Weekly Top 3: Frivolous Car Features
Technology's a great thing, though I'll admit I'm not exactly an "early adopter" as I prefer to wait until bugs are worked out and prices come down. For example, I finally bought a flat screen (LCD) TV this year, and am happy to say it works great and cost about half of what it would've been two or three years ago.
As far as tech features in cars, there are many that are useful and more than justify their existence (e.g. Bluetooth, navigation, park assist). Some however, seem to be technology for technology's sake. Or just plain gimmicky. Follow the jump for my top 3 (in no special order) of these geekoid embarrassments.
1) Push button starting that still requires one to use a key.
I'm looking at you BMW (without "Comfort Access" option). This silly feature requires you to first insert the electronic "key" fob into the dash and then push a separate start button. Gives you the thrill of firing it up via a button instead of twisting the key. Whoopee! Am I missing something?
2) Instant MPG indicators.
These provide you with virtual real-time fuel mileage -- step into it and watch the numbers instantly plummet to single digits, lift off the gas and voila! You're getting 99 mpg! Essentially a glorified intake manifold vacuum gauge, these idiocies are seen on everything from a Ford Focus (in bar graph form) to older BMWs (in analog gauge form). Just give me the much more meaningful average fuel economy and miles-to-empty and I'm happy.
3) Built-in Refrigerators
Available in a handful of cars, these things are so small as to be of questionable value. Sure, keeping a few cans of Coke cool is kinda cool. But rather than spend $760 (as on our long-term Flex), you could just buy a Playmate cooler for about $30 that holds a lot more. Then just keep it in the car and buy a bag of ice at a gas station or convenience store when you have to have chilled items available in the car.
- Posted by
- John DiPietro October 23, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Automotive Technology, Weekly Top 3
I disagree about MPG indicators. A lot of people don't really understand that the #1 thing affecting their cars MPG is their driving behavior. If they can get direct feedback on their behavior, they'll adjust their driving habits appropriately.
you forgot to mention massaging seats.
MPG - he said "instant" --- It's there because it's already being equated in the trip/tank/total mpg. It'd be best if they "fudged" the number to average 3 seconds . . .
Push Button Start: You're kidding me? BMW? How bad is that? My 2009 Mazda6 is fob-in-the-pocket to open/push start . . . how'd the Germans miss that? (don't answer that question, the same way Mercedes don't have auto headlights, I know I know).
Refrigerator in the *(whatever here)* seems like a good idea (for under $200) in a minivan, but most vehicles can't get rear passenger air circulation right . . . let alone beverage control.
Massaging seats? Holy sign me up for that :D :D :D I've always wondered why the heater doesn't go all the way up the back (or even on the back in some models). I only use mine when my back is sore; it'd be nice to get the lumbar and above warmed up.
I'm surprised no one brought up cooled seats - very few models have those, but I seem to be the only person that wants one ;)
dstppy, you'd like the heated seats in my F-150 then. Seems the only thing that gets warm is my back, and my butt is left freezing.
dstppy, i guess it depends on what "instant" means. All mpg indicators do some kind of averaging. The question is over what period of time does it average. I agree that if it's 1/10th second then it's of limited benefit. If it's 1-2 seconds, it starts to have value.
Well in defense of the micro fridge feature. If you have to keep insulin with you while you travel, that would seem to be a convenient way to keep that stuff cold.
My Scangauge refreshes every second. That seems to be good for giving me an "instant" fuel economy value.
greenpony, don't tell me that - I already want to trade in my wife's Tribeca for the Raptor :D :D :D
As for Insulin . . . I don't think I'd trust OE electronics to something that important. Call it "the 12volt guy" in me that makes me wary.
Averaging:
I forgot they're doing it; it's fast in my M6 --- I hate how the scangauge flakes out at putting the clutch in. One car it would go blank, the other goes 999.
Most Insulin can last for 30 days unrefrigerated or a year with refrigeration. So I don't think it's worth an extra $760 for this option.
Instant MPG helps you guage your driving habits.