Buying a used car doesn’t have to be less glamourous than buying a brand new one. You can get as much awe factor with a previously owned vehicle.
Think KITT from Knight Rider or the incredible DeLorean from the Back to the Future franchise, that kind of sophisticated technology is not too far away. Granted, the vehicles available to the public probably won’t be indestructible or have the ability to transport you to periods of time other than your own, but they will definitely be a thing of dreams.
You can get a used car with smart technology inspired by the fictional dream machines that went beyond our wildest imaginations. But there are more reasons than just the awe factor to opt for smart technology, and here are the top three.
1. Convenience
Just like with smartphones, vehicular smart technology is going to have everything available to you, right at your fingertips.
Navigational systems will go far beyond a GPS in a tiny screen, barking out instructions in a monotonous voice. Imagine seeing your route mapped out, POV style, right on your windshield. You won’t have to take your eyes off the road or listen to the robotic voice to know which way to turn.
That’s not all, the already existing Internet of Things (IoT) network connecting things like buildings, devices and vehicles using network connectivity, software, sensors and more is making incredible strides of progress. IoT will make accurate, real time data concerning traffic, collisions, weather and more available to you so that you are completely aware of your surroundings and options.
This network also makes it possible to share entertainment between different devices. It is what allows you to access the music from your phone on your car’s system.
Another fantastic facet of IoT networking is the use of technology like the BlueLink App by Hyundai. It allows you to access your vehicle from your phone. You can unlock your vehicle, start it, adjust the A/C or heating, and lock your vehicle without actually touching it.
2. Safety
The complex sophistication of new and upcoming security technology will have you feeling like you woke up one day to find that you were agent 007. It can be ensured that none other than yourself or other pre programmed people have access to your vehicle with the use of biometric channels such as fingerprinting, voice recognition, and retina scanning.
The ingression of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle technology has made it possible for many vehicle manufacturers to create vehicles that are somewhat controlled by computers. In parallel to KITT, these vehicles are capable of speeding up, slowing down, changing lanes and overtaking other vehicles, completely independant of the driver, while on autopilot. A fairly prominent feature of this technology found in some current models is the autonomous emergency braking system. This system makes it possible for the car to automatically brake if it senses an oncoming collision.
Similarly, there is a function called adaptive cruise control that can detect the other vehicles around you and automatically slow down or speed up in order to keep a safe distance between you and them.
Just like some vehicles have cameras replacing the rear and side view mirrors, there is a similar technology which incorporates night vision. These cameras will be able to pick up imaging of anything, inanimate or otherwise, that may be in your way while it’s dark or when your vision is obscured by oncoming headlights.
The use of smart technology will ideally make the roads and overall driving experience much safer.
3. Lower Insurance
As is evident from the previous passages, there are some pretty sophisticated security and safety features that can considerably lower the risk of theft, collision and accidents. This in turn can have a rather agreeable effect on insurance premiums.
The autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) alone offers a 38% decrease in rear end crashes. That along with parking assist, lane keeping assist and all other aforementioned security features can knock a tidy chunk off your used car insurance premiums.
Keep in mind that much of this technology is new and improving, therefor under constant revision and updating. It may be a while before this kind of technology becomes common in the auto industry, but if you happen upon a smart car that strikes your fancy be sure to test it all out and make sure everything works.
The Future
Cars with smart technology are the future and offer too many benefits to be ignored.
They can bring a whole new level of mobility for the elderly and disabled as well as an element of peace to all drivers. With safety features sound enough to potentially cause a significant drop on the cost of insurance, and the other factors that bring a considerable level of comfort, smart cars have the potential to greatly improve quality of life. If that’s not reason enough to find yourself a used car with smart technology, I don’t know what is.
Please feel free to add to the list or simply let us know where you stand on smart technology in the comments below.