Optional extras - seamless integration or just bolt ons?

I was idly thinking about this today as I hoofed it down to the store to purchase some domestic comestibles. It was a bit chilly so I stuck the heated seats and steering wheel on. As I trundled (yeah, right) through the country lanes I stuck it in Sport for a bit of fun but soon gave up after catching up with a small car who insisted on doing 30 in a 60 for five frustrating miles. When I got to the store I thought I'd have a play with the Park Assist as I hadn't used it for about 10 months once the novelty wore off. Parked up, locked the door with a digit on the door handle and wandered off to get some scran.

Thing is about these things is that you have to consciously think about using them rather than being instinctive. Adjusting the seat electrically and opening the blind on the sunroof I almost do without thinking about but the rest of the stuff I have I just don't use in the way that I thought I would. I don't even use the reversing camera and still check my mirrors to manoeuvre. I still find myself looking at my dials rather than the HUD to check my speed and hardly ever use the surround camera system. Is this indicative of me being a luddite or is just that these things are just bolt ons rather than adding up to car that is greater than its parts? Sometimes I feel that if all the frippery was stripped away I simply wouldn't notice and in many ways I look forward to getting into my wife's Mini for a 'purer' driving experience. Or am I talking cobblers?

 

Do you know what, I'd completely forgotten about the lights. The Adaptive system on my F31 is qualitatively better than my old E91. Beforehand I used to fret about the system as it just wasn't sensitive enough whereas the new system is genuinely brilliant, it works so well that I don't have to think about it. I just switch it on and it does it's magic.

 

At this risk of sounding like a broken record, I very much agree with this. Having had "all the toys" at one point or another - I rarely miss any of them. I had HUD on two cars - loved it, became a "must" but then quickly dropped off the "must have" list when it was down to selecting the right vehicle. Haven't had it on four vehicles now and don't miss it. But then again, rarely drive my own cars on the Autobahn anymore, where it really was of great use.

Comfort Access I haven't had for a while. I will admit that it would be useful with having a child where invariably hands are full.

Top View cameras were useful on the X5 and wouldn't say no to them, but again, don't miss them.

Comfort Seats were great (after a few months once I'd got them eventually set up right) but don't miss them. Do miss Sports Seats but that's hardly an expensive or high-tech Option.

Never used Voice Control in any car. Maybe missing out on this one, but never felt the need.

Having spent a good few years believing that newer options would soon become so engrained that they'd become as mandatory as electric windows for me, I've been surprised at how little I really need in a car and how easy it is to be programmed into "needing" more with every iteration of models and technology drip-down.

My "musts" boil down to the following: xenons, heated seats, DAB, folding mirrors, satnav & Bluetooth

I'm clearly never going to say no to more toys, but my view has changed markedly since running the 1er, X3, Polo and now Yeti. If I ever go back to a "luxury" BMW, the chances are even a relatively poorly specced F10 would be ok for me since most of the above is now standard.

 

It's all a very personal thing this - as to whether we really need many of the features we have on our cars.

I put a load of time and effort (not to mention at least 4 different test drives) into choosing the spec of my car (4 packages plus 10 additional options) and I'm happy to say that I don't regret choosing any of them -and I also don't regret NOT choosing the ones I don't have.

Most of the features I use practically daily.

The Adaptive LEDs are wonderful - I use the High Beam Assistant auto feature all the time - I can't fault it - especially useful across the channel.

Likewise the Adaptive Suspension - I nearly screwed up on that one not fully realising that the 'Driver Experience' controls didn't give that feature in full as standard.

The Lane Change Warning I use only when on dual-carriageways and motorways, but the other driving assistant features I make regular use of.

The Park Assist I don't use that much - but when I am faced with stupidly tight parking slots its invaluable.

The Reversing Camera is in use every day and it's zoom feature for the tow-ball is excellent.

Full Black Panel Display is good as I get speed limits and overtaking restrictions displayed as well as the speed limits - plus of course the Sat-Nav turns, street names and other info

Heated Seats and Heated Steering Wheel come into their own at this time of year - and now I can't even imagine ever having a car without them.

Lots of things would be sorely missed and regretted if I hadn't specced them - folding mirrors, additional storage with extra 12v sockets, privacy glass and the split rear seats of course.

There were lots of other options which I did not choose - I gave them a fair try on the several test drives I took, coming to the conclusion that i would have little use for the Professional Sat-Nav, the Harmann Kardon Sound System, Electric Adjusting Seats, Active Cruise Control, Internet, TV, etc.

I found the HUD a distraction and to give no more info than the Black Panel gives.

Some options I consider a negative for my particular needs - things like an opening roof, X-Drive, are not for me.

The M-Sports Brakes also would mean that I couldn't have 17" wheels for Winter use.

I note that a couple of people have mentioned the turn signals being obscured - I too found that and experimented a bit with adjusting the reach and rake of the steering wheel, allied to the seat height adjustment, solved the problem.

Electric seats might have made finding that position a tad easier, but after that the buttons would become redundant as i very rarely if ever move the seat position.

I can understand their usefulness if there are drivers with widely differing anthropocentrics, but Mrs S and I are approx the same height and arm reach so no more than one click of the slide does it.

I for one would be very reluctant to take a step backwards in time to a less 'techy' age.