Gadgets/stuff that "should" be on cars/vehicles

[Noggin]

Every time I drive one of our long Sprinters or coaches at night I get annoyed at those front lights that magically come on as you go around a corner. Not cos I hate those things particularly (I don't really see the point, if you are still looking at that bit of the corner as you are driving around it, you've got bigger issues than a light that shows you the corner after you should have worked out where it is!!)

The thing I want is a very small light underneath the 'off side' (is that right, the side at the edge of the road, not the white line side) of the long vehicles that isn't dazzling or anything, but just gives 'enough' of a 'glow' to show you where the side of the bus is in relation to the side of the road - especially when said road is a mountain one, so either the edge is a drop of has sticky-out rocks!!! Especially in the face of oncoming headlights that take away quite a lot of what night viz you have!!!


Ok, ok, I've been very dismissive of drivers that 'need' lights to show a corner, but in a 13m vehicle, you'd have thought people would appreciate a little bit of a side light actually along the side!! ??

And yes, I do appreciate that with experience I probably won't NEED this as much as I think I do now, but it would help a lot for night driving in a gurtly big vehicle!!!!

[wheelnut]

With all the bings and bongs and steering wheel grabs that new vehicles seem to come with I can think of a few features that shouldn’t be on new cars!

[Jody]

My sprinter had marker lights that maybe don't show the hedge, but does reassure you where the vehicle is?!

[Horse]

... the 'off side' (is that right, the side at the edge of the road, not the white line side)

That the 'near [to the kerb] side'.

As said, side marker lights. In the UK they're legal if amber, you can have as many as you like.

[Count Steer]

I don't know how it does it but my car somehow illuminates the inside of a bend using the front lights. I noticed it on a narrow, walled lane on a left hand bend. It lit up the wall by the left wing and I noticed the change. ie it's something that isn't always on.

[Saga Lout]

Head Up Display. I hardly ever look at the instrument cluster, I can see all the important stuff on the HUD without having to take my eyes off the road.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Love my head up display, not having one is almost a deal breaker now Keyless entry too.

With all the bings and bongs and steering wheel grabs that new vehicles seem to come with I can think of a few features that shouldn’t be on new cars!

I got told off by my car the other day for not paying attention! Mrs. D was telling me a particularly amusing anecdote while we were driving down the M1 and I was laughing quite a bit. The car suddenly bonged up "Driver Distraction!" on the dashboard. She looked into it on Google while were driving, the car constantly monitors steering, pedals etc and if it thinks you're driving differnetly (lots of tiny steering corrections for example is a red flag) it alerts you.

TBH it made me think and realise how easy it is to take your mind off the road.

[Count Steer]

Love my head up display, not having one is almost a deal breaker now Keyless entry too.

With all the bings and bongs and steering wheel grabs that new vehicles seem to come with I can think of a few features that shouldn’t be on new cars!

I got told off by my car the other day for not paying attention! Mrs. D was telling me a particularly amusing anecdote while we were driving down the M1 and I was laughing quite a bit. The car suddenly bonged up "Driver Distraction!" on the dashboard. She looked into it on Google while were driving, the car constantly monitors steering, pedals etc and if it thinks you're driving differnetly (lots of tiny steering corrections for example is a red flag) it alerts you.

TBH it made me think and realise how easy it is to take your mind off the road.

Got HUD, and 'driver attention' on the shopping trolley.

You need to have the key on your person to unlock the doors though.

I like the HUD. Not bothered about most of the bells and whistles though.

[Scotsrich]

Bring back the spare wheel.

Probably the vast majority of drivers nowadays couldn’t change a wheel anymore but still good to have for us oldies.

[Mr. Dazzle]

You need to have the key on your person to unlock the doors though.

TBH I find that quite handy! Means I can't lock my keys in the car

[gremlin]

Built-in dash cams, front and rear.

Seems a no-brainer given rear cameras are almost default in all cars, so stick one up front and be done with it.

[darthpunk]

Breathalyzer

Valid license/insurance reader

mobile phone jammer unless connected to hands free

[KungFooBob]

In some countries, company and hire cars can have a breathalyser built into the car, that you have to blow clear to start it.

My 2019 car has a spare wheel, albeit a space saver.

I think all cars should have cruise control and the owners forced to learn how to use it.

[Taipan]

I like matrix headlights. A must have is adaptive cruise control and park assist. I am so dependant on driver aids now that I probably need retraining as a driver .

[KungFooBob]

Adaptive Cruise is the greatest thing ever, especially if it can do the stop/start in traffic jams and slow moving traffic.

Loads of VAG and Volvo cars have it, but a frustratingly small amount of BMWs, trying to find a Beemer with a heated steering wheel and DAPP (as they call the adaptive cruise) is like trying to find rocking horse shit.

Your typical BMW buyer seems to spec up the radio to the HK and red M-Sport brake calipers more than any other options.

[Mussels]

In some countries, company and hire cars can have a breathalyser built into the car, that you have to blow clear to start it.

My 2019 car has a spare wheel, albeit a space saver.

I think all cars should have cruise control and the owners forced to learn how to use it.

I hadn't though of this as I've always had a spare tyre but given the number of blowouts I get I wouldn't have a car without one. I'd also have a car without stupid big rims that mean weak tyres blow out frequently, both bases will be good to cover.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Automatic pothole avoidance might be more useful.

[Cousin Jack]

Automatic pothole avoidance might be more useful.

For that you would need CAA approval and a Pilots Licence.

[Mussels]

Automatic pothole avoidance might be more useful.

I forgot, my headlights are shit as well and it always happens at night.
The lights are great in theory, they are bright and have a very defined dipped beam pattern so don't shine in other people's eyes. This means that I can see really well up to 10 metres and just about nothing past that, sidelights only would be better.

[Noggin]

With all the bings and bongs and steering wheel grabs that new vehicles seem to come with I can think of a few features that shouldn’t be on new cars!

That was the other option to post this morning - what would you get rid of!!! And I 100% agree with the 'get rid of' steering wheel grabs , bloody dangerous thing!!! Probably a few other things too

... the 'off side' (is that right, the side at the edge of the road, not the white line side)

That the 'near [to the kerb] side'.

I never ever get that right!!! Thanx

My sprinter had marker lights that maybe don't show the hedge, but does reassure you where the vehicle is?!

As said, side marker lights. In the UK they're legal if amber, you can have as many as you like.

Our sprinters don't have anything useful!! If they are there, they aren't helpful!! The SWB ones don't have them!!!

The coach does, but whilst I can see the line of the side of the coach, it doesn't help me with where it is in relation to the wall/rail/edge of the road . As I said in the OP, I know I'll get less worried about it as time goes on and I gain experience (although not a lot of driving in the dark in the summer I'd guess) - I know that I pretty much 'know' where I need to put the sprinters now, but then I've only driven the coach four times this season

Bring back the spare wheel.

Probably the vast majority of drivers nowadays couldn’t change a wheel anymore but still good to have for us oldies.

OMG yes - I so do not understand the lack of a spare wheel (or the lack of knowledge to change one, except of course that no one has one so no one needs to learn )

Breathalyzer

Valid license/insurance reader

mobile phone jammer unless connected to hands free

One of the things that most surprises friends I talk to about the coach/sprinter driving is that we can't start the vehicles until we've blown a clear test. Personally, having known a lot of seasonal transfer drivers (French and English) I'd like to see that implemented in all the minibuses as well - but it's probably not financially feasible, maybe?