving is continually adjusting to the flow of traffic.

Just because I have cruise doesn't mean I maintain a constant speed regardless of my surroundings. ;)

well, a lot of other people aren't as considerate as you are.
 

ViperSSD

Senior member
Dec 5, 2000
317
0
0
Originally posted by: Shadowknight

I'd freak at using that; heated liquids on glass in winter is a very very bad idea.

Yeah ......automotive glass is slightly different than your average glass cup
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
I have an entire hands free phone system in my car. Docking cradle, speaker, microphone, the whole works.

But its for a Nokia, which I dont have. :p I just never uninstalled it when I bought the car.
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
4,682
1
0
Originally posted by: ViperSSD
Originally posted by: Shadowknight

I'd freak at using that; heated liquids on glass in winter is a very very bad idea.

Yeah ......automotive glass is slightly different than your average glass cup

Autoglass is specifically designed to be tolerant of temeperature shift. Think of what happens when you turn on the defroster.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: andylawcc
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: Vic

Inflexibility of speed among individual drivers is a major cause of congestion and accidents. Think prick in the left passing lane doing exactly 3 mph over the limit and won't move or speed up for anyone. Why? His cruise control is on, even in the city, and he don't turn it off for no one. That's bad driving period. The safest driving is continually adjusting to the flow of traffic.

Just because I have cruise doesn't mean I maintain a constant speed regardless of my surroundings. ;)

well, a lot of other people aren't as considerate as you are.

And they'd be inconsiderate regardless of whether they have cruise control.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
11
81
Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Here's a pic of a similar car to mine. See the hole/slot on the left sid eunderneath the fog light switch... WTF is that for? It's too skinny to fit anything decent into. It's too shallow for sunglasses and they'd bounce right out. Maybe my TV remote would fit but no use for that in the car.

And see the cup holders in front of the shift stick? If I have a large soda in there from McDonalds or something, I can't shift into park without denting the cup.
I'm driving a similar car; totally agree with those two complaints. Here's another one. In the previous car I drove, a Ford something or other, you press down the window button and the window automatically goes down all the way. Nice feature. With the Pontiac GrandAm, you have to hold it PRECISELY the right amount of time or the feature won't work. It's a complete pain for a feature that is essentially useless when it requires that much precision to use properly.

As someone who likes having access to AM for the occasional sign listing a particular station with emergency or traffic broadcasts, I'm annoyed when the built-in car stereo only works with FM.


The new Buick Lucerne has heated windshield washer fluid! Sounds like a great idea--anyone has that feature?
I'd freak at using that; heated liquids on glass in winter is a very very bad idea.
People on ATOT have poured hot water over their windshields to melt the ice with no ill consequences. YMMV, of course.
 

Otaking

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2000
5,219
0
0
Auto tranny :p

But seriously, my cup holder in the Audi is right in front of vents for the A/C. It frikkin sucks!

And in the Miata, the visors are useless. You put them down, and you can't see the road. :( I ended up just taking them out.
 

Bassyhead

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2001
4,545
0
0
I don't know if any other cars have this "feature", but in my 2000 Escort you cannot manually unlock the power door locks once they're locked, you must use the door lock button to unlock (the plunger retracts inside the door so that there's no way to grab it to unlock it). My windows are powered so if the battery dies the only way out is through the trunk, if you left the seats unlocked that is.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: Bassyhead
I don't know if any other cars have this "feature", but in my 2000 Escort you cannot manually unlock the power door locks once they're locked, you must use the door lock button to unlock (the plunger retracts inside the door so that there's no way to grab it to unlock it). My windows are powered so if the battery dies the only way out is through the trunk, if you left the seats unlocked that is.

It's a Ford -- you unlock the doors by opening the locked door with the inside door handle. All Fords are like that and always have been for decades.
 

Bassyhead

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2001
4,545
0
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Bassyhead
I don't know if any other cars have this "feature", but in my 2000 Escort you cannot manually unlock the power door locks once they're locked, you must use the door lock button to unlock (the plunger retracts inside the door so that there's no way to grab it to unlock it). My windows are powered so if the battery dies the only way out is through the trunk, if you left the seats unlocked that is.

It's a Ford -- you unlock the doors by opening the locked door with the inside door handle. All Fords are like that and always have been for decades.

My escort has a plunger at the top of the door next to the window. When the plunger is down, it is flush with the door, you can't pull it out.

Edit: I guess they dont work right then