What is your least favorite car features?

[HansonBro]

I wanted to post this last week b4 the site got its period. But let us know yours

In no order

This might be a non feature really, but non back lit buttons on the dash or console. I need to see where the heated seat button is dangit!

The foot swipe tailgate. Not sure ive ever got it to work. Looked like an idiot though

Lane assist. I was trying to avoid a pothole and the car was fighting me. I decide to let lane assist work for once and it didnt do shit

Digital gauges. Everything just blends IMO so its hard to know what you're looking at. Put the Rav4 in snow mode and if youre lucky enough to be able to read fine print...you might see it on the cluster. On the next start up youre back in normal mode btw

 

[Nothingbutglass]

1. stop/start systems that you need to turn off every f***ing time you start the car
2. anything that deactivates cylinders
3. overzealous safety systems that put coffee cups on your display if it has to beep at you too much

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The auto engine stop/ auto idle feature. Stop f***ing turning my engine off at red lights.

 

[TD Charlie]

I've had my current car for almost 4 years now, and I still don't understand how the door locks work. If I leave the car running and get out, there are instances where I cannot open any door aside from the driver's door. I have not figured out what causes this, or what order of operations I could use as a work around. It is very annoying.

The parking brake will not disengage unless front seat passengers have a seat belt. The traction control kicks on automatically if I'm trying to get myself out of a snowy/icy parking spot and I'm rocking the car back and forth. If the car comes to a complete stop and the traction control auto-kicked on, the parking brake auto-engages as well. Shit let me just take the parking brake off, ding ding ding ding put your seat belt on. I've only encountered this scenario twice, on a ski trip, but holy shit I almost launched myself, and the car, over the edge of the White Mountains.

I also have very hyper sensitive cross-traffic sensors. If I attempt to launch out into traffic I will occasionally be yelled at by my own car and it brings itself to a dead stop. There have been times I've had to quickly reverse into a lane and speed off, but the cross-traffic sensors detected crossing cars behind me when it was too late. The parking brake auto-engages, the transmission pauses, and I cant get to drive as quickly as I would like to. So I'm ass-out in traffic with cars speeding toward me. It has put me in danger more times than it has saved me. Not to mention if the parking brake auto-engages, I better pray my seat belt is on, cuz I won't be able to shift otherwise.

If the traffic sensors and parking brake don't get me, sometimes I will be shifting reverse to drive with too much of a roll and the car doesn't like it, so it just goes to neutral. Has the same effect as the above.

Basically this car is trying to take me out. It can be very difficult driving in the city due to all of the sensors and "safety" features.

 

[TD Charlie]

1. stop/start systems that you need to turn off every f***ing time you start the car
2. anything that deactivates cylinders
3. overzealous safety systems that put coffee cups on your display if it has to beep at you too much

Had a Cadillac go into limp mode, which deactivated cylinders. It got me to a hockey game, then got me home. The car was dead after that, but I made it home fine so I was pleased.

I don't think that's the sort of deactivation you had in mind, but you did say "anything"

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

electronic parking brakes. that's something that should always be a pull handle (or a pedal)

 

[Nothingbutglass]

I've had my current car for almost 4 years now, and I still don't understand how the door locks work. If I leave the car running and get out, there are instances where I cannot open any door aside from the driver's door. I have not figured out what causes this, or what order of operations I could use as a work around. It is very annoying.

The parking brake will not disengage unless front seat passengers have a seat belt. The traction control kicks on automatically if I'm trying to get myself out of a snowy/icy parking spot and I'm rocking the car back and forth. If the car comes to a complete stop and the traction control auto-kicked on, the parking brake auto-engages as well. Shit let me just take the parking brake off, ding ding ding ding put your seat belt on. I've only encountered this scenario twice, on a ski trip, but holy shit I almost launched myself, and the car, over the edge of the White Mountains.

I also have very hyper sensitive cross-traffic sensors. If I attempt to launch out into traffic I will occasionally be yelled at by my own car and it brings itself to a dead stop. There have been times I've had to quickly reverse into a lane and speed off, but the cross-traffic sensors detected crossing cars behind me when it was too late. The parking brake auto-engages, the transmission pauses, and I cant get to drive as quickly as I would like to. So I'm ass-out in traffic with cars speeding toward me. It has put me in danger more times than it has saved me. Not to mention if the parking brake auto-engages, I better pray my seat belt is on, cuz I won't be able to shift otherwise.

If the traffic sensors and parking brake don't get me, sometimes I will be shifting reverse to drive with too much of a roll and the car doesn't like it, so it just goes to neutral. Has the same effect as the above.

Basically this car is trying to take me out. It can be very difficult driving in the city due to all of the sensors and "safety" features.

Funniest car review I've ever read.

 

[Unholy Diver]

The auto engine stop/ auto idle feature. Stop f***ing turning my engine off at red lights.

That's the one for me, my wife's car does this and it drives me crazy. So, I always drive, and we always take my car when we go anywhere together

 

[Bocephus86]

Im here for lane assist, but thankfully I was able to turn it off in the new Mazda we got.

I hate the move to touchscreens for everything. I ruled out every car I could based on that. No idea why most designers think having a screen that can change is the right place to put buttons you need to touch while keeping your eyes on the road. Tactile buttons forever please. The Mazda is also all tactile.

 

[HansonBro]

Im here for lane assist, but thankfully I was able to turn it off in the new Mazda we got.

I hate the move to touchscreens for everything. I ruled out every car I could based on that. No idea why most designers think having a screen that can change is the right place to put buttons you need to touch while keeping your eyes on the road. Tactile buttons forever please. The Mazda is also all tactile.

The lane assist actually tried to steer me into a parked car the other day. I'll have to see if i can turn it off.

I also agree on the touch screen. Im sure it can be handy for maps (which i dont use) but i hate having to tap 3 buttons just to change the radio station. Yes it is a distraction and half the time i have to listen to a shitty song or ads because....ummm im driving

 

[Bocephus86]

The lane assist actually tried to steer me into a parked car the other day. I'll have to see if i can turn it off.

I also agree on the touch screen. Im sure it can be handy for maps (which i dont use) but i hate having to tap 3 buttons just to change the radio station. Yes it is a distraction and half the time i have to listen to a shitty song or ads because....ummm im driving

The radio is the number 1 annoyance with the touchscreen, followed closely by climate control / fan speed for me. For whatever reason I struggle to find the right combo constantly, and it'll change on me too.

Lane assist tried to put me into the back of a guy turning left the first day I got the car since I was going out a bit to the right to go by him. Figured out how to turn that completely off the moment I got home.

 

[End of Line]

-The engine turning off at a stop
-Push to start
-Console shifter
-Gigantic console screens the size of an iPad

With the amount of unwanted tech they puts in cars these days I’d be happy with just a Honda Civic DX

 

[Blanka]

That we're not getting at least 200mpg yet. Absolute bs.

 

[cjm502]

There are cheap modules that connect to the OBD2 port for most vehicles that disable the active fuel management BS such as cylinder deactivation, shutting the engine off when you come to a stop, and letting the battery voltage drop excessively low before kicking on the alternator. Highly recommended.

When I had my Audis they always thought they knew what blower speed I wanted my heat/air on. I set it to 2 out of 12, suddenly I hear the blower motor kick up a notch. No, I didnt want it on 7, I turn it back down to 2. A few minutes later, it turns itself back up to whatever arbitrary number it chooses. Once cabin temp gets close enough to the set temp it eventually quits self adjusting the blower speed itself, but it would drive me mad. This is with all the "auto" features completely off.

 

[TD Charlie]

There are cheap modules that connect to the OBD2 port for most vehicles that disable the active fuel management BS such as cylinder deactivation, shutting the engine off when you come to a stop, and letting the battery voltage drop excessively low before kicking on the alternator. Highly recommended.

When I had my Audis they always thought they knew what blower speed I wanted my heat/air on. I set it to 2 out of 12, suddenly I hear the blower motor kick up a notch. No, I didnt want it on 7, I turn it back down to 2. A few minutes later, it turns itself back up to whatever arbitrary number it chooses. Once cabin temp gets close enough to the set temp it eventually quits self adjusting the blower speed itself, but it would drive me mad. This is with all the "auto" features completely off.

My car does this as well.

If I wanted the defrost on instead of the floor heater, I would've hit the defrost button!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

The auto engine stop/ auto idle feature. Stop f***ing turning my engine off at red lights.

Easily disabled.

But yeah, hate the feature.
Would be OK if you could turn it off and it would stay off. I would turn it back on in rush hour traffic.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I've had my current car for almost 4 years now, and I still don't understand how the door locks work. If I leave the car running and get out, there are instances where I cannot open any door aside from the driver's door. I have not figured out what causes this, or what order of operations I could use as a work around. It is very annoying.

The parking brake will not disengage unless front seat passengers have a seat belt. The traction control kicks on automatically if I'm trying to get myself out of a snowy/icy parking spot and I'm rocking the car back and forth. If the car comes to a complete stop and the traction control auto-kicked on, the parking brake auto-engages as well. Shit let me just take the parking brake off, ding ding ding ding put your seat belt on. I've only encountered this scenario twice, on a ski trip, but holy shit I almost launched myself, and the car, over the edge of the White Mountains.

I also have very hyper sensitive cross-traffic sensors. If I attempt to launch out into traffic I will occasionally be yelled at by my own car and it brings itself to a dead stop. There have been times I've had to quickly reverse into a lane and speed off, but the cross-traffic sensors detected crossing cars behind me when it was too late. The parking brake auto-engages, the transmission pauses, and I cant get to drive as quickly as I would like to. So I'm ass-out in traffic with cars speeding toward me. It has put me in danger more times than it has saved me. Not to mention if the parking brake auto-engages, I better pray my seat belt is on, cuz I won't be able to shift otherwise.

If the traffic sensors and parking brake don't get me, sometimes I will be shifting reverse to drive with too much of a roll and the car doesn't like it, so it just goes to neutral. Has the same effect as the above.

Basically this car is trying to take me out. It can be very difficult driving in the city due to all of the sensors and "safety" features.

Funny, not funny.

I'm surprised you have kept that car for 4 years.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Easily disabled.

But yeah, hate the feature.
Would be OK if you could turn it off and it would stay off. I would turn it back on in rush hour traffic.

I hate that i have to disable it each time. If i could keep it off indefinitely i’d be fine.

 

[TD Charlie]

Funny, not funny.

I'm surprised you have kept that car for 4 years.

Have driven it up and down the East coast US a few times, carrying 5-6 people with luggage for a week vacation…40+ mpg

Paid off. 40mpg. Holds the whole fam damily and all our shit. This car will get rid of me before I get rid of it.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

My list is almost everything listed here.
I have deactivated the start stop.
If I need to get any setting on any menu I have to pull over. I've mostly managed to learn to adjust the HVAC but it is still distracted driving.

I curse my car when it bings and bongs at me for no reason that I can fathom. If it is warning me of any impending calamity it won't work. The calamity will have happened long before I figure out what it is. If it is not warning me of something real it should STFU!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I hate that i have to disable it each time. If i could keep it off indefinitely i’d be fine.

It has a sensor connected to the battery to make sure that the battery is within the parameters of the system. Disconnect the battery wire for that sensor and the system is off. Take my advice at your own risk. You will get occasional start/stop system error messages.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It has a sensor connected to the battery to make sure that the battery is within the parameters of the system. Disconnect the battery wire for that sensor and the system is off. Take my advice at your own risk. You will get occasional start/stop system error messages.

I dont want to do that either. Would prefer if the system wouldn't just default back to ON again everytime i turned off the car haha.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I dont want to do that either. Would prefer if the system wouldn't just default back to ON again everytime i turned off the car haha.

I agree. There are times when I would use it if I didn't have to keep turning it off.

 

[TD Charlie]

I dont want to do that either. Would prefer if the system wouldn't just default back to ON again everytime i turned off the car haha.

I’ve seen guys jam black paper scraps in between the auto start on/off button and the abutting plastic trim, which keeps the button partially depressed. When you turn the car on it still thinks you are in the process of hitting the button, so it doesn’t come on.

Might not work for all cars of course