I'm not positive but I believe that is a mandatory item on a vehicle sold in the US as of sometime around 2014?? Ever want to feel dependent on tech? Hop in a car without a rear view camera. y driveway is a little twisty (we had to blast during construction) and my sons 2012 RAV4 does not have one...you notice that visual aid instantly. I'm with you ShelB on that!
I feel like a spoiled B with my list but here goes:
Heated front & rear
Cooled front
Adaptive cruise
I'm content with EyeSite cameras but don't need them and would take a reduced price over paying for it.
Big one I want on my next vehicle is HUD! I want a HUD!!!
I think you’re right about the backup camera. I also want that, but mostly for parking in congested areas or during inclement weather, where the mirrors aren’t ideal. I like being able to see exactly how far I can backup to something, just in case I need that extra bit of room to extricate myself from a tight spot, for instance. I have bad the camera blur up with water, salt and snow, but it does stay clear the majority of the time.
I also have a U-shaped driveway. My family is averse to street-side parking and like to park at the edge of the outlet of my driveway, forcing me to have to back all the way out from the garage, through the front half of the U. There are trees and bushes along the perimeter. It‘s pretty easy for me with the backup camera, but the wife had to take it niiice and slow. Not having the camera would be harder.
I also really like the blind spot warning light on the side view mirror. I have in my low trim Legacy but it wasn‘t an option at the time for my top-trim Forester. In practice, I don’t even look over my shoulder if the light is on, unless I need to get over quickly and I find myself dealing with a blind-spot camper.
The blind spot warning has saved me a couple of times that I recall. Once was when I was entering the highway via a short on-ramp on a curve. It‘s sometimes a pain to merge, because most people do 15+ over the posted limit. It‘s common for people to bunch up and refuse to make room. Well, even worse than that one time someone decided to change to the right lane at the exact moment I was merging! I was keeping track of the car ahead and the one making room for me, but never thought to check the double blind, super secret spot. I noticed the yellow light come on a split second before I saw the car moving into my lane. I had to slam on my brakes and was almost forced off the road. Luckily the guy behind me reacted well and was still able to let me in.
The other time was when I was getting over to let someone pass and some numb nut decided to use the on/off-ramp as a passing lane. He must have been doing 20+ over and I was halfway into the lane when I saw the yellow light. I aborted the lane change, but he just continued on past me using the shoulder to complete the pass.
Anyway, I’ve learned to deal with some of these nannies and see their usefulness now.