Car tech that's become must-have

Jan

Jan

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Must-have tech features for a new car

There are five essential tech features that car buyers should look out for on the specification list of their new set of wheels.

Like other areas of modern life, tech has become an important part of the automotive experience.
 

Android Auto and Apple Carplay​

Disagree: Bluetooth works fine. Not a must have, more like a nice to have.

Reverse or surround cameras​

Disagree: Unless you driving something that where you cannot see behind you, reverse cameras are not a must have. Something the size of those American oversize bakkies/trucks.

Keyless entry and electronic boot release​

Nope, I will avoid these cars as far as possible. More a security risks than cars with keys/immobilisers.


Adaptive or semi-autonomous cruise control​

Disagree, this will make drivers pay less attention to the road.
 
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Disagree on everything except the reverse camera. Even then, it would depend on which car.
 
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they can easily sell these as need to have with the bad inexperienced drivers we have now.
 
rh1 said:

​

Reverse or surround cameras​

Disagree: Unless you driving something that where you cannot see behind you, reverse cameras are not a must have. Something the size of those American oversize bakkies/trucks.

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Click to expand...

Nah, I think reverse cameras are much easier. And this is in a Picanto.
Although I noticed my neck muscles have disappeared.
 
Android Auto/Car Play is a must. Depending on the vehicle, if it's bigger than a polo, rear parking sensors or a less desirable rear camera is a must. The rest are luxury features, not must haves. Must haves are things u would use every day, imho...
 
I agree with the list, except the benefits of keyless. I really don't see the point. Most keys/fobs are too big to keep comfortably in your pocket when seated. Now you need a spot in the car to keep the key. Why not just provide a nice cubby in the dash to keep it and then while it is there, just use it to start the car?
Remote unlocking is a separate and quite useful feature.
 
My must haves (I am mid 40s):

Power steering: Up until the mid 2000s this was not standard.
Disc Brakes all round and ABS, still a lot of cars with drum brakes.
Central locking, I remember talking to a friend who just bought a Corrolla around 2005/6, it did not have central locking. Lol.
Fog lights, although I dont drive as much in low light heavy mist conditions, it is still a must have on any car I own.
The security tint on all my windows, saved my 4 year old daughter from a knife wielding assailant who wanted to get in the car.
Aircon- seems to have become standard on cars, was not always std.
Lumbar support. Yes, my back is not what it once was, so I always look for this.


What I will avoid:
Sunroof, non leather interior, leather in my experience easier to clean and look after.
Cars with no boot, unless SUV.
 
metadevj said:
Android Auto/Car Play is a must. Depending on the vehicle, if it's bigger than a polo, rear parking sensors or a less desirable rear camera is a must. The rest are luxury features, not must haves. Must haves are things u would use every day, imho...
Click to expand...
Explain why it is a must. For example in my wife car, my phone connects automatically to the head unit, I can contol the phone via bluetooth and play youtube music, which is my go to music app because of youtube family premium. I dont need the android auto car play feature as bluetooth is enough for me hence it is a nice to have, why is it a must have for you?
 
rh1 said:
Explain why it is a must. For example in my wife car, my phone connects automatically to the head unit, I can contol the phone via bluetooth and play youtube music, which is my go to music app because of youtube family premium. I dont need the android auto car play feature as bluetooth is enough for me hence it is a nice to have, why is it a must have for you?
Click to expand...
If you're buying a new car, those are the things that add value. In my own car I have Bluetooth via Spotify and using waze/gps is less ideal having to either use some sort of mount or having to look down the whole time. With my wife car with android auto/car play Waze/Maps just works so much better. Real game changer and the single best after market upgrade u can make if your car can fit a double DIN radio if u have an older vehicle. My car is not a candidate....
 
rh1 said:
Explain why it is a must. For example in my wife car, my phone connects automatically to the head unit, I can contol the phone via bluetooth and play youtube music, which is my go to music app because of youtube family premium. I dont need the android auto car play feature as bluetooth is enough for me hence it is a nice to have, why is it a must have for you?
Click to expand...
The double din screen displays navigation a little better. Lane choices are displayed sooner and more clearly. You can also run the phone screen with upcoming turns displayed.
Nice to have but very easily becomes a “I don’t like not having this”.
 
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