Strategies for Smart Car Buyers

I Like My Gadgets

I love gadgets, and I am not ashamed to admit it. When I buy cars, I usually like to load them up with all manner of available gizmos and electronic toys. As a result, I have some great first hand experience with a lot of the "surprise and delight" features and options that are available on many of today's vehicles. Let me share my observations with you on some gadgets that I have on my vehicles, or have seen in action on other's vehicles...your opinions may vary.

Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) and Sequential Manual transmissions: When done well (Nissan with their CVT and VW with their DSG) they are brilliant, efficient and actually fun to drive with. When done poorly (Audi's CVT and BMW's SMG) they can take all the fun out of driving.

Keyless Start: If you love having keyless entry, you will love keyless start even more. I have it on our Murano and it is great never having to dig into your pocket to pull out your keys, especially when you have your hands full with kids and packages, in order to unlock and start the vehicle.

Automatic Climate Control and Windshield Wipers: Most people like these, I happen to hate them, or any gadget that thinks it knows what I want better than I do (save for transmissions). I have had both of these features on various cars for the last 10 years and they never seem to do exactly what I want, when I want it. As a result, I usually override them, when possible.

Multi-zone Climate Control & Heated Seats: A marriage saver! I like it cold, my wife likes it hot. So even in sunny south Florida, my wife will use the heated seats to keep her comfortable, along with setting the temperature on her side of the car to something north of flash-point, as she desires. Cooled or ventilated seats are an option that I look forward to perhaps getting on my next vehicle.

GPS Navigation: Before I had a child, I never really saw the need. However, when you are going to birthday parties, seemingly every other weekend, or you are looking for the nearest "acceptable restaurant," having a navi system is a real luxury. I like the integrated look of the factory ones, along with the big screen and the backup camera that you can usually get. I hate the cost (although with a lease is an easier pill to swallow) and the fact that they are more expensive to upgrade than portable units.

Backup Camera: Literally a life saver, and I won't get an SUV, CUV or minivan without one. Far superior to ultrasonic sensors, backup cameras give you the ability to not only know what is behind you (and what you can't see from your mirrors), but to also see exactly what it is and to be able to accurately gauge distance. I can back our Murano to within one inch of a wall if I need to, it is that accurate. When I drive my wife's A4, I sometimes feel a bit blind backing up, since the rear view mirror alone doesn't give as wide a field of view as the camera does. Factory units are the best, but often require you to get expensive navi systems. Aftermarket ones are available for as little as $100. Get one!

Trip Computer: I admit I am a bit obsessed with fuel economy. Not so much getting the most fuel efficient vehicle out there, but in usually trying to extract the best fuel economy from whatever it is I am driving. No, it doesn't stop me from driving 80 on the highway, but I do like to see how well I can do in general. Having a trip computer with instant and average fuel economy lets me do that. I like to keep the multi-function display of our Murano on the trip computer setting, just as a constant reminder of how good or bad the mileage is I am getting. As Phil once mentioned, I think if everyone had their fuel economy staring them in the face as they drove, people might actually be even more interested in their mileage than they already are.

Power Hatch: I don't have one now, which is why I wish I did. Again, when you have an arm-load of packages, it is nice to be able to just kit a button and let the vehicle open and close the door for you. Our friends have it on their new Acadia, and I want it on my next vehicle.

Memory Settings: My wife and I often switch cars and we have very different settings for our seats and mirrors. Having memory settings let's us quickly get comfortable and get our mirrors positioned safely. (Shame on Mazda for not linking the mirrors with the seats in their CX-9.)

Heads-Up Display (HUD): I have seen it on a couple of GM vehicles. Cool idea, but I wouldn't pay extra for it.

Xenon and Articulating Headlamps: I love the added light you get with HID headlamps and I will pay extra for them. Articulating ones I am not so excited about. I find that most headlamps to an acceptable job of casting a wide enough beam to make articulating ones superfluous. However, I live in an area with well lit streets, so there is rarely a blind turn.

DVD Entertainment: If you have kids, you probably already have one (either factory or aftermarket). If you don't have kids, you will have one when you do. I prefer the flexibility and cost of aftermarket units. The Panasonic unit we have for our daughter is removable, so we can take it into hotels on trips.

If you want me to elaborate on any I have already covered, just let me know.

Posted by Lee May 9, 2008 8:05 am

Permalink

Categories: Buying New Cars

Comments

autoboy16 - May 12, 2008 4:27 pm (#9 Total: 9)

Fl USA

Dual Zone is really good for menapause.... UMMM I mean for when you're comfortable then she randomly gets hot... Then you must freeze.... Then she gets frigid... Then the Heater comes on while its 90º outside...

I really want Xenon Lights, Aux Jack, Keyless entry, and heated seats on my next car (Fingers crossed for VW Rabbit), but in addition to everything else on my car; Sunroof, Leather (can live without), & great/decent sounding sound system. Sadly, I cant get all that I want in a rabbit, without the GTI...

-Cj

brn - May 12, 2008 9:39 am (#8 Total: 9)

"Remote Start: why is that necessary?"

It's for when it's 35 degrees (F) below zero outside and your car has been sitting all night. From your warm living room, you can start the car and let it run for a few minutes before you go out there. Yes it's a waste of gas, but for countless people, it's worth it to get into a semi-warm car.

leescott - May 11, 2008 4:02 pm (#7 Total: 9)

BA: For the backup camera, I tend to give all my mirrors a glance, but most of my attention is on the screen when I am backing up. It offers a wide enough field of view that I can actually see objects in the display before they appear in my mirrors.

It really does give me much better situational awareness than just mirrors alone. It is really one of those features that you can't appreciate until you actually use one.

blackadder5639 - May 10, 2008 6:30 pm (#6 Total: 9)

Thanks for the info, 7driver.

"I just love to hear the engine not change with gearshifts."

I meant to say "engine note", that is, the engine's sound.

And about the must-haves, I'll definitely want multi-zone A/C if I'm married or have a serious girlfriend.

7driver - May 9, 2008 3:26 pm (#5 Total: 9)

blackadder,

When I'm backing out, I take a quick glance at the monitor, then back up as usual looking out the mirrors and/or the rear window. When parallel parking or backing in, it's all monitor (almost).

blackadder5639 - May 9, 2008 1:43 pm (#4 Total: 9)

Bluetooth: I agree with 7driver that they should be standard! Luckily, several aftermarket stereos offer bluetooth, so next time I replace my stereo I'll keep that in mind.
However, the $20 Belkin wired unit I got from Walmart works well!

Backup camera: I'd want one if I owned an SUV:
Leee, how do you use these? Do you still look backward when reversing or do you just focus on the screen?

Heated/Cooled seats: In my opinion, a waste of money. I experienced heated seats when I test-drove a CTS.....nice to have but wouldn't spend my money. I live in Texas and I haven't wished I had cooled seats either.

Multi-zone aircon: I can see how this would be a marriage saver.

CVT: I haven't drivern a car with one yet, but I wouldn't want a car with a CVT! I'm just too old-fashioned......I want to know when the car has/is changing gears, and a CVT wouldn't give me that pleasure. I just love to hear the engine not change with gearshifts. I'm not a fan or automatic transmissions for starters, so a CVT is even less appealling.....

DVD entertainment: I wouldn't spend my money on it. Although it might be worth it if families often go on trips that exceed 3 hours.

Navigation: So far, Yahoo! Maps have served me just fine. But I'd love the convenience of navigation......for now, not a priority.

Remote Start: why is that necessary? I like the joy of turning the key to start my car....

So far, Multizone, Navigation and bluetooth are the only things I would consider must haves.

7driver - May 9, 2008 10:57 am (#3 Total: 9)

Bluetooth: Legislation is making this a "must-have". Some definitely do it better than others, though.

Autodim mirrors: I can take it or leave it. They seem to work well enough, but it's not much bother for me to flip the switch manually.

Homelink: Also take it or leave it. Usually not a problem for me to find a spot for the door's original remote.

Things I'm curious about: carbon cabin filters, window shades, HD Radio.

ewilfong - May 9, 2008 10:24 am (#2 Total: 9)

Nice writeup, Lee. I love gadgets, too, and I appreciate some added perspective on what's worth adding to the option list.

CVT
I certainly wouldn't buy a car just for the CVT, but I was very impressed with it in a rented Murano a couple years ago. It was so seamless I didn't even notice the car had CVT until miles into the trip. I did, however, notice the consistent power on tap and the smooth delivery of said power.

Heated/Cooled Seats
I considered these a novelty until I experienced them. I wish more manufacturers would offer ventilated seats, especially as we're heading back to Texas next year. There's nothing like sitting in your own sweaty funk.

Backup Camera
YES! I've heard one too many horrible stories about kids being killed behind some big SUV. Poor rearward visibility is even becoming a problem in small vehicles, so I am all about adding this option on our next car. The old "we survived so they will too" thing just doesn't fly with me.

HUD
I remember it as a gee-whiz feature on my mom's Grand Prix way back in the early 90s. Part of their fighter jet theme, I suppose. I found it a bit distracting.

HID headlamps
Driving through the blackest of nights during the heaviest of rainstorms in the loneliest part of Texas made me want these more than almost any other option.

cowbell - May 9, 2008 9:57 am (#1 Total: 9)

Lee, on the keyless start, Nissan does right. A lot of other makers don't. I love being able to lean in the door and start the engine. On the cars with push button start, you have to get in the seat and press the brake when you push the start button to get the engine going.

I know this is such a minor thing, but considering how superfluous key-less ignition is to begin with, it's something that bugs me.

Of course remote start would render this complaint moot.