I bought a well-equipped car just a year ago, and I’m amazed at some of the rather-pricey options that I never seem to use>
For example:
-cruise control: I don’t like it, my right foot needs something to do
-power windows-I’m just as happy with manual ones
-AM radio band: never use it, just use FM and the CD player
-power seats: never touch them
-power moonroof: this has to be the most useless thing invented.Anyway, I just never seem to open it.
-driving lamps: don’t ever seem to need them/don’t know why i need them.
-ABS: I guess I drive conservatively, never locked brakes anyway
So, I guess I’ve spent several thousand $ for things I never use. What’s your experience?
Cruise Control: I LOVE this one.
Power Winders: Nice also, but good manual ones are great.
AM: Heck, I don’t use FM anymore.
Power Seat/Whateverelse: Nice, but not necessary.
ABS: I love ABS. It does come in handy.
The cigarette lighter. 
Yer pal,
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I never use my fog lights. They have to be the most useless thing ever invented. It is seldom very foggy here. The few times that it has been foggy and I have turned on the fog lights they haven’t made it any easier to see.
Does anyone ever use their fog lights?
I also would be happier with the manual windows. My power windows broke once. I never had manual windows break!
I love my cruise control and AM radio.
egkelly, I just gotta ask, you said you haven’t touched the power seats yet? Well, how the hell did you adjust them? Or when you bought the car, the seat just happened to be in the position that fit you?
Anyway, I like power seats. I think they’re more precise than manual seats when it comes to adjusting them. But, as for some other useless options – heated seats. These are definitely something I could live without. It’s never that cold to need heated seats where I live.
Another thing – tachometers on an automatic. What a waste of dash space! How about putting more indicator lights there, like the current temperature (I know some cars already have this, but there a lot that still don’t), or a “to-do” list screen that you can input information to.
I find myself running lots of errands, and sometimes I forget to go to some places. That to-do list right in the dash would come in handy. I mean, sure, I could always write the stuff down on paper, but where’s the fun in that?
ABS is like an air bag, you’d never plan to intentionally use them but you’ll be glad if you need them. One word of advice, try your ABS to see what it feels like so you’ll be prepared if it kicks in during a panic stop. Safest ways is a big empty parking lot, after a rain if possible. Most systems pulse the pedal which can be disorienting or cause you to let off the pedal unintentionally. You should drive conservatively but life and traffic is full of surprises. Have someone pull in front of you on a rain slick curve and you won’t think it’s useless.
I got a modestly but not underequipped truck so I use pretty much everything I paid for. I can live without power windows and locks but I do use the tilt wheel and cruise control. The sliding rear window is handy to get something from the camper shell. I don’t use the AM band often aside from the sports report after a game.
When I lived in San Diego I used fog lights, aftermarket Hella lights, frequently. Not much reason to add them in Phoenix. Correctly mounted and aimed fog lights do help visibility and cut glare.
I love my little extras.
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Power seats with memory for 2 different drivers. When I get in and Mr. Golf has been driving, I just push “2” and the seat adjusts for me.
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Seat warmers. Although I live in Florida I use my seat warmer. I keep it on low and feels very good on my lower back.
My next car will definitely have the “Onstar” navigational system too.
I’ve had manual windows break. I LOVE my power windows.
Cruise control? Ever traveled more than 50 miles before? CC is a necessity!
Power moonroof - don’t have one, but could you imagine one that’s handcranked? Talk about tedious!
What’s a driving lamp?
I’ve yet to use the built-in dashboard hibachi.
Um, about everything you’ve listed is a necessity IMHO.
[list]
[li]ABS, Airbag: nuff said.[/li][li]Power Seats: the only way to get the seat just how you want it, the manual ones just don’t move in many directions. Granted for a only driver you’ll only ever use it once, but its better than having a car for 10 years and never getting the seat just right.[/li][li]Power Windows: necessity for anyone who uses tolls alot, and have you ever tried to get those manual rear windows up or down when you’re alone?[/li][li]Cruise Control: If you road trip, its vital.[/li][li]AM radio: Sports, News, Weather, Traffic[/li][li]Power Moonroof/Sunroof: Completely worth while luxury that I use all the time. Won’t get a car without it. Makes a warm drive enjoyable.[/li][li]Fog lamps: Nice to have. Personally I think they look good, but more importantly if aimed correctly they really improve visibility on even clear nights. They focus narrowly and low so they don’t blind oncoming drivers, but illuminate much more of the road than broad headlights alone.[/li][li]driving lamps: no idea what this is[/li][li]Seat warmers: Completely unnecessary…but who knows if I lived in Minnesota or Alaska[/li][li]Tachometer: Absolutely necessary on every car. It tells you alot about how your engine and transmission is performing, this comes in real handy when that car gets older. Paying attention to it can save you thousands by catching a flaw before it becomes a catastrophe.[/li]
My major bitch with cars today is the lack of rear-wheel drive (even on sports cars and vans) and the lack of gauges. Dummy lights are the single most useless item. A few frequntly used ones are good, like a low fuel light and bell, and the oil change due on newer cars, but most of them are bad. They give you no feed back on a problem until its too late, and after a 100,000 miles when you really might need them they typically don’t work properly anyways. Theres no way to check of test they…gimme my gauges and let me decide if my oil pressure is inconsistent or not.
sigh I went from a car with cruise control, power windows, power locks, and digital display (but dead transmission) to one with no cruise control, manual windows, manual locks, and a normal display (but it runs).
What I wouldn’t do for my '86 Cougar to run again.
Golf, in your next car, rather than get Onstar, get an Alpine Monitor and Navagation system. It replaces your car’s radio with an LCD monitor (It retracts back into the dashboard when you turn off the car, so people can’t tell you have it at a glance) that handles several inputs (Can even connect a DVD player to it. 
) as well as the Nav. The nav is nice, since it has maps of the area, will tell you the best way to get to where you want, has a listing of places to go, can have a todo list, and has a phone/address book, so that when you choose a place on the list, can also have it automatically dial them up for you on your handsfree cell phone (If you have one.)
Ok, so it is $3000 to add the system, but I think it was worth every penny, I use it a lot, and any car I buy in the future will also have it.
Power Sun/Moon roof: Enjoy, use it a lot, but don’t 100% need.
Power Windows: Use a lot, prefer to manual.
Power Seats: Allows precise positioning of mine ass…needed.
Cruise Control: Don’t really use.
Want: LowLight system like on the Lincoln Navagator, and HUD display system. Looking to buy that aftermarket.
I find this incredibly useful so I don’t lose situational awareness when attacking other cars.
The only extras I don’t use is the cigarette lighter.
I have a fully stocked 98 Mustang Convertible.
At night I drive always with the fog lamps on–it looks cooler. BTW, running lights are what people now call fog lamps, my parents used to call them that.
The spoiler in back is not necessary except it adds to the look.
Power windows are really necessary for a convertible. Much faster to get the top down and windows down for that drive along the beach. Also there is the safety factor, for that friend who gets out and leaves the window down, you can roll it up without stopping.
I would NOT own a car without power locks. So much safer to know all of the doors are locked.
Power seats are great for re-adjusting after that jerk in the carwash moves the seat.
Cruise control for long stretches is great, you can maintain a constant speed while resting your pedal foot.
Ever notice that newer cars and trucks have “power points”? They are like cig. lighter sockets for your toys, cell phones, detectors, air compressors. I wish my truck had pwr. mirrors.
My mother’s 2000 Chevy Impala has one of them…she doesn’t use it for the brand new radar detector she just bought.
boggle