Favorite feature, new or old.

[k24a4]

I had a '92 Nissan Maxima with a fresh air vent that when switched allowed cool outside air into the cabin even when the heating system was on. At colder times of the year, rain or shine, I could have heat on my feet while still breathing cool air, without the noise or turbulence of open windows. This was a great feature I have not seen since.

 

[eljefino]

My 89 mazda 323 had that. Also good if your spouse wanted it hotter. Also had a little AC vent under the steering wheel for the lap. Aaaaaaahhh! I'd be interested if this thread evolved to "cute stuff they did in the 1980s that has since gone away."

 

[Klutch9]

My parents' '88 Mazda 626 had front oscillating air vents. Always thought that was pretty neat. As a kid, I always thought it was cool that our conversion van had two TV's, a rear VCR and CD player, and hookups for three different video game consoles/DVD players road trips were a blast in that thing!

 

[Burt]

How long has it been since most cars had fresh air vents that did not heat up the air? 40 years? Seems like it would not take that much effort to design an intake system that did not boost the ambient temp by 10 degrees.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I had a Renault that would beep when the power windows were up all the way. Good for the back windows. I think my Fiat 128P had remote flip opening rear qtr windows with a lever on the headliner up front - or was that the renault too? OR the Merkur XR4Ti ? Tough getting real old ...

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: k24a4

I had a '92 Nissan Maxima with a fresh air vent that when switched allowed cool outside air into the cabin even when the heating system was on. At colder times of the year, rain or shine, I could have heat on my feet while still breathing cool air, without the noise or turbulence of open windows. This was a great feature I have not seen since.

My car does it automatically. :]

 

[01rangerxl]

I like the storage cubbies behind the jump seats in my truck. You can fit a fair amount of junk in them and the seats still close all the way. For being a small pickup, it has lots of little storage spots all over the interior.

 

[cchase]

Many older vehicles had fresh air intake that worked even when the fan was turned off. Quite handy in my opinion. New cars seem more focused on isolating occupants from the outside as much as possible.

 

[IndyIan]

We had '94 626 with the oscillating vents too. Kind of neat but I don't miss them as much as the fresh air vents in my '81 Omega. It made life without AC much better in the summer. I keep on meaning to research if the Tracker is offered anywhere in the world with fresh air vents and maybe do a retrofit. Or maybe just get the sawzall out and customize...

 

[Astro14]

Vent windows. Those little triangles of glass in the front door window frames that open independantly of the main window. 4 Runner has them...they're great...offering a quick, adjustable, independant source of fresh air and ventilation....

 

[4D-56]

My Astro has a manually operated fresh air vent that is right there on the left side of the drivers foot-well. It blows a nice cool draft at my feet! Its a great idea even if its a little hard to open after being closed for a while!

 

[RamFan]

High beam switch on the floor. Had one in my old '88 F250, thought the high beams were broke when I first got in it because turning the knob wasn't doing anything. I contacted the owner and he kindly reminded me that the truck was old (3 years older than me) and back then the switch was on the floor board. I felt dumb but I'll tell you what, I fell in love with that switch and wish trucks still had 'em.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: cchase

Many older vehicles had fresh air intake that worked even when the fan was turned off. Quite handy in my opinion. New cars seem more focused on isolating occupants from the outside as much as possible.

I didn't like that attribute about older vehicles. If I want air, I'll have the fan on. But if I don't want air, I don't want air. With those older systems, you always get air if you're moving, so you have to move multiple vents away from you just to keep air from blowing on you. I didn't like that. My favorite feature has been automatic climate control. The first car I drove with one was a '92 Crown Vic. Both of my Cadillacs had it, neither of my Toyotas had it, and now both of our current cars have it. I had to fiddle with the temperature control on manual systems more often than I realized, now that I have nothing but automatic systems again. I also enjoy the dual-zone feature. My wife prefers a much warmer temperature than I do, and two temperature settings are helpful.

 

[gizzsdad]

I agree about auto climate control, the first time it came on one of my cars - I figured it would be a gimmick. But after having it - fiddling with fan speed and temp dial seems crude by comparison. Also very much like my heated steering wheel.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: RamFan

High beam switch on the floor.

I liked the switch on the floor too. Moving it to the turn-signal stalk (where no two manufacturers can get them to work the same way) was a step backward in my opinion.

 

[MrRPM]

my favorite feature is Manual 4x4 on the floor! I also enjoy my jeeps ability to remove the top and go convertible, its always a blast!

 

[rjacket]

Smog sensor that detects bad air and switches to recirculating air before it is too late. Navigation with traffic warnings. Smart key. Auto and cornering lights. Bluetooth handsfree. Paddle shifters.

 

[d00df00d]

My favorite feature by far: A bona fide manual transmission. As in, with a clutch pedal and an H-pattern shifter mechanically connected to the transmission.

 

[Win]

On my G8 a momentary partial press of the turn signal stalk activates the lane change feature: four flashes of the marker lights to signal a lane change. This is so simple, and so handy, I can't believe all cars don't have this. But it's the only car I've ever had with it. Even my GTO didn't have it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Cabin air filter. Infra red scanning for dual zone climate control, keeps the temp VERY accurately. Live NAV setup, don't leave home without it. Bluetooth, both hands free and audio streaming capability. Integrated stability system with the programming adjusted so you don't even know it's there. Needs an "off" button, too. Anti-dive and anti-squat suspension at both ends! A sunroof that never leaks and is quiet. Must tuck away into the roof and be LARGE!