Modern cars come with all sorts of wonderful gizmos some of which I can't help thinking either serve no useful purpose or are so complicated/ expensive (given the functions they perform) that the potential problems far outweigh the benefits IMO. Two examples could be rain sensing windscreen wipers and card type electronic 'keys'.
What gadgets either currently available or in the pipeline do you think have or will become absolute necessities?
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IMHO A gadget ceases to become a gadget when you are still using it after a year, and if it was to break you would replace it :o)
Car radios that adjust their volume with the speed of the car... Best thing in the world!! Mine was turned off when I got the car 2 years ago, and I only recently read the manual and found out I had it, now it is switched on it's great. All my previous cars must have had it but I never noticed, but you really do notice when it's not there!!!
Up until I got the speed sensitive volume working I would have said steering wheel mounted radio controls, but now they don't seem as useful :o)
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Must haves
Lights on warning buzzers
Intermitant wipers (on the renault they drop down a speed when the car is stopped)
Steering wheel controls for radio
central locking
abs brakes
that'l do for now
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Intermitant wipers (on the renault they drop down a speed when the car is stopped
RF, I see it hasn't long for Renault to catch up (yours is the new Laguna 2002?) - On my 1989 BMW 5 series, the intermittant "delay" can be set by the driver to anything between 1 and 25 seconds and this delay is doubled automatically, when the car becomes stationary.
Chad.
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....and to add to the list,
* Auto dipping passenger side wing mirror (when reverse is engaged so you can see the curb better),
* Selectable memory positions(3)for driver's seat, rear view and wing mirrors,
* Rechargable mini-torch in glove box with it's own "socket",
* Fire extinguisher and first aid kit under passenger seat (I know they're not gadgets),
All factory fitted on my 1989 car...
Chad.
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Also an E34 owner - '89 525. First 'real' car Ive owned and the standard gadgets (oooops features.) are a dream for those who love to play.
Have to add to list:
A computer which tells you which bulb has blown.
Windows and sunroof which close automatically when the car is locked (still impresses the hoi poloi and remains a rarety)
Floor ducts that carry warm air direct to the feet of rear seat passengers.
An interior light that comes on every time you turn the engine off.
Badly missed:
A rear wash wipe. Definately fed up with squeegeing on those damp winter mornings.
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Andy B,
Yes, I did miss those ones ...just goes to show the amount of stuff that car has as standard but you take for granted!! IMO the "Check Control" is probably one the E34's greatest features.
An interior light that comes on every time you turn the engine off.
Have you noticed that the interior light comes on when you remotely unlock the car or just tug on the door handle even before you actually open the door?
Though the latter is not so good IMO as it's great for opportunist thieves who work after dark.
Chad.
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Chad,
So right about the Check Control - provides really useful information. The designers obviously put some time in.
Regarding the interior light - on mine, when the handle is lifted, the interior light sets of the alarm. Think my Scorpian alarm may be an aftermarket job.
This thread is quickly turning into the E34 appreciation society. Ive had mine 10 years - apart from the usual tyres, pads, oils etc, only had failure of the water pump, viscous coupling, track rod arm and rear door central locking actuators (seized). Still turns heads.
Off thread I know, but I couldnt help myself.
Andy
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"Windows and sunroof which close automatically when the car is locked "
I thought that feature was banned - something about a child/pet left in the car and getting hurt. Or was that in the USA?
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I only found out that my 5-Series had that a few weeks ago - which is strange because it's exactly the one thing that I'd been harping on about cars not having for years. It took me weeks to notice that the slow-wipe reduces to intermittent when you stop at traffic lights too, removing that annoying dry wiper screech.
I guess a successful gadget is one that's very presence improves your life without you even realising it's there. Or alternatively, something that saves you more effort than using/maintaining it.
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Bit unfair on reggie old chap, this was on my 99 scenic too. Dont see ford/vauxhall/saab et all with it yet tho..........
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RF, if I can add some to your list:
Must have:
Engine oil level gauge
Illumination adjustment for instrument panel
Dimming rear view mirror (okay, not a gadget anyway)
Electrically controlled passenger-side mirror
Nice to have:
Rear wiper auto-engage when selecting reverse (have it and love it)
Don't want but have / will have from now on:
Lights / buzzers for putting on seat belt. For good cause, but I only want to move it 3 metres to wash it...
Vagelis.
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I never thought I'd say this but reverse parking sensors.
My own car doesn't have them but I often drive Mondeos fitted with these and they are quite simply a revelation. You can reverse into a tight spot or up to a wall and know exactly how far you have left to go. Particularly with cars you simply cannot judge the back of (from my experience, Focus saloons, Volvo 960 saloons, SAAB 9000 saloons) these are an absolute boon.
Definitely getting them on next car...
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Not invented yet, but would be useful:
Closing Speed indicator. It would tell you up to half a mile in advance whether you were closing on the car in front and therefore needed to get over into the outer lane or not. It would combine this function with a distance or time apart indicator. When tailgating it would flash a red light and sound a buzzer.
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Well, what about these "self parking cars"? Anyone actually tried them?
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Closing Speed indicator....
Dont we already have this and it is called visual awareness. Unfortunately in some drivers, parts of the circuitry have been disabled. This is the same part of the circutry that would interpret the red flashing light/buzzer. Hence no effect on tailgating!
Now if the closing speed indicator was integrated with auto spacing control, auto braking, speed regulation, automatic overtaking, we may have something useful..... but havent major manufacturers demonstrated this already. Alternatively why not join the vehicles together and call it a train.
pmh (was peter)
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I love rain sensing windscreen wipers, a brilliant invention.
I think automatic lights are great too.
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Instant heat in the winter is something that would be very useful. I remember some years back, a friend had a small Japanese or maybe a Korean car,and it was a cold winters day,and the heater came on warm virtually straight away,even though the car had been sitting for about 7 hours. He commented that the heater was electrical,and did not rely on the radiator. Cannot recall which car. Any thoughts.
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Having just added a second Omega to the family fleet; my personal list is as follows:-
Useful:-
'lights on' warning buzzer (my '86 cavalier did this)
window / sunroof closing with central locking ( '90 cavalier did this)
interior lights activating when car unlocked.
why did they bother? :-
electric rear sun blind :
Which 'focus group' decided this was an essential fitting for an Omega CD; but left out a variable intermittant wipe or steering wheel tilt adjust? probably the same one that decided the Signum was a good idea.
BTW I think most cars with full-on climate control have electric heating elements in the air ducts so they can provide hot air as soon as the car is started. I should think that the battery must take a real hammering; especially if used in combination with heated seats.
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heated seats
A "must have" if you have the combination of leather seats and frosty mornings.
btw, I also have a 94 Omega Elite and it has all 4 seats electrically heated. The rear sunblind does come in handy when the car is parked in the sun. Though I totally agree about the non-adjusting steering wheel - to leave it out on a 30k car, what kind of Vx joke was that!
Chad.
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Yep the kids love the rear sun blind; even when it gets stuck half way up...still wasn't expecting all the toys to work on a '95 car I've just paid under 2 grand for. Executive 'bangernomics'. The battery current must be pretty impressive on the Elite on a cold morning; with 4 heated seats + rear window + air vent heaters!
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Satnav. Thought it would be a toy when it came with my current card but now can't now live without it and it's making an appearance on more and more cars. Ideally needs to be linked in with traffic info though.
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cruise control, (maybe not as useful in the uk though)
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Some Citroen XMs have an electrically adjustable centre arm rest!
I find I don't need reversing sensors on my 307sw (the rear is easy to see) but forward parking sensors would be useful. The bonnet slopes down so steeply I cannot see the front.
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