When shopping for new and used cars online, it’s easy to get carried away with the cool features that are available in today’s models. However, some of these features are completely useless and not worth paying for. To ensure you keep your eyes focused on the best vehicles for your needs and budget, here are some meaningless features you don’t need to pay extra for.
Rear Seat Entertainment Systems
If you have kids, rear seat entertainment systems can sound like a blessing. And in the 1990s and early 2000s, they were. However, with the advent of tablets, smartphones and WiFi hotspots, these systems are almost irrelevant. If the car you’re looking at comes with this system, that’s great. Maybe you’ll use it, maybe you won’t. But it’s not worth paying extra for.
Social Media Integration
Our society has grown accustomed to communicating through social media apps like Facebook and Instagram. To tap into this interest, car companies have rolled out social media integration. At first glance, this would appear to be useful and worth paying extra for, but it’s not. Using social media, even through voice activation, falls under distracted driving. Leave social media for off the road.
Spare Tire
More car manufacturers are getting rid of the classic spare tire because it reduces weight and improves fuel economy. So don’t worry about whether or not the car you’re interested in comes with one. You really don’t need it. Today’s vehicles have tire pressure monitoring systems that let you know when your tire is low on air and needs to be fixed or replaced. If your tire blows out, you’ll need to call for a tow.
Gesture Control Audio
In theory, an infotainment system that works with your hand gestures sounds great. But you can probably do without this added expense. Right now, these systems aren’t that accurate at detecting hand gestures, which means they could misinterpret your signals and crank up the music when you want it lower. For now, stick with the reliable choice – the press of a button.
In-Car Voice Control
Surprisingly, voice activated in-car systems have been around for nearly two decades. And they have gotten increasingly better over the years. However, they’re far from perfect and often misinterpret what was said. And, these voice control systems can’t do everything, so it’s possible that what you ask for will be a functional dead end.
Third Row Seats in Compact Cars
Having a third row is highly desirable for large families, but don’t be automatically swayed by a compact crossover with third-row seating. These seats are so small and compact, usually only small children can fit in them. Even then, you’ll probably have to shift the second row forward, compromising their comfort. If you need three rows, we recommend going for a larger SUV.
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