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5 Car Features We Never Want to See Again
By: John LeBlanc -- Autotrader
The most notoriously annoying or dangerous car features we think should be cancelled.
You don't need to be a car historian to know modern cars are better in almost every way than earlier models. They offer superior fuel efficiency, unprecedented safety, and excellent reliability while keeping you seamlessly connected. But like making an omelet, automakers have broken a few eggs and have missed the mark on a few features that end up being more irritating than helpful. Here are the most annoying car features drivers want gone now.
Electronic Retractable Door Handles
While car stylists and aerodynamicists love the sleek, aerodynamic benefits of electric retractable door handles, they can pose significant safety and mechanical challenges. For Canadians who need to drive in the winter, ice or hard snow can coat door seams, overwhelming the small electric motors and impeding access. Many drivers, including those with 2012-2016 Tesla Model S sedans, report being stranded during winter.
Besides freezing you out of your car, electronic door handles have additional quirks.
Fake Exhausts and Vents
Automakers admit that fake exhaust openings mainly achieve design freedom and reduce manufacturing costs. They let designers create cleaner rear styling without routing hot pipes to align perfectly or dumping exhaust onto the road, which would blemish the bodywork. Plastic trim pretending to be dual exhausts is easy to spot at a glance. But fake exhausts are just one of many deceptive features on modern cars. Non-functional scoops and vents block cooling airflow, increase aerodynamic drag, and reduce fuel economy.
In-Car Subscriptions
In-car subscriptions require owners to pay recurring fees to access features already built into their vehicles, such as heated seats or navigation. Automakers first experimented with this approach in 1996 with General Motors' OnStar telematics, which offered safety and navigation features.
For used-car buyers, subscriptions are particularly problematic as many features reset or expire with a change in ownership, requiring resubscription. Unlike buying a vehicle outright or with traditional financing, subscriptions do not add to the car's value, so consumers cannot recoup their costs when reselling. A great example of in-car subscription failure was BMW's 2022 "Functions on Demand" program. It charged buyers a monthly fee to activate the built-in heated seats. The brand tried this program with other features, such as adaptive headlights, but severe backlash led BMW to dial back the program.
Finicky Gear Selectors
In the mid-1950s, automakers attempted to replace old-fashioned gear levers with push-button and dash-mounted selectors that used complex mechanical cables. Reliability issues led automakers to abandon the technology by the early 1960s, before government legislation mandated the more familiar "PRNDL" (Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Low) standard.
Reverse for Park or exit the car while still in gear.
Some of the most notorious and heavily criticized examples of finicky gear selectors span several major automakers. Take Tesla as an example. The automaker completely removed the physical gear stalk from the steering column. To shift into Drive or Reverse, the driver must swipe up or down on the edge of the central infotainment touchscreen. If the touchscreen freezes, lags, or suffers an electronic glitch, the driver is virtually locked out of shifting gears. The only fallback is to use tiny, hidden emergency physical backup buttons located on the roof console or hazard panel.
Fake Engine Sounds
Modern engineering trends, such as turbocharging gas engines and the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), have led to incredibly quiet cars. For drivers who relish the authentic mechanical sounds of a naturally aspirated engine, fake engine sounds restore the auditory thrill enthusiasts expect while complying with noise and pedestrian safety regulations. Despite the pros, these fake engine noise systems can present several cons. By masking warning signs and authentic vehicle feedback, artificial sound design can make driving less safe and less connected.
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SOURCE: 5 Car Features We Never Want to See Again - AutoTrader.ca
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