Car features so bad they should just go away.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

In contrast to good car features, I was driving into work thinking of some new (to me) features I'm no too excited about on my new/used volvo wagon. Overall, lots of good, but a few gripes.

Specifically-
1.Turning headlights. I guess some people will like them. I don't. I see it as an added maintenance expense that will add exponential $$$ to repair bills if something were to happen to the headlight cases. So far, annoying. Complexity outweighs benefit for a station wagon that is not going to outrun it's lights in any part of this galaxy. I feel like a mobile driving cat GIF with his eyes swaying back and forth.

2.Plastic headlight lenses/ covers. They should go back to being glass.

3.Complex dashboards with all sorts of info. No wonder people aren't looking where they are going. To much C$#% to look at. Dashboards need to be simpler. I don't need an outside temperature, passenger side temperature, and driver side temperature, etc... Just stick with outside temp. That's my limit!

4. Auto opening rear hatch. Yes, I get it. I actually am starting to like it. Problem is, after a week of using it, it makes me want auto opening driver's door. And other doors. I want my entire life to auto open. It is making my lazy self even lazier.

[unclebilly]

Seatbelt dingers that won’t shut up. On the farm, you don’t want to do up your belt when hurting cattle.

[Sooner or later]

Hurting cattle. You filthy beast!

[unclebilly]

Oil fill for life with no dipstick or fill tube, that can F off too.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Hurting cattle. You filthy beast!

How else do you tenderize them?

[Walter_Middie]

Not many will agree with me - but auto-on headlights. Nothing wrong with the car deciding to turn on the headlights all by itself, but people are losing the ability to turn on their headlights when needed (a grey car driving through early morning fog - bright enough to keep the auto headlights off, but the car is virtually invisible) and turn them off when they are parked and they are shinning on someone - like through the front window of a restaurant. I can't tell you how many times I've been temped to get up out of my seat and go out to the parking lot and ask the person if they don't realize they are lighting up the entire restaurant.

[1990C4S]

Dash lights should NOT turn on with the day-time running lights. I see a lot of car driving at night with only DRL's on, no tail-lights, dim headlights. But you look in their car and the dash is illuminated. If the dash did not light up they would know they didn't have their lights on.

Honking car alarms. Both when they lock, and when they are 'set off'.

And headlights should go off with the ignition.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by Walter_Middie

Not many will agree with me - but auto-on headlights.

Totally agree. They need to be on or off. No inbetween. With daytime running lights, you can't tell if the nighttime running lights are on or off unless its "on" ^ I get the dash lights thing, but a lot of time it takes even me a while to notice no dash lights. A see people all the time running with no lights.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Hurting cattle. You filthy beast!

LOL!! I was gonna say the same thing. He probably kicks the little calves too!

[RANDY P]

Auto stop start.

E-shifting automatics like in BMW and Chrysler- unsafe, stupid and annoying

Wifi and Onstar. Drive, don't watch Disney while driving (which if not already will come into cars- they're everywhere else anyhow)

Electroluminescent gauges without auto headlights- see Honda driver with no lights on at night, thinks headlights are on because the gauges are lit as if the headlights are on.

[mattdavis11]

My schit box has too many features. CEL, maintenance, brake, temperature, etc.. The only thing I wish did work that doesn't, is the gas gauge light. 02 Accord.

[Norm K]

I'm in a minority, but I'll go with sunroofs. To me they're little more than a giant leak waiting to happen.

Add rain-sensing wipers to my list.

_

[David]

I agree with the uselessness of sunroofs and rain-sensing wipers (give me the 911 rheostat controlled wipers any day)

I do like auto-on head lights. I was surprised my 2005 997 didn't have them but my 2001 chevy pickup did. I agree that dash lights should not come on unless head lights are on.

When I started the other thread, I anticipated this opposite thread and should have known it would be more popular!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Walter_Middie

turn them off when they are parked and they are shinning on someone - like through the front window of a restaurant. I can't tell you how many times I've been temped to get up out of my seat and go out to the parking lot and ask the person if they don't realize they are lighting up the entire restaurant.

Wouldn't matter. Most folks are oblivious and unlikely to care anyway.

[aschen]

I contend that fancy RFID, chip based keys, imobilizers etc have caused at least an order of magnitude more pain for owners of cars than potential thieves

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Dash lights should NOT turn on with the day-time running lights. I see a lot of car driving at night with only DRL's on, no tail-lights, dim headlights. But you look in their car and the dash is illuminated. If the dash did not light up they would know they didn't have their lights on.

Honking car alarms. Both when they lock, and when they are 'set off'.

And headlights should go off with the ignition.

Yep, lots of folks driving around at night with only DRL, presumably because they don't realize due to a combination of dashlights and street lights.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Totally agree. They need to be on or off. No inbetween. With daytime running lights, you can't tell if the nighttime running lights are on or off unless its "on" ^ I get the dash lights thing, but a lot of time it takes even me a while to notice no dash lights. A see people all the time running with no lights.

Some headlights are fully auto, ie, when it's dark, full headlights/taillights. But agreed, auto-DRL absolutely make things worse, not better.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Auto stop start.

E-shifting automatics like in BMW and Chrysler- unsafe, stupid and annoying

Wifi and Onstar. Drive, don't watch Disney while driving (which if not already will come into cars- they're everywhere else anyhow)

Electroluminescent gauges without auto headlights- see Honda driver with no lights on at night, thinks headlights are on because the gauges are lit as if the headlights are on.

I'm not a huge fan, but auto-start/stop does save A LOT of gas each year, and will save more and more as more cars have it. That said, I am glad that the fully loaded 2018 Outback that we recently purchased doesn't have it.

[URY914]

Two items on my wife's Honda;

The wiper stalk- You push it down to turn them on. Down? Up means on to me.

The radio- It's like programing a new VCR every time I'm trying to find the radio. And if your driving push too many buttons it shuts down because it wants you to pay attention to the road. Hey Honda, make it easier to use and it wouldn't need to shut down. And sometime it's the passenger screwing with the damn thing.

[ckelly78z]

A rear facing camera mounted on the underside of the passenger mirror, that turns on whenever you flip on the right turn signal (Honda). This is a big distraction when a moving image pops up on your large center dash display, as you are trying to look through the corner.