DRIVERS have been praising an “overlooked gimmick” that has since left them mind-blown.
Drivers responded to a social media post asking them which car feature them considered to be a gimmick until they actually had it.
Most drivers opted for the ultra-rare heated seat button – claiming that it utterly reshaped their driving experiences.
David Hill, a disabled chronic pain patient, revealed how the feature has helped him with his bad back.
He said: “I’ve got a bad back and I had no idea how much the heat helped my back until I got a new to me truck that had heated / A/C seats.”
While truck driver Antoun Nabhan concurred.
He said it had to be ventilated or air conditioned seats, admitting that he initially thought of them as a silly feature that he didn’t want to pay for.
Now, he added: “I bought a car that had them, and I discovered that turning on the air con seats really reduces drowsiness and increases alertness on long drives.
“Seriously, it probably extended my time between stops by 1–2 hours. Makes a big difference on the San Francisco to LA trips or the whole-day loop in traffic to check on all the business locations.
“Now I seek it out for any car or truck that I think I’ll be driving for hours at a time.”
Although Mark MacAuley was similarly sceptical, he has also come to believe that heated seats and heated steering wheels are prime features.
He admitted: “I was meh when I first heard of them.”
But now: “I work out of doors. To work outside in -15 all day and then drive home with a warm steering wheel for my arthritic hands, with the bun warmer set on high…made me feel much better!
THESE are some of the most useful hidden features found in modern cars:
While you might think you know your car like the back of your hand, you could easily be missing out on some key extras.
Does your car have cruise control?
Adaptive Cruise Control system is put in place to help vehicles maintain a following distance that is safe and within the speed limit.
To turn it on, you need to accelerate to your preferred speed and press the “set” button. When the car in front slows down, your car will either do the same or alert you to hit the brakes.
Adaptive Cruise Control is one of the features insurance companies often look out for and can lead to lower premiums.
What about a blind spot detector?
When another motorist is getting too close to your side and rear, blind spot detection will give a warning to alert you of their presence.
This can be in the form of either a visual or audible heads-up or a vibration.
In some vehicles, they also help to inform drivers backing out of parking spaces about other cars approaching from both sides.
As this feature is so pivotal to avoiding accidents, it can be incredible for your insurance premiums.
Or autonomous emergency breaking?
This feature monitors traffic and road conditions and looks out for signs that a collision might happen.
It will warn you about any dangers ahead and will automatically apply the brakes if you don’t respond on time.
AEB will often determine the brake force needed to be applied to each situation.
While some new standard cars come with AEB, other manufacturers offer it as an option for an additional charge.
