What Do You Consider the Most Important Feature in a Vehicle?

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Reliability.

+1

 

[kikie]

Satellite radio and a iPod connector, thats what people want! Not many people could live without having music in their car (including me)

I can. I almost never listen to music in my car.

 

[superberkut]

Reliability, resilience, good brakes, agility, fuel economy, low CO2 rating, no front-wheel drive (probably 4-wheel for all-weather driving), charisma, safety features, low pricing, and insurability. Cupholders are the last thing I want in a car. They do add weight...

Excellent thread idea. Of these, the most important for me is safety. No use in having a good-looking deathtrap, a friend of mine used to say...

 

[YSSMAN]

Safety is overrated. That makes every drive you do like some sort of dance with death... A trip to the grocery store suddenly is that much more exciting!

 

[superberkut]

Being somewhat of a Jeremy Clarkson fan, I have to agree with you, but I am not that skilled at driving on the streets in 20cm snow, so I may need it...

 

[TS]

You don't have to get speeding tickets to drive fast. Give yourself a few months. You'll learn how much fun it is to go around that corner just a little faster or that you have to somehow get around that car in front of you.

I've pretty much got that down, the only thing that really intimidates me is highways and roundabouts.

I don't get the thing with cup-holders. Even as a passenger, I never saw the need for those :\

I don't either, I find myself having to hold the cups just so they don't fall out when I'm driving on a rough road, slowing down or turning.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

One cup holder. That's it. Passengers can hold their damn drinks. The driver can't.

 

[Metar]

One cup holder. That's it. Passengers can hold their two damn drinks. The driver can't.

Fixed.

 

[ND4SPD]

Cup holders are for pussies. The Sol had some but I never used them because they could hardly be called cup holders. I stuck to bottled drinks that I threw on the floor. I had 3 half empty bottles of Mountain Dew in there went I went to the salvage yard to get my stuff out of the car.

Wish I could throw a big damn slushie on the floor and drive.

 

[V1P3R]

I don't know what you guys have been doing to get by but, I soooooooo wish I had an X5. Did you know that the wiper system actually knows when your brakes are wet and drys them so when press on the brakes you stop...? It's real important you know.

-.-

 

[YSSMAN]

How about speakers that fold down in your tail gate so you can be the life of the tail gate party?

I know thats what I need!

 

[Casio]

That is the sole reason that I would honestly buy a Dodge Caliber here, now that we get them. When I first saw that, I was like, **** I want that crap car so bad.

 

[a6m5]

Not just any cup holder(s), it gotta be able to hold 12oz cans to double gulp cups!

It's really pathetic, but this is true story:

In 1998, I went to a Honda dealer to buy me a Civic. After looking at the tiny awkward little cup holders, I ended up driving off the lot in a Accord. 2003, after realizing that I want something smaller than a midsize, I go to my local Nissan dealer to look at Sentras. After witnessing the center console cup holders in those things, I ended up going home with an Altima.

But ultimately, I agree with the guys who said "reliability". And year or two ago, I'd have said that manual transmission would've been the second most important feature. My current priorities would probably be:

1) Reliability
2) Convenience features(cup holders, steering wheel mounted controls, one-touch window(s) up/down)
3) fuel economy

 

[YSSMAN]

That is the sole reason that I would honestly buy a Dodge Caliber here, now that we get them. When I first saw that, I was like, **** I want that crap car so bad.

At least it wasn't for the heating/cooling cupholders and the dome lights that turn into flashlights...

Come to think of it: The Dodge Caliber has a lot of really neat features, a damn shame that its an absolute piece of crap car otherwise. They're practically giving them away in the US these days.

 

[Casio]

At least it wasn't for the heating/cooling cupholders and the dome lights that turn into flashlights...

Come to think of it: The Dodge Caliber has a lot of really neat features, a damn shame that its an absolute piece of crap car otherwise. They're practically giving them away in the US these days.

I think I'd honestly consider a Caliber, if I had Caliber money to play with, and I had to buy a new car. Everything else is just 'meh' or everyone has one.

Does the VW Golf have Illuminated Cup Holders, removeable flashlight, or rear seats that recline? IM JUST THAT CRAZY ID BUY A CALIBER OVER A GOLF!!!111

---

But on the topic of what I consider most important. It's not so much reliability, but I want to be able to not lift up the bonnet or look under the car or anything like that ever, and it should just start and run all the time, self-maintenance?

 

[Joey D]

I think I'd honestly consider a Caliber, if I had Caliber money to play with, and I had to buy a new car. Everything else is just 'meh' or everyone has one.

Does the VW Golf have Illuminated Cup Holders, removeable flashlight, or rear seats that recline? IM JUST THAT CRAZY ID BUY A CALIBER OVER A GOLF!!!111

---

But on the topic of what I consider most important. It's not so much reliability, but I want to be able to not lift up the bonnet or look under the car or anything like that ever, and it should just start and run all the time, self-maintenance?

Buy a Mini, it's got mood lighting, a sercet compartment for valuables, and a cooled glove box which keeps you beverage nice and cold .

 

[Casio]

Buy a Mini, it's got mood lighting, a sercet compartment for valuables, and a cooled glove box which keeps you beverage nice and cold .

Is the secret compartments location advertised and pictured on the MINI website?

 

[Joey D]

Is the secret compartments location advertised and pictured on the MINI website?

Not that I know of, I think people have been getting letters from Mini to go to the dealership so they can be shown where it's at.

 

[Jim Prower]

1: Reliability
2: "Spirit," a feature that's difficult to quantify
3: Rear-wheel drive/Manual

 

[Greycap]

Reliability + simple technical parts = easy and cheap maintenance.

 

[RVDNuT374]

1. Reliability
2. Fuel Economy
3. Good AC/heat
4. Performance
5. Convenience features (power locks, power windows, etc.)

 

[YSSMAN]

Not that I know of, I think people have been getting letters from Mini to go to the dealership so they can be shown where it's at.

...And now I want to poke around the one they have at Sharpe for it...

 

[Joey D]

...And now I want to poke around the one they have at Sharpe for it...

Passenger side right above the glove box in the silver trim piece.

 

[Gil]

I want reasonable fuel economy. (25 MPG at least)
Overall comfort -- This includes things like:
NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) fairly low at Highway speeds
reach to the steering wheel (I want good leverage, but don't want to be too close)
sill height (gotta have a place to rest my left arm)
pedals at the proper angles, and proper heights related to each other (auto or manual)
cruise control
good to very good stereo
good HVAC (Kansas is uncomfortably hot in summer, and uncomfortably cold in winter) as there are like two good days each year to drive with the windows down
comfortable seating (Heated seating is a must in my Excursion, because it takes so long to warm up that big diesel. In every other car I own, the heat is "blast furnace" level before I'm out of the sub-division, so it doesn't really matter.
I drive 400 miles or more each week. If I can't stand to be in the car, it just won't do.

After these criteria are met then I want good to very good power. I don't need super high HP to enjoy the car, but I'd like to get to 60 MPH in 9 seconds or less.
I like decent handling, but won't sacrifice decent ride for great handling.
I also need good capability in snow. (even though if the weather gets bad, I leave my car and take the Excursion)

My wife's Mazda6 meets all my criteria. Though it rides rough on rough surfaces.
My "dream" car pretty much meets all my criteria, save that it probably gets poorer MPG than I would like, though it is EPA rated at the low end of what I require. and it "requires" premium fuel. And in truth, if I got the variant I truly want, it would sit in the garage for about 2 months every year when the snow came.
It is for that reason, I drive a Camry instead of an Infiniti G35 Coupe.
Even if I win the lotto, I'll likely buy a G35x rather than a coupe, so I can drive it all year.

 

[JCE]

For me, my number one thing? Comfort. It I'm not comfortable enough to drive 50, 100, or 500 miles in one sitting then the car is rubbish to me. Second? Looks inside and out. If the car doesn't look good everyday I look at it, or when I get out to go somewhere if I don't turn back to oogle at it then I'll be miserable. Third? Performance of everykind including but not limited to; engine power, engine/exhaust noise, cornering, and general "spirited put a smile on my face everyday" driving capaility.

Ah yes, HID lighting, I honestly do not know how I lived without it in my past vehicles. Driving at night is much easier and safer now that I own a car with them. And as far as people saying they are blinded by them I have to disagree.

Erm, safe for YOU not safe for others. Sorry but you are completely and utterly WRONG on that last part. I HATE seeing people's damn bright ass HID lights that HIT THE BACK OF MY EYEBALLS RIGHT INTO THE RETINA. No thanks, worst thing ever.

Good heat (Michigan weather)
Good AC (Michigan weather)
Good sound system (Must have my rock)
Nice-to-me looks.

There are ways of fixing anything mechanically... deficient in anything.

Ahahaha! Heat...in...Michigan? Try living through a hot Texas summer with or without Aircon. I've driven my BLACK Camaro with no interior that's painted BLACK with the catalytic converter right where the passenger seat WOULD BE heating up the car with NO aircon during the summer here. You have no clue what real heat is up there.

 

[Joey D]

Erm, safe for YOU not safe for others. Sorry but you are completely and utterly WRONG on that last part. I HATE seeing people's damn bright ass HID lights that HIT THE BACK OF MY EYEBALLS RIGHT INTO THE RETINA. No thanks, worst thing ever.

Wrong, properly aligned and cleaned HID lights actually have a lower cut off then normal lights as long as they are housed in a projector. There are a lot of people driving around with mis-aligned lights (something that take about 2 minutes for the dealer to fix) or dirty lens (I think HID's have to have washer on them). The people you have to worry about are those with Escalades that have HID's not in projector housings or the people who do aftermarket set ups. Trust me, I've looked into all of this.

Illegal Setup:

Also you have no idea what a summer is like in Michigan so I wouldn't be laughing.

 

[JCE]

Wrong, properly aligned and cleaned HID lights actually have a lower cut off then normal lights as long as they are housed in a projector. There are a lot of people driving around with mis-aligned lights (something that take about 2 minutes for the dealer to fix) or dirty lens (I think HID's have to have washer on them). The people you have to worry about are those with Escalades that have HID's not in projector housings or the people who do aftermarket set ups. Trust me, I've looked into all of this.

Nope, I'm strickly talking about EVERY Lexus, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Infiniti, and Nissan with these lights. They ALL can't be misaligned. Nope, I stand behind my blindedness.

Also you have no idea what a summer is like in Michigan so I wouldn't be laughing.

I'll laugh all I want to, YOU have ZERO clue what a real summer is like. Newsflash, we get humidity down here too so its not just 100-110ºF with no heat index. You win on winters we win on summers. I've had a bad day, I can do this all night.

 

[Joey D]

Nope, I'm strickly talking about EVERY Lexus, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Infiniti, and Nissan with these lights. They ALL can't be misaligned. Nope, I stand behind my blindedness.

Then you shouldn't be driving at night because all light must affect your vision. I have awful vision problems and I've never been blinded by a OEM HID system, after market is another story however. I'm a huge stickler on lighting as well.

I'll laugh all I want to, YOU have ZERO clue what a real summer is like. Newsflash, we get humidity down here too so its not just 100-110ºF with no heat index. You win on winters we win on summers. I've had a bad day, I can do this all night.

Unless you have spent a summer here you do not know what it's like, I've spent a summer in Texas, it's bad I agree but it's not like Michigan where it quits raining in May and we are in a drought till September.

 

[Prosthetic]

I hate people who keep there brights on. I live on a dark hill and people don't even bother turning it down for 5 seconds so someone can safely pass.

I think you guys both don't know a true heat until you spend a summer in death valley. Yeah 115-120+ heat every day? It kills



Priorities: Personally, it needs to be roomy, and reliable. Oh yeah and to not smell >.>

 

[a6m5]

Why am I not very intimidated by Michigan summer heat.....

On HID, I've been blinded by many luxury OEM HID's. Then again, sometimes, not at all. Maybe the ones that blinded me aren't properly aligned, I don't know.