The most useless, annoying feature in the history of automotive technology

AquaGoat

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I use this feature all the time. My driveway is in full sun, and opening the windows 15 minutes before I head out gets the internal temperature wayyyy down.

I'm with kperalta on this one. Using a speaker to play engine noise into the cabin is a way dumber 'feature' than the windows down control.
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maxxdj29

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You can't close the windows remotely for safety reasons. You can, however, close the windows with the key in the same way; insert key, turn the key to the lock position and release, then turn the key to the lock position again and hold to close the windows. Opening the windows with the key works too, except in the unlock position.
This. From what I’ve read, in the US at least, to have a feature that allows the windows to be rolled up remotely, there needs to be additional safety sensors to roll back down automatically if there is an obstruction like an arm or a head. And from what I’ve seen comparing the Canadian and others, a lot of those and other convenience features were left out of the US version.
 

MagicMatt

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This. From what I’ve read, in the US at least, to have a feature that allows the windows to be rolled up remotely, there needs to be additional safety sensors to roll back down automatically if there is an obstruction like an arm or a head. And from what I’ve seen comparing the Canadian and others, a lot of those and other convenience features were left out of the US version.
US models have the auto-reverse feature:

Honda Civic 10th gen The most useless, annoying feature in the history of automotive technology Capture.PNG
 
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No, GM and Ford have many, many more annoying and useless features.

Fords that mute the radio if driver seat belt isnt fastened. Sometimes even turning off the car and restarting wont unmute.

GM rear seat reminder.

GM needed to press lock button on door twice to actually do anything. And it beeps the first time to make sure you know you are trying to lock it. I guess domestic owners lock their keys in the car too often

Any power liftgate, tailgate, sliding door that cannot be operated manually. Most can be opened manually but will not close manually. You have to press the button and wait.
 

_dc_

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One of the worst features I have experienced is in a Ford Fusion. Spraying washer fluid on the windshield causes the wipers to activate, as expected. However, after stopping, a few seconds later, the wipers do one last wipe. This is very annoying, especially in Canadian winters where road salt is used. On highways, the spray from vehicles in front will accumulate salt on the windshield which quickly turns opaque white. You need to use washer fluid and the windshield wipers to clear this. The spray quickly accumulates again after the operation (but not so much that it's obstructing view). Having the wipers activate one more time a few seconds after clearing causes the spray to quickly dry out and leave an opaque mess again.
 


Swank

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Integrating the windows and sunroof with the rain sensor would be sweet. Rain detected while parked = cars seals up. Make it so it can be disabled too for those with rain guards that like to leave the windows cracked.
 

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I don't agree and just posted this on a different thread. I walk out to the very sunny parking lot at work and my windows won't do the roll down thing until I'm about 70 feet away maybe. I press the button to roll everything down and open the sunroof and by the time I get in it's not boiling hot. I love it! I would be nice if it was disableable.
 

AquaGoat

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One of the worst features I have experienced is in a Ford Fusion. Spraying washer fluid on the windshield causes the wipers to activate, as expected. However, after stopping, a few seconds later, the wipers do one last wipe. This is very annoying, especially in Canadian winters where road salt is used. On highways, the spray from vehicles in front will accumulate salt on the windshield which quickly turns opaque white. You need to use washer fluid and the windshield wipers to clear this. The spray quickly accumulates again after the operation (but not so much that it's obstructing view). Having the wipers activate one more time a few seconds after clearing causes the spray to quickly dry out and leave an opaque mess again.
Right!? I just got rid of my 2010 Fusion and that last delayed wipe was the WORST. It would literally just dirty the windshield worse than before I tried to spray it. So annoying...
 


Squonky

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My Touring closes all windows and sunroof with the fob. Maybe it's a Brazilian version thing?

It can open all (unlock button) and close all ( lock button) by pressing once then press-hold.
I can confirm that on my UK-spec Civic, long-pressing the 'Lock' button does indeed auto-close all windows and the sunroof.

One annoying oversight on Honda's part - when you auto-open the windows using the remote, the car should automatically disable the ultrasonic alarm sensors. It doesn't. After opening the windows in this manner for pre-drive ventilation, I have to stoop into the car and manually disable the alarm sensors before re-locking the car. Ridiculous!

It's interesting the variety of software-controlled features that they enable/disable, depending on where in the world you buy the car. Another example is the ACC - I love using the ACC on freeways and country roads, but in town, I'd like the ability to fall-back to old school (radar-less) Cruise Control - which I see (from the US-spec Civic user guide PDF) is possible on US-spec Civics.

For many years I've been using CC in urban driving situations (not in nose-to-tail traffic, of course) to avoid breaking the speed limit. Several times, the ACC system on the Civic has tried to put my face through the windshield when I'm passing a parked car. Yes, there's the 'LIM' speed limiter mode, but I'm lazy - that means I actually have to keep my foot on the gas pedal - how very 20th century.

Don't get me started on the mode that uses the road sign recognition to set the Cruise Control limit - it's about as much use as a chocolate kettle. Somewhere near my house, the system picks up something that makes it think there's a 100mph speed limit! (Maximum in the UK is 70, and I live in a 30 zone).

Yeah, it's just a North American safety thing. Apparently we are too stupid too handle remote window closing and not kill ourselves.
...but they'll let you remote-start the engine from the keyfob. That's not even an option on UK-spec Civics. I have the top-spec version of the car (excepting the Type-R) and that button is missing from my keyfob. I have the CVT, so it's not a case of the dangers of trying to remotely start a manual transmission car without first checking it's in Neutral. Different rules in different countries.
 

fk8.01214

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Integrating the windows and sunroof with the rain sensor would be sweet. Rain detected while parked = cars seals up. Make it so it can be disabled too for those with rain guards that like to leave the windows cracked.
Gotta admit this would be an awesome feature.
 

GermanCivic

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I use this feature from time to time, mostly when I'm walking towards the car which is parked directly in the sunlight.

In summer it can get so hot inside the car, if you don't have a garage to park in the shade.
 

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Hello.

I’ve gathered you all here today so that we may commiserate over the worst feature of modern cars ever conceived.

The automatic “all windows down” thing.

I keep my keys in my back pocket. Because of this, there have been several occasions in which I've walked outside to my car only to find ALL of my windows ALL THE WAY down. And it's almost always at the worst times, like overnight on a humid day, or when the neighbor is mowing his lawn. Yes, before anyone says it, I’ve since gotten into the habit of taking my keys out of my pocket before I sit down. But still.

Why would anyone need this lame party trick? I've seen people say that it's to cool the cabin down before getting in, but that would take forever anyway and meanwhile you have all your windows down, exposing your car to the elements for who knows how long until it reaches an okay temperature. Also, if it's hot in your car, and it's hot outside, would it really make that big of a difference? And why on Earth do they not include a feature to automatically wind them back up without having to get in and start the car?

It's absolute nonsense and I wish I was in the meeting when they decided this was somehow a good idea.

That's all. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Even if this feature didn’t exist, wouldn’t you still have a problem with constantly unlocking your car when your fob is in your back pocket?
 


 


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