# Two items that should be included in a new car.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 14, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481 "2015-06-14T02:35:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/61 "2015-06-18T17:44:18Z")
> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Battery, headlights, tires, timing belt, brakes, wiper blades, alternator, spark plugs, shocks …
Yeah, those all might have to be replaced. But they’re essential to the operation of the car in a way that the suggested items aren’t. If my new car didn’t come with tires or brakes, it would be a nonfunctional product. A new car that doesn’t come with occasionally-used maintenance items isn’t.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/62 "2015-06-18T18:29:21Z")
It’s been awhile since I shopped for a new car, since Honda Accords last approximately forever, so for all I know, maybe new cars may mostly have these already.
But I’d like to see every new car have a port where you could plug in your iPod or other personal music device into the car’s sound system, so that the music on your iPod played on the car’s speakers.
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### Author:  [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/63 "2015-06-18T18:34:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> It’s been awhile since I shopped for a new car, since Honda Accords last approximately forever, so for all I know, maybe new cars may mostly have these already.
>
> But I’d like to see every new car have a port where you could plug in your iPod or other personal music device into the car’s sound system, so that the music on your iPod played on the car’s speakers.
Yeah, most new cars have some way to do that either through Bluetooth, USB, or 1/8" Aux.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/64 "2015-06-18T19:17:28Z")
Every driver has to worry about cops with radar guns, so clearly all cars should come with radar detectors.
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### Author:  [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/65 "2015-06-18T21:39:04Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> It’s been awhile since I shopped for a new car, since Honda Accords last approximately forever, so for all I know, maybe new cars may mostly have these already.
>
> But I’d like to see every new car have a port where you could plug in your iPod or other personal music device into the car’s sound system, so that the music on your iPod played on the car’s speakers.
It HAS been awhile! 😛
(My '03 S10 doesn’t have the ability to sync either)
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### Author:  [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/66 "2015-06-18T21:56:21Z")
Ashtrays and side vents in the windows.
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### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/67 "2015-06-19T00:08:05Z")
> [@eschereal](#):
>
> Battery, headlights, tires, timing belt, brakes, wiper blades, alternator, spark plugs, shocks …
consumable, consumable, wear item, wear item, wear item, consumable, shouldn’t fail, consumable, wear item. Keep going?
> [@Becky2844](#):
>
> Ashtrays and side vents in the windows.
aero and wind noise killed vent windows, but it’s funny you bring up ashtrays. I was in a car meant for the chinese market and not only did it have a built-in ashtray in the dash, the rear doors had ashtrays in the switch bezels. Apparently the Chinese still smoke like forest fires.
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### Author:  [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/68 "2015-06-19T03:29:02Z")
Window vents? I want the floor vents back. Pull a knob out and have fresh air blow in over your feet! Wonderful devices, those were.
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### Author:  [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/69 "2015-06-19T07:09:12Z")
Because opening a cowl is a pain, some small aircraft have external sockets for jumper cables (yes, the cables have a mating plug, not clips).
A nice dealer option would be to add such a port (grille would be a good place) wired to the battery leads.
If they ever become common, a jump start becomes much easier, and anybody can do them.
The Cessna design (looks like on over sized audio plug) would be smaller and less conspicuous.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/70 "2015-06-19T13:07:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> It’s been awhile since I shopped for a new car, since Honda Accords last approximately forever, so for all I know, maybe new cars may mostly have these already.
>
> But I’d like to see every new car have a port where you could plug in your iPod or other personal music device into the car’s sound system, so that the music on your iPod played on the car’s speakers.
I just traded in a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that had an aux port.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/71 "2015-06-19T16:44:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I just traded in a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that had an aux port.
Our 2009 Accord doesn’t have one. The 2000 Accord may finally be showing its age, so I may be in the market soon. So I guess I’ll be learning a bit about what cars come with nowadays.
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/72 "2015-06-19T19:35:03Z")
One of mine would have to be cruise control. The last new car I bought the dealer forgot to order cruise control. No shit! Which would explain why such a popular car sat on the lot for so long.
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### Author:  [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/73 "2015-06-25T14:57:55Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#):
>
> Yeah, most new cars have some way to do that either through Bluetooth, USB, or 1/8" Aux.
It would be nice though if the USB worked with devices that weren’t made by Apple, and the 1/8" aux had an input impedance that matched a headphone level output so that one doesn’t need to have both the device, and the radio volume at 100% with the windows closed to hear it! Bluetooth works great, if I’m using my phone for streaming/playback, but sometimes I want to use another device.
(That said, I bought an inline device that does this exact task, and is pretty amazing. [The Sound Shocker Pro](http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp) . I have no stake in his game, other than now being able to listen to my audiobooks from my Sansa Clip at highway speed with the windows open.)
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### Author:  [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/74 "2015-06-25T15:57:42Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> I love my new Subaru but was surprised it didn’t come with automatic headlights that turn on when it’s dark so I never need to touch them.
The Subaru version of this is that the lights automatically turn off when you shut the car off. So assuming you don’t mind driving around with your lights on all the time, you can just turn the headlight switch to “on” and never touch it again.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/75 "2015-06-25T16:04:42Z")
It’s a much better system, IMHO (Hyundais do that too.) I don’t understand why anyone would want automatic headlights. If you never touch them, it would take you much longer to notice when a bulb goes, for one thing.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/76 "2015-06-25T16:23:10Z")
> [@butler1850](#):
>
> It would be nice though if the USB worked with devices that weren’t made by Apple, and the 1/8" aux had an input impedance that matched a headphone level output so that one doesn’t need to have both the device, and the radio volume at 100% with the windows closed to hear it! Bluetooth works great, if I’m using my phone for streaming/playback, but sometimes I want to use another device.
>
> (That said, I bought an inline device that does this exact task, and is pretty amazing. [The Sound Shocker Pro](http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp) . I have no stake in his game, other than now being able to listen to my audiobooks from my Sansa Clip at highway speed with the windows open.)
My portable player’s (Fiio X1) headphone outlet is switchable to a “line level out” to match the input impedance, but even without switching I don’t have a problem hearing the music without cranking the volume way up (either the output of the player or the volume of the car stereo). It works just fine unswitched except for a very few tracks.
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### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/77 "2015-06-25T16:33:33Z")
> [@butler1850](#):
>
> It would be nice though if the USB worked with devices that weren’t made by Apple, and the 1/8" aux had an input impedance that matched a headphone level output so that one doesn’t need to have both the device, and the radio volume at 100% with the windows closed to hear it! Bluetooth works great, if I’m using my phone for streaming/playback, but sometimes I want to use another device.
>
> (That said, I bought an inline device that does this exact task, and is pretty amazing. [The Sound Shocker Pro](http://phpaudio.jigsy.com/passive-preamp) . I have no stake in his game, other than now being able to listen to my audiobooks from my Sansa Clip at highway speed with the windows open.)
this doesn’t make sense. headphones have a lower impedance (32 to 300 ohms) than a line in (typically 10s of kOhms.) if anything, headphones usually drag _down_ the output of a line out.
for baseband audio, impedance matching is almost never done. Impedance _bridging_ connections are used, where (for maximum voltage transfer) the load impedance is many times the source output impedance.
what might be happening in your case is your phone as an EU-compliant volume limiter on the headphone output.
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### Author:  [@remlap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/remlap)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/78 "2015-06-26T17:41:22Z")
I hope this is OK with the mediators. I designed Sound Shocker and found your post via google.
Let me shed some light on Sound Shocker. It is an audio transformer. It matches the low output impedance of a headphone output to the high input impedance of a radio AUX input. jz78817, you are correct. If you try to use Sound Shocker with a high impedance line output, such as many Bluetooth or satellite receivers, or if you try to drive headphones with the Sound Shocker output, the volume will actually be reduced due to the impedance mismatch.
Hope that helps you to understand. Sound Shocker is simply to be used as a booster from a headphone output to a radio AUX input.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/79 "2015-06-26T17:51:40Z")
Welcome to the boards, **remlap**! As long as you aren’t actively shilling a product, the mods generally don’t care.
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### Author:  [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-items-that-should-be-included-in-a-new-car/722481/80 "2015-06-29T20:34:29Z")
Thanks Remlap.
However it works, it solved a problem that shouldn’t have existed. I’m not bound by the EU headphone restriction given the settings of my device, and my phone connected via AUX (but not Bluetooth) had the same problem. Now it doesn’t. My wife’s Kia Sedona mini-van has a similar problem. I can’t for the life of me think what the car makers expect to be connected via an AUX input, but if you search online, it’s a pretty common thing.
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