These Are All Of The Optional Features You Can't Live Without
These are the fifteen most life-changing car options out there
There are so many options available for new car buyers, it's often hard to keep track of which ones you can give up and which ones you wouldn't be able to live without. So we asked our readers which options they're fans of, and the answers aren't terribly surprising, actually. Well, except one. That one was definitely surprising.
I'll leave it up to you to figure out which one that is.
Dumb Cruise
Cruise Control Classic, and the option to make it the default cruise control, because I've never encountered a radar-assisted or advanced cruise control that did what I wanted it to do when I wanted it to do it. The RACC in my Tacoma was especially shitty.
Where Going We Don’t Need Keys
I'm surprised no one has mentioned truly keyless entry/lock. Every once in a while I'm in a rental that forces me to take out the key to push a button to unlock the door or worse, insert the key in the lock. Some Tesla drivers don't even walk around with a key anymore.
Yeah, I’ll Drive On One Condition
I think mine is standard equipment on new now – and it's the main reason I don't buy some old cute sporty thing. AC. I live in the South, it is NOT an option, it's a necessity.
Better EVs
On the electric side :
- Heat pump (but it REALLY should be standard on any EV as long as it has heating)
- 22kW AC Charging (quite practical for the time of a good restaurant or a long stroll, yes we have some of these in quite remote villages here in France)
- One pedal mode.
On the Tesla side, specifically :
- Android Auto / CarPlay
- Speed limiter
- a few stalks (one for the lights, one for the wipers, and one for the drive, do not mix) – that said it seems Enhauto is working on that (I'd be temted by their Knob, but damn, to fork 300€ just because Elon smokes too many weird things...)
Power To The People
I have two.
1. Power lift gate. My last two cars and my wife's car has it. Now, my current car doesn't have it and it's become a real pain when the Clicklist person expects the hatch to open and close on it's own.
2. One button for all windows to go up/down. If a VW Eos can have one, every other car can.
Commuter Helpers
Adaptive Cruise, Premium sound and Apple Carplay. Commuters unite!
Button Up
Multiple times per week I find a reason that I need to unlock or lock or get into or let someone into a car without having the keys.
Shoot The Moon
Sliding sunroof. Or as Honda used to call them, a "Moonroof". In the past 30 years I've only owned one car without one. A 1/3 compromise of a convertible.
Driving down up the San Diego coast after sunset with this open and the heater on (if needed) always puts a smile on my face.
Toasty Buns
There's really nothing I can't live without, but If we're playing the game where I buy a brand new car and the sales guy says "what are your must-haves"
For me it's heated seats and steering wheel. Such a small thing, but it makes the most insane difference in comfort!
Manual windows and locks? Pah, no bother at all. Nav and Carplay? I made it to the east coast at 16 with a mustard-stained stack of mapuest instructions. No need. Trailer hitch? I have tools, I can throw my own on.
But heated seats? The aftermarket ones just arent as good as factory, at least in a Jeep. And there really arent any good ways to heat your wheel, at least not cleanly.
Ill pay that $800 blood money for my toasty buns and hands, and thank myself every single time I drive.
Foot Rubber
Lots of love for CarPlay/Android Auto, heated seats and steering wheels, rain sensing wipers. I get that. I'm going to be very low-tech here.
A good set of optional floor mats. Subaru's optional rubber floor mats are fantastic. They came standard on our Crosstrek Outdoor, but they're options on all other trims. They're deep, flexible enough that you can get them out without winter's shrapnel ending up in the carpet, and super easy to clean.
I Want To See
Xenon/HID headlights. No more halogen. I have used xenon for 20 years and will never own a car with out them.
I Want To See 2
My answer remains the same: a good set of rain-sensing wipers.
Bonus: since that feature is not extremely common on most non-luxury cars, it can make shopping much simpler by narrowing down the list.
An Apple A Day
CarPlay 100%. If it's standard, the next option I can't live without is heated seats.
Chilled Buns
I don't have it now but ventilated seats. I dropped my car off at the dealer and they gave me the next generation version of what I have as a loaner. I auto started it to get the 99° Florida July musk out and stepped in to sit, and then I felt air blow on my butt. My goodness it was beautiful. Their parts shortage loss was my gain since I had it for the week. I was glad to get my car back but I miss the hell out of those ventilated seats!