Coolest non-obvious feature of your car?

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
09/29/2014 at 23:07 • Filed to: None

What little thing does your car do that you wouldn't realize you miss until it's gone?

For me it would be that thing; the automatically dimming rear-view mirror and left wing mirror. I drove my dad's Passat tonight on the highway and 30 minutes later I still can't see shit. You can do the little flippy thingie so it's sort of dim but there's still the wing mirror.

Yet, five years earlier, Buick had it on point.

Woot.

DISCUSSION (99)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:08

Tripoding

Kinja'd!!!

AlmostJalop > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:10

when you put my brothers E90 BMW in reverse the passenger side mirror tilts down. Makes backing into a space so much easier but you never really notice it anymore.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:11

Ummmmm.......??????
Let's go with the engine. I'd really miss that if it were gone. Besides that, there isn't much of anything to take away. I do have three ash trays, though.

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:11

Probably the auto cool/heat seat. Detects my ass temp and adjusts accordingly.

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:11

Mine really doesn't have anything. The rear wiper wiping automatically when reversing if the wipers are on is neat, but hardly useful.

I still miss the remote all windows down feature on the Accord. I should have kept that car...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:11

See, I personally don't like that feature. Yes, I can now see the line, but not things higher up.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/29/2014 at 23:11

that is glorious

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:12

I was in a car that had this. Glorious feature. Optional on my car but not ticked, sadly.

The Magic Rev Matching 4Runner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:12

The fact that SOME HOW the engine in my 4Runner rev matches all of my shifts perfectly. I don't quite understand this, but the rpms sort of pause right at the right level for just enough time to make the shift, perfectly. It is pure magic

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:12

Flashlight...

Kinja'd!!!

It saves a surprising number of trips to the front of the car for the Galaxy phone.

Also, auto-dimming mirrors do indeed rock. Until you apply 20% window tint, then I wish I could turn the wing mirror system off.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
09/29/2014 at 23:12

"WARNING: DAT ASS TOO HOT"

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
09/29/2014 at 23:13

Also as someone living in Kansas I am indescribably jealous of your cooled seats.

whatisthatsound > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:13

Elise's single wiper. Lotus - Saving owners' money where it counts.

Kinja'd!!!

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/29/2014 at 23:13

Open diff?

Kinja'd!!!

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:14

Oh I hated that feature! One of the first things I did when we got the car home was grab that manual and turn that off.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:14

Programmable shift indicator light in the BRZ along with gear indicator. A good chunk of Toyobaru owners don't realize they exist, you have to be stopped and then hit the Odo or info buttons to get to the menus to set them.

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:15

Definitely one of those things you don't notice till you're in a car without it. Ass sweat is a terrible thing.

Vicente Esteve > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:15

Id have to say the parking sensors all around. It VERY useful.

Also, electric steering with quick ratios makes you get used to effortless turning, albeit with less feel. Im NOT saying its a better feature, but when I drove my fathers Tacoma, I almost crashed the car in front of me when turning at a 90 degree angle because I still had a full lock of turn left.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:16

Honestly, most of my cars can't do a lot owing to the fact that they're built out of spit and used ketchup packets. When not in it, I do miss the auto hill hold in the Discovery. I often have to hammer the anchors when I come to an uphill rolling stop because I just plain forget I'm in a different car.

AlmostJalop > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
09/29/2014 at 23:17

Yeah it can be easily turned off through the iDrive screen. I always thought it was convenient. I turned if off for a few days and (besides noticing that I was much better at backing into spaces) I kind of missed it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:17

You can't turn on the fog lights and high beams at the same time, because high beams make fog worse.

The battery is in the trunk to make jump-starting much easier.

The glove box is actually a drawer.

There is a button that folds down the rear headrests for reversing.

It will warn me when I exceed 245 mph.

There are independent front armrests.

The rearview mirror is mounted to the roof of the car, not middle of the windshield.

The cupholders are...actually everything about the cupholders suck.

AlmostJalop > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:18

It really comes in handy! You may be able to code it into your car.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
09/29/2014 at 23:18

For me it's lower-back-sweat. I need to make some sort of breathable thick foam pad for my seat. I sweat super easily and hot leather doesn't help matters

AlmostJalop > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:19

Not sure if it's just the E90, but it doesn't tilt ALL the way down. You see the line and a decent amount above it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:19

It will warn me when I exceed 245 mph.

wait what the fuck?

Rainbow > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:20

The passenger door can only be opened from the outside. Sure, that's because it's broken, but all that means is you're one hard pull on the handle away from instant child safety locks!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:21

It doesn't appear to be a part of the PCM, and I have no idea how to get into any of the other systems :/ I'd also like to code in the remote window roll down, but again, can't get into that system :(

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:21

I've never reversed an E90, but the cars I've driven with that feature (especially the 2011 DTS) tilt it all the friggin' way down. Halfway might work.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:23

I was wondering if that would raise an eyebrow.

The car has a speed monitor/alert. You can set it to anywhere from 25mph to 245mph. I have it set to 245mph.

Conan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:23

I miss my ridiculous pop up cup holder now that I don't have it any more.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:25

What he didn't tell you is it warns him via disintegration

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:25

Glorious.

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:26

Mine cools the back too. I'm sure I sweat more than you, it's ridiculous. I usually change shirts a couple times a day. Genetics suck.

AlmostJalop > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:27

I'll try to get a picture of it tomorrow, I feel like I'm explaining it poorly lol.

But yeah, oddly enough I actually completely understand what you mean about the DTS. I backed one into a space for one of my elderly neighbors and for a second I thought the mirror was broken.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
09/29/2014 at 23:28

Thank you for the best laugh I've had this evening.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:28

Can I guess Saab?

AlmostJalop > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:30

wow, the one thing modern cars can do easier. Coding!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
09/29/2014 at 23:30

Constant nagging from my dad insisting there's no way I go through that many shirts in a week...

He is welcome to smell them and decide himself.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
09/29/2014 at 23:30

Audi

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:31

Bollocks. And; my pleasure.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AlmostJalop
09/29/2014 at 23:31

I'm not sure *any* GM cars are easily coded.

Boxer_4 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:31

In the Forester (and probably most Subarus with rear wipers), when the front wipers are on full, and you put it in reverse, the rear wiper turns on full. It then turns off when you put it back in drive.

NervesOfThrill > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:33

The 45' aux headlights that kick on when you turn the steering wheel so far either left or right, illuminating where you are going rather than where you are pointing. Well done VW.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > NervesOfThrill
09/29/2014 at 23:33

I love those. My car has something like that which is activated by the turn signals. I use it when cruising down poorly-lit residential streets at night so I can see where I'm headed before turning towards it. Super convenient.

PushToStart > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:35

As for the battery being in the trunk- I've heard some manufacturers put the battery in the trunk for better weight distribution. If that's actually true, I have no idea.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:35

Kinja'd!!!

DUDE, I'VE GOT THE SAME MIRROR!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > PushToStart
09/29/2014 at 23:35

I doubt it's the case with mine.

Boxer_4 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:36

The Forester does the fog light thing, too, where they turn off when the high beams are on. I believe that is because in many places, you are only allowed to have 4 forward lights on at the same time. The low beams and high beams together count as 4 forward lights.

GeorgeyBoy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:37

Guess I'm lucky my dad has the same problem. My mother would buy us new white t-shirts every week when she went grocery shopping. Every family picture I have, my dad and I look like we just ran a 5 mile marathon.

FromCanadaWithLove > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:42

The heated seats turn on automatically on my M235i (if you had them turned on last time you drove). It's the details, man. Makes the whole price worth it.

treesmakewater > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:45

something German? The cupholders sound German. The headrests also sound like an top tier Audi/mercedes

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > treesmakewater
09/29/2014 at 23:45

2001 A8L.

Big Bubba Ray > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:47

When I start up my Outback, all the needles on the gauge cluster flip over. Not my car/video, but this is what goes down. I've owned the car for two years and I still like to watch them when the car starts up.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > GeorgeyBoy
09/29/2014 at 23:47

Oh, yeah. That's the worst. Right now I'm just sitting here in my house doing nothing and my palms are practically dripping and my back is soaked. Ugh.

treesmakewater > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:47

Cousin! You share the same cupholders as me! I'm curious about the rear legroom, my 2000 a6 has a lot, I can't imagine the L version of the big brother of my car

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > treesmakewater
09/29/2014 at 23:48

It's huge. Then again, I'm short!

treesmakewater > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:50

lets put it like this, I'm 6'7" and I can fit in the back if the seat is moved up a little bit in my A6. Do you have the crappy DVD GPS also? I've never used mine considering the maps can't be updated past 2005

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
09/29/2014 at 23:50

Open diff + brake torque vectoring. Basically an imitation LSD on demand.....Not the best, but I make it work.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > treesmakewater
09/29/2014 at 23:52

Yeah it does. Ithought about trying to get it working, but the DVD for my area is a) from 2005, as you said, and b) costs $80.

treesmakewater > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:54

yeah, that's almost enough to pay for our oil. Google maps for me

Singhjr96 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/29/2014 at 23:55

I have keyless. SO HELPFUL! The trunk of the newer accord also doesn't lock if the keys are in the trunk. They also don't lock if the car is on and you take the keys out of the car. I have a blind spot camera under my right mirror. (To get rid of the blind spot because it's a coupe) There is a way to lock the trunk so if you have a valet, and went shopping, or just something valuable that you don't want people getting there hands on. They can't access/open it from the car without the physical key. (you just hand the valet the key fob, and not the actual key in the fob that's removable) Front collision warning. Not too helpful but helps give you a little bit of peace of mind. It has a feature that keeps the car from rolling backwards on a hill. hill assist basically. There's a lot more that I just can remember!

treesmakewater > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/29/2014 at 23:56

I bet it is for weight distribution. Even in their biggest of luxo-bardges Audi cares about that stuff

TheJWT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 00:17

Where do I even start?!

The cupholders resemble bent paperclips, which keeps me from drinking while driving.

The center of the steering wheel is held on by gravity, which not only encourages me to buy an OMP racing wheel, but makes it easier to swap out.

There's no horn, airbags, and I question if the seatbelts work. This makes me a more attentive and safety conscious driver!

The to unlock the passenger door, you must first unlock it from the outside, then from the inside. Car jackers? I think not!

The power steering line which was poorly cut by the previous owner does wonders for my upper body when I try and park.

Arben72 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 00:27

My seatbelt butler.

mcseanerson > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 00:29

My answer is always the same and it's one so many take for granted. A tilting wheel.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 00:29

the auto on lights at night, it's so nice, when I drive my moms 2005 ford escape (which ironically is 5 years newer than my car), I always wonder why the lights never come on, plus auto climate control is wonderful, (no heated seats though) and rear seat air conditioning vents. when I rode in the back of my car before I had my license, it was so nice to have AC in use back, because in my moms car, there are none. Auto dimming mirror is wonderful too, although I never can tell if someone is flashing their high beams at me. because it takes a second for the auto dimming to work, and so for a second, the people behind me lights are bright, and then dim.

derf > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/30/2014 at 00:32

In the E46 at least, it will only tilt down if you have the mirror adjust control set to the driver's side. If you select the passenger side mirror for manual adjust, it will tilt back up (even if you don't actually adjust the mirror). Makes the tilt mirror very easy to use on the fly once you know about it.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > TheJWT
09/30/2014 at 00:34

who needs a gym? Just go drive your car for a workout :)

TheJWT > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
09/30/2014 at 00:35

Gym memberships can be pricey, just cut your power steering!

#oppotips

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > Big Bubba Ray
09/30/2014 at 00:36

my grandparent's 2008 forrester does that too! I always think it's interesting when I'm driving with one of them.

Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man > TheJWT
09/30/2014 at 00:44

I tried steering my car once (2000 mercury mountaineer) with the ignition on so I could still signal and so the steering wouldn't lock, but with the engine off and the transmission in neutral, holy crap, that thing was HARD to steer and hard to brake, instead of lifting weights, just drive with the engine off so there is no power steering or power brakes. I'm glad I was on a dead-end street going about 5 mph, or else I probably would have killed someone because even with my foot to the floor on the brakes, the car was extremely slow to stop.

JasonStern911 > AlmostJalop
09/30/2014 at 02:27

My 996 does that, and it is a clever idea. Unfortunately, it only goes back up about 97% of what it should, so every few weeks I find myself having to readjust it.

JasonStern911 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 02:28

Rear wheel drive.

anonsagainstanonymous > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 06:46

Auto adjusting radio volume.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 07:53

Gm mirrors un genaral are pretty ok.

spartygw > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 08:17

I don't know if this qualifies as "non-obvious" but I love the "DTE" (distance til empty?) or whatever all new cars call the remaining mileage left in the gas tank.

Of course, being a proper jalop, I've tried to get it down to 1 or 0 but you reach a certain point and the # turns into some scary warning like "NEED FUEL NOW".

Still, it's a great feature when you're on the highway trying to decide whether to gamble on going one more exit.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 08:23

Volkswagen used to be able to rol down the windows with the key, but the remote would be much better.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > anonsagainstanonymous
09/30/2014 at 08:37

Good one. Yet another thing my car is supposed to have but doesn't. Buh.

Nibbles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 08:39

The driver seat and mirror settings are tied to each key in our S40. It no longer matters who drove last, everything is always

heliochrome85 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 08:46

Ive got active headlights that turn based on the angle of the steering wheel.

smashthegas > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/30/2014 at 09:06

Kinja'd!!!

Yep, any torsion beam rear suspension will do it. Here's my car on stock suspension + 28mm RSB.

twochevrons > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
09/30/2014 at 09:12

On modern VWs, you can enable that feature with VAG-COM/VCDS. It's present in the car's computer, just not enabled by default, Why on earth they don't make it available in a menu option, I don't know.

functionoverfashion > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 09:14

My E46 is full of surprises. Like, if the rear window wiper (wagon) is on, and you put it in reverse, the wiper goes from 'intermittent' to just 'on' until you take it out of reverse. Also, the front wipers slow down when you stop. If they're 'on' they'll switch to 'intermittent,' and they'll increase the interval if they're already on 'intermittent.' You can also program the interval of the rear wiper to any number of seconds between 5 and 30, but you have to reprogram it each time you use the car. This is noticeable when I switch to my 1972 ford, where not only does it not even have intermittent wipers, the knob is on the dash (have to lean forward to reach it) and they don't always 'park' themselves correctly, so you have to carefully time the off switch.

Perhaps a bigger deal is the fact that the auto climate control in my E46 actually WORKS. I have taken a long trip (~8hrs) on a sunny day where the temperature fluctuated from about 30F to 65F and back to 40 as the sun set, and I set the temp at 68 and didn't touch it, not even once for the full trip. I have never had any other car where this worked anywhere near as well.

AlmostJalop > JasonStern911
09/30/2014 at 09:20

Yeah that's actually happened to me once or twice, it usually goes back to normal after driving a few feet.

Gonemad > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 10:37

European Ford Escort, as sold in Brazil, has the air-conditioner fan pushing air through the AC grill AND the radiator as well.

Why is this cool? Well, as background, the car I had before it would show the temperature gauge rising and... staying there, on the edge of HOT. It bothered the hell outta me. And that model had the fame of the fan-driving switch fail catastrophically, and rapidly fry your engine without any other warning.

Turn the AC on, see the engine temperature dropping VISIBLY in traffic jams. And stay down. Why wouldn't any car overlap the AC and radiator grills and fans today is beyond me. It is a failsafe design. Just the ease of mind...

And the Ford Escort Del Rey had voltimeter, and oil pressure ACTUAL GAUGES! No lights, but actual gauges, with readouts. You could see the high pressure when cold, dropping as the oil thinned when reaching operational temperature. The battery gauge as well, you could power the car down and keep the stereo on while cleaning it with no fear of killing it.

macanamera > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/30/2014 at 13:13

My left or right seat bolster quickly inflates and holds you in place when you turn. People don't know until they drive the car. Sure, its totally unnecessary, but it actually does work very well and its awesome to boot.

Tapas > AlmostJalop
09/30/2014 at 14:56

Ok. Thats awesome.

AlmostJalop > Tapas
09/30/2014 at 15:01

It's one of those things you never really notice until it's gone

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
09/30/2014 at 18:29

My '00 Durango had the power steering go out on it. Steering that thing is a serious exercise at times. I'll be getting a new setup for it soon enough thankfully, so it'll be back to effortless steering.