Originally Posted By: supton
I hate automatic headlights. Too many morons driving around with them. If it's dawn or dusk--turn 'em on! Or just leave the headlights on. The rest of us would like to see you on dim/dark/overcast/rainy days. Or on overly bright conditions, like when driving into the sun. If we have to have a seatbelt chime, why not chime for the headlights?
I've never had automatic climate control. I usually set the heat to roast in the winter, and after 10-20 miles I start turning it down. It takes a long time for ~25F interior to warm up. You can feel the rest of the car sucking the heat out of the air. After an hour or so is when I start oscillating, and unable to find the right temperature. I think it's because it's blowing air onto me, so I'm turning it down--but the rest of the car is bleeding off heat. No idea if climate control would deal with that better.
I hate the seatbelt chime. My VW is obnoxious. There are times when I am backing up a trailer that I might be popping in and out of the car, or swiveled all the way around. Do I really need a seatbelt on while I'm crawling around my backyard at 3mph? If I park the car and run into Dunkin' Doughnuts, and leave the car running so no one freezes, the stupid chime will go off every so often. Wifey winds up having to reach over to buckle up an empty seat.
Another gripe: windshield washers. Why can't the washer be a button like it used to? Used to be you could time hitting the button just right--and get precisely the number of passes from the blades. No more. It always wipes one time too many.
I have to admit, I like power locks and windows; and I do like auto up/down. Auto up/down is one of the great inventions, if you ask me (although I use it less now that we have EZPass). Power mirrors are nice too. The LATCH setup for kid seats is good. I suppose cars that crumple around is good, as is airbags, again to mitigate injuries. ABS, VSC, etc -- I won't say technology is all bad. If anything, it's annoying when they botch up the simple stuff.
My Avalon automatically switches between DRLs and headlights when on auto. Then shuts off with the door lock. Also, on Toyota vehicles you can re-program the seat belt chime to the off position if you don't like it. Plus the windshield wipers have complete control over the washer and have a nice feature to wipe the windshield once.