Vehicles have come a long way since they were first introduced back in the late 1800s. In the beginning, cars had to be started via a manual crank before they could even be driven. They weren’t equipped with windshields; instead, drivers wore goggles to keep wind, bugs, and flying debris out of their eyes. In the early days of the automotive industry, vehicles could generally reach top speeds of 10 to 20 miles per hour depending on the model, so getting somewhere quickly wasn’t exactly an option.
Things have certainly changed, haven’t they? Many of today’s vehicles are loaded with innovative technology and exciting features. Some of them leave you wondering whether they’re Autobots or Decepticons. Of course, all those added advancements and amenities come at a price. You can save money by buying used cars san antonio, but you may have to give up some of the latest features in the process. How much of a sacrifice would that actually be, though? Take a look at some of the modern-day car features you don’t really need.
1) Seat and Mirror Memory
Seat and mirror memory is one of the latest automotive features. It allows people to adjust their seat positions and settings as well as their side and rearview mirror positions and save them in the vehicle’s internal memory banks. Then, all they have to do is press the right button when they get into the vehicle, and the seats and mirrors automatically readjust themselves accordingly. In reality, adjusting the seats and mirrors manually isn’t all that difficult or time consuming, so this is among the most unnecessary modern automotive amenities.
2) Social Media Integration
Certain vehicles are now equipped with on-board social media access. They allow drivers to connect to social media through their cars, and this could certainly be considered an unnecessary feature. This line of reasoning doesn’t need a lengthy, complicated explanation. Realistically, drivers should focus their attention on the road and what’s going on around them rather than social media. They can always visit their online social circles via their phones once they reach their destinations.
3) Lane Keep Assist
Another unnecessary feature is lane keep assist. Some people may vehemently argue this point, but consider the downsides of this type of technology. For one, people often rely too heavily on it, and that gives them a false sense of security. These systems aren’t infallible, either. They don’t always work properly in fog or heavy rain, and if a vehicle isn’t aligned correctly, that can interfere with the system. Those that are designed to steer vehicles back into their lanes may overcorrect and cause more problems than they solve. In truth, there’s just no substitute for paying attention and being aware of your surroundings.
4) Electronic Parking Brakes
Electronic parking brakes tend to cause more trouble than they’re worth as well. They sometimes engage for no reason while driving, which can cause serious problems. They may refuse to disengage when you need them to or fail to engage when you want them to. Quite a few drivers insist that the old manual parking brakes are much better and more reliable even though they had a few problems of their own.
5) Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
Rain-sensing windshield wipers seem like an amazing idea on the surface. Many people have found that they don’t quite live up to their expectations, though. If their sensors get dirty or obstructed, they may keep the wipers from working when you need them to. It’s easy to forget to switch them off when you drive into a parking garage or an automatic car wash as well.
6) Head-Up Displays
Head-up displays project information, like speed, fuel level, and driver assistance alerts, onto a vehicle’s windshield. They’re designed to help drivers keep their eyes on the road instead of having to look at their gauges and infotainment systems. Unfortunately, they can also be distracting and may block a driver’s line of sight.
7) Blind Spot Monitoring
Many drivers insist that blind spot monitoring is an essential safety feature. Though it may help in some situations, it can also cause its fair share of problems. Some systems are entirely too sensitive. Instead of warning drivers about nearby vehicles and other legitimate obstructions, it may detect stationary items along the side of the road, like trees, sign posts, and guard rails, that pose no real threat at all. Additionally, this technology may not work properly at unusually low or high speeds, and its timing can sometimes be a bit off.
8) Self-Driving Capabilities
Some vehicles now offer varying levels of self-driving capabilities. Though they’re not fully autonomous, they can operate themselves in certain situations if you choose to let them. This, too, comes with its fair share of problems. Many drivers place too much trust in that technology. They let the vehicles do the driving for them and direct their attention elsewhere. That can certainly lead to accidents.
9) Voice Recognition
Voice recognition can help people keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, but it’s also a fairly useless feature on modern vehicles. After all, it doesn’t always understand what the driver is asking it to do. When it fails to respond correctly, drivers still have to operate the connected features manually.
10) Integrated GPS
GPS is a lifesaver. Most of us can’t imagine trying to find new places and navigate unfamiliar areas without it. Most new vehicles are equipped with it as part of their standard packages. That’s not really necessary, though. After all, almost everyone has a smart phone at this point, and people generally don’t go anywhere without them. Why not simply install a mounting bracket in your vehicle and use the GPS on your phone?
Saving Money by Forgoing Unnecessary Features
Today’s vehicles are loaded with amazing innovations. Certain features sound good in theory, but they’re not quite as impressive in practice. Some of them are nice to have, but they’re not essential. If you’re in the market for a vehicle, you can save a great deal of money by purchasing a used model that doesn’t have those unnecessary features. There’s a good chance you won’t miss them.
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