Overrated vs value-added features in today's cars

This is not just a safety vs novelty features thread but a broader thread that would like to question the existence of features that are not really needed.

BHPian 2000rpm recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Guys,

This is a thought provocative thread that I am writing for community members to introspect. I have been thinking about the same but never uttered a word to risk offending people but the KSRTC thread triggered me to write this.

My point is, are we auto-enthusiasts yearning for random useless features rather than focussing on important features, while also complaining about prices growing. I want to illustrate with a few examples below

Needs I have never understood, which a lot of people express on the forum:

• Auto-dimming IRVMs - For god's sake, it's a flip of a switch, if you are lazy enough to flip a switch, you shouldn't be in the driver's seat.
• Powered seats - How many times do you guys adjust your seats? If you are chauffeur driven, this is irrelevant anyway.
• Cooled glovebox - How chilled can a cooled glovebox make your drink? The delta temperature between the glovebox and car cabin won't be too much. Also if you really are stocking up on drinks, you can just buy them whenever you take a break.
• LED lights - I haven't understood the obsession about the blinding white lights, but I don't completely understand the lighting technology.

Things I think people should ask first, before other features like above:

• 4-star safety before Android auto touchscreens
• Dashcams before 360-degree cams
• Pedestrian safety features before panoramic sunroofs
• All 4 disc brakes before turbocharged engines

New features I think which actually add value:

• TPMS
• Parking sensors
• Rear AC Vents

This is not just a safety vs novelty features thread but a broader thread that would like to question the existence of features that are not really needed. Who are these people who are trying to solve a problem which no one needs to be solved thus adding to the costs?

Here's what BHPian BLACNWYTE had to say on the matter:

I get where you are coming from and I too have had similar thoughts.

Our Panda (Creta SX+ 2017) was overpriced for the features it offered. It still bugs me that I didn't get the speed sensing door locks, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes and full feature MID some of these features were offered in cars of the lower segment and not in the premium offering.

The full LED setup, panoramic sunroof, touchscreen controls and connected car technology are nice to have features but not a necessity or deal breakers for me.

If the manufacturer provides the safety features that actually works and makes a reliable car, I'm willing to pay a premium for it. I would rather have a safe and reliable car with a decent kit rather than a smartphone on wheels with all bling.

Here's what BHPian condor had to say on the matter:

Agree with OP to some extent, but definitely the direction of the thoughts. Safety first, good to have features next. Some examples from the opening post:

360 deg camera does help in safety, and not necessarily less-useful

LED lights? As long as they are 4300k. 4300k is closest to daylight. A person typically spends about 11 hours in the daylight, and the eyes are used to this. 6000k is all bling, and not very useful in the rain. or even night, as much as 4300k lights are.

If anyone has doubts, do check on any illuminated highway section for the old Sodium Vapor lamp lighting vs the new LED cool daylight type lighting.

DRL's - another one that many say is good. Not in our conditions, and definitely not the 6000k cool daylight type lights.

All-4 disc brakes are good to have, for the simple reason that most of the stopping action is at the front, and rear brakes only supplement the front brakes.

Here's what BHPian solaris007 had to say on the matter:

Not sure I quite agree with this. While safety is definitely important this should never be an either-or situation - what is the point of having a bulletproof car if it does not have any nice-to-have creature comforts? Will we allow manufacturers to give us 5-star rated cars but with manually operated windows? The features you mentioned are not essential by any stretch of the imagination but safety and features (to a reasonable extent) are both expected by car buyers today.

Going through the non-essential features you mentioned:

• Auto-dimming IRVMs - Sure it is just a flip of a switch - but that is one more to-do item that you have to remember to switch on and off as required. You can say the same thing about keyless entry - sure it is just a button press but the immense increase in quality of life is undeniable. This feature is really such low hanging fruit for manufacturers (in addition to auto-dimming ORVMs). My previous car had it and I really do miss it with blinding LED lights becoming commonplace on our roads.
• Powered seats - This feature by itself is useless as manually adjusting seats is usually much faster. However, when you add memory seats - this becomes indispensable. Everyone has their favourite seat setting and unless you are the only person driving the car this becomes essential. Even if you are the only driver, spouses or valets keep changing the seating position. My current daily driver has manual seats and it irritates me to no extent to go back to my favourite setting every time someone changes the seat position.
• Cooled glovebox - Completely agree - never found this to be useful for me.
• LED lights - LED lights have come to be associated with premium cars. Our minds have now become conditioned to this and so we expect it in our cars. Even simple things like number plates lit with white LEDs just seem to elevate the premium-ness.

Now onto your expected features:

• 4-star safety before Android auto touchscreens: Again, this should never be an either-or, we should expect both. The quality of life improvement from having things like Google Maps show up in the large central screen vs. mounted small phone screen is immense. On the other hand, wireless Android Auto/Carplay is unnecessary.
• Dashcams before 360-degree cams: They serve very, very different purposes. Both are required - especially for larger cars.
• Pedestrian safety features before panoramic sunroofs: Agree, sunroofs are too overrated.
• All 4 disc brakes before turbocharged engines: Agree, no point having powerful turbo engines if your car's brakes are poor (I am looking at you Tucson).

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.