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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cars..must have features..whats yours?

226 replies

Clemfandangos · 08/01/2022 10:34

My must have feature in a car is having manual windows....having been trapped in an all electric car this is vital. My dh thinks I am mad. Aibu?

Whats your must have feature? We are buying a " new" car!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
loobylou44 · 08/01/2022 17:41

Heated windscreen - my Corsa has one and it's a godsend in the winter
Heated wing mirrors
Air con
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Bluetooth

Other than that I don't really care. My DH car has all the bells and whistles but I just don't see the point of most of it. I'm quite happy with my corsa.

JugglingJanuary · 08/01/2022 17:43

@etulosba

Inncorrect - Land Rover only had them because they (Land Rover) were owned by Ford at the time. Ford was first.

Check your facts. You are wrong.

Incidentally, the Minis that won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally had electrically heated front screens. It isn’t a new idea.

I'm not sure what part of crap by comparison you're not getting?

Yes, other manufacturers have heated windscreen & have done for years, but the point is FORD QUICK CLEAR actually clears them!!

@etulosba

BlackeyedSusan · 08/01/2022 18:04

Manual handbrake.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/01/2022 18:16

Automatic handbrake and auto hold!

newyear1 · 08/01/2022 18:31

Automatic boot opener. Now I have one, I'll never go back!., The pleasure of pressing the button from my porch and carrying boxes into the open boot. I confess I do frequently get people waving at me to say I've driven off with it still open.

Reversing camera

Auto dim headlights

Blind spot sensor

Automatic tyre pressure gauge

Shame my car breaks so often that these features rarely all work together at the same time....

TheGoogleMum · 08/01/2022 18:34

Now that I'm used to my reverse parking camera I think I'd really struggle without it!

LoveFall · 08/01/2022 18:39

Air con. Especially important for long commutes in congested traffic as it cuts down the noise etc. from outside. Also defogs the windows on a rainy winter day.

Leg room. Although good luck as most cars are designed for someone around 5'5" as far as I can tell.

user1497207191 · 08/01/2022 19:36

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads

Automatic handbrake and auto hold!
They're OK until they fail. The neighbour opposite us has a modern car with that. A few weeks ago, it rolled backwards off their drive and wrote off my car on the road outside. I'd far prefer the "feel" of manually cranking a proper handbrake for the comfort of knowing it was applied hard enough.
vinoandbrie · 08/01/2022 20:57

Reverse camera.
Heated seats.
Heated steering wheel.
High up seat position.

mogsrus · 08/01/2022 22:04

Heated front screen oooh the pain when that gets cracked

Alaimo · 08/01/2022 22:55
  1. 5 doors
  2. Relatively low emissions & fuel efficient (not sure that counts as a feature though...)
  3. Possibility of adding a bike rack

That's it. I've been driving our car around in -24C this weekend, and can't say I missed the various heat-things people have listed. Takes 2 minutes to scrape the car. I like my cars to be as simple as possible, and am capable of parking, sticking to the speed limit, or driving in my lane without sensors telling me how to do these things.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/01/2022 22:58

My car has manual windows too! It’s a 13 reg. I didn’t know they still made them until I got it - I got it in the divorce, hadn’t chosen it, but now love it.

It’s special features I guess are that you can park it anywhere, it has plenty of cup holders and it seems to run practically on fumes!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/01/2022 22:59

Its

OhGiveUp · 08/01/2022 23:07

Petrol in the tank.

Tulips21 · 08/01/2022 23:08

Air con.
My 'new'car is a classic (16yrs old!)🤣
And it has ' Econ' not 'Acon'
My other (newer) cars had Acon.
Air con is a 100% must

StormyCornishSeas · 08/01/2022 23:44

I miss my heated windscreen. Apparently Ford have the patent it for it or did

Heated back window
Reversing camera
DAB radio

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 08/01/2022 23:45

@mogsrus

Heated front screen oooh the pain when that gets cracked
Eh? It’s just replaced like any other.
Bouledeneige · 09/01/2022 01:01

Automatic
5 door
Satnav and full Bluetooth media
Parking assist
Air con

RavingAnnie · 09/01/2022 01:04

Parking sensors
Cruise control (ours is broken and no one can fix it 😩)

ISpyCobraKai · 09/01/2022 03:15

I've never used my cruise control!
I also need the blutooth and screens with flashy lights.
My next car will have a heated steering wheel.

mogsrus · 09/01/2022 07:35

They certainly are replaced like others, at a more expensive cost, & sometimes all the heating filament doesn’t work, it’s like driving through a barcode

MrsDThomas · 09/01/2022 08:12

My friend has heated seats. I hate them,i feel like ive pissed myself sitting that heat.

MarshaBradyo · 09/01/2022 08:12

@MrsDThomas

My friend has heated seats. I hate them,i feel like ive pissed myself sitting that heat.
Usually you can choose by seat
NigellaLawdaughter · 09/01/2022 08:43

That it starts, runs, and has air conditioning!
Also, 4WD. (I sacrifice boot space for 4WD.)
I agree, @OP, manual windows has always been a consideration of mine -- but for now, I have one of those automobile safety hammer/seat belt cutter thingies. I've also bought them for my family, friends, and co-workers. 👍

mogsrus · 09/01/2022 08:46

Heated seats nice, air con seats fantastic