Do You Think These Features Really Are a Waste of Money?

1. Autostick- hit or miss Quasi DSG types not worth it. Real DSG types are a definite.

2. AWD- Even the marginal implementations are better than none. I guess how do you put a price on safety?

3. CD Changers- Old school technology - a waste

4. Electronic fold down seats - nope design the seats better and you won't need the motor.

5. Keyless Ignition- Nice but is it worth it?

6. Xenon Headlights- I think so, but they are a theft risk.

7. Dual Zone AC units - In a SUV rear units are essential, in a sedan it is a waste.

8. NAV- A waste due to lead time of the manufacturers most are hopelessly out of date.

Luxury is not have a self park features that is so slow that the space is stolen out from under you.

But no where in the article did we mention a luxury car was the premise of the article.

But there are features on both normal cars and luxury cars that basically are profit for the maker and have no real value.

To be honest, I would be ashamed of myself as a carnut if I ever used that trick automatic parking system.

That's like saying you can't park. Who can't park?? I can do it with my eyes closed! (if I have sensors)

basically for people who can't drive.

Xerokool, you are not making any sense! Are you actually believing the rubbish that comes out of your mouth?

Unbelievable.

You are comparing electric windows to a self-parking car? What a joke. I simply don't get the logic behind your thinking..

To me, it's all about the driving experience and parking a car is a part of that.

The self-parking system from Toyota (they invented it) is just a gimmick. It doesn't work properly. It's slow, it's definitely not cool and most of all it shows your lack in driving skill. It's for built for the people who buy Lexus cars.

I'm refusing to answer your question since it simply doesn't give a good image of luxury.

What? Does Autospies.com censorship? I can't type the words I want!

what an idiot?

These features are extremely necessary. Why? It gives something to brag about. Yes why the hell would I buy a luxury car when I don't have these features. Why should I pay $60k without getting any of the features listed above? I could just pay $20k for a car and put a $40k down payment on a boat. You see it is essential, even though it may be optional, for a luxury car to have these features otherwise they are regular cars.

In realty all you need is an engine, 4 tires, steering wheel, gear shifter, and one seat.

Agent009:

1. I don't understand your point
2. AWD has nothing to do with safety, stability control, cornering brake, etc do
3. Not for people with hundreds of cd's in their collection
4. Not needed unless you move the seat often (i.e. multiple drivers)
5. Totally agree
6. Agree
7. Dual zone usually implies driver/passenger, but in either case it is useless. Close the vent if it is drafty
8. NAV systems as they are, pose more danger than cell phones and should be outlawed. If they were easier to use I think they are as important as windshield wipers and road signs.

Cheers!

On 4. I thought you meant power seats. Power fold down seats are too slow and useless indeed.

1. An automatic with paddle shifts is just bling no functional value. A DSG is more efficient thus better shifting, feel, and gas mileage.

2. AWD not a safety feature? Then I guess you have never driven in ice or snow with one. About as obvious as ABS and stability control. A no brainer.

3. CD's are going the way of casettes. Digital interfaces are the future, and the changer will be worth nothing. (now if it is standard that is a different issue).

But we agree on all of the others...

"An automatic with paddle shifts is just bling no functional value"

Hhhmmmm.. difficult one. They placed them there for safety and fun. Also when taking a motorway exit I like to brake on the engine. So tiptronic with or without flappy paddle nonsense actually makes a bit sense.

But I do see you point.

Paddles on the steering wheel would be useful for performance driving when keeping both hands on the wheel is critical. Performance driving with an automatic transmission is a contradiction.

I drove an X5 through two winters in NJ. A friend had a 325i coupe at the same time. The coupe with the 17" summer performance tires and RWD felt safer and more assuring than the bulky X5. Sure it was easier to get the coupe stuck in deeper snow and the exclamation mark light never went out :) but that was about it.

"I drove an X5 through two winters in NJ. A friend had a 325i coupe at the same time. The coupe with the 17" summer performance tires and RWD felt safer and more assuring than the bulky X5."

I find it hard to believe you were able to maintain even the slightest hint of traction, with summer performance tires on a coupe, while driving over snow.

I think that most accessories are a waste of money purely because you don't need them. But they make the car more enjoyable so I always get them.

Not just a self park feature is extra, but many features in all lexury brands, like the night vision. Now I can never lower my eyes to the speedometer while driving in the middle of the night on a dark high way and make that my path finder. The only features that are truly good to have and worth their money are, of course the navigation system and all power seats, cool and heated seats.

Now, this said I don't mean to put down such technologies, hell no. Because these are the starting steps to a broader and much more useful features of the future. e.g. car driving itself while you take a nap in the traffic jam or a long trip at night.
But for this time of age, I would not pay extra for such features, and I doubt I would ever use any of them.

I find keyless ignition on my car very convenient. The article states some shortcomings, but I don't have those in my car. I don't have to pull the key out of my pocket. I just touch the handle on my car and it unlocks. If I want to access the truck, I push the button near the license plate. The key stays in my pocket at all time. Another added bonus is that you cannot ever get yourself locked out of the car with your key inside.

If you can buy a big luxury sedan, you can afford to have someone drive you, so the self park feature is useless and a waste of money. I also think the parking sensor is a waste of money.

1. Autostick - this fun and useful in evasive driving

2. AWD- it helps. basic chemistry states that rubber and ice don't mix. you can have 18 wheel drive and still loose control. this option gives people a false sense of safety.

3. CD Changers- Old school technology - good for older people who don;t understand ipods and mp3

4. Electronic fold down seats - really lazy option

5. Keyless Ignition- Nice. now need one for the home.

6. Xenon Headlights- the best. the high theft risk can be dealt with by designing better lights and housing.

7. Dual Zone AC units - okay you are approx 1 foot from the person next to you. how much of a difference can a couple of degrees make.

8. NAV- simply the best invention. it really helps.

I think I-Drive is a waste of money.

1. Automatic Stick Shift - I like this because when driving up hills, you can shift yourself instead of have the automatic gear hunt.

2. All-Wheel Drive - useful in some areas. I would get it because I live in the Rockies.

3. Compact-Disc Changer - it depends on where. If it's an in-dash, then why not? If it's a magazine changer, then no.

4. Power Folding Seats - there's no need for them. Like the article said, they're slower than manual folding seats.

5. Keyless Ignition - something that I can't live without anymore.

6. Xenon Headlamps - a definite must in my cars. You can see farther and better.

7. I like this because the air blowing on you is different from the passenger. I usually like lower temperatures so everyone freezes in my car. It's handy for when I have passengers.

8. Factory-Installed Navigation Systems - I like these because they finish the interior look. After-market, I think, cheapen the interior of the car and ruin the dashboard where they need to be mounted.

AWD is VERY USEFUL as long as its a good system

I can vouch for the safety of the system if i can post Video Footage of my trip from Toronto to NY on this site.

My Quattro A6 tracked straight as I held a camera on one hand and filmed Emergency Vehicles (Police, Ambulance) crash around me as the Interstate was basically Sheet Ice in a lot of places. I also have footage of a lot of RWD cars Sliding into each other Hopelessly while i drove on by Filming and Whistling away.

Only problemi had was trying to Brake on Sheet Ice. Once you touch the Brake pedal the vehicle starts to slide and change trajectory, so i had to learn to use the Gas Pedal to steer the vehicle around Obstacles.

Even in the dry - people take corners too fast and lose control because the can't handle the change in trajectory in a RWD car.

I would pay NOT TO HAVE some of these features because they offer me no benefits and only increase the complexity of the car. The more complex a car is the shorter the mean time between failure and frustration.

Until Digital Interfaces become standard (or vastly cheaper on vehicles that already offer them), the CD is still KING. Not only can CD store music, but data, and a boat-load (hundreds) of MP3 files can fit on ONE CD. If your CD player or changer reads MP3 files you can have seemingly endless amounts of music in your car...especially with a Changer. I own an iPod and a couple other MP3, WMA, etc music players, but I hate to leave those things in my car (even hidden), b/c that makes my car a theft target. And I'd be "sick" if my iPod got stolen with the hundreds of music tracks it contains.

I do like that car stereo makers are including AUX jacks with their systems. But they need to include USB & cardreader interfaces so the interface is just as easy as playing music on a laptop or home PC.

I always have to remind everyone...BMW has been working on a self park system as well. I saw that one before the I saw the Lexus one. Most of the German fans only criticize it because its Japanese.

Oh, but the Bimmer version can park w/o you being in the car..I would probably use that one before I use it to parallel park.