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Other Hondas & General Topics => Honda & Other Honda Models => Topic started by: Lord Voltermore on November 27, 2022, 02:51:34 PM

Title: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Lord Voltermore on November 27, 2022, 02:51:34 PM
When choosing a car ,and in particular whether to pay extra for a higher trim level,or stretching yourself for a later model that has them.    I often wonder which   'luxuries' really  justify their extra cost. Which could you   happily do without .  Not just gismos, but things like  leather trim

Maybe best to avoid  going over yet again the old chestnuts that come as standard on the mk4  whether you like them or not. Except maybe those that first  appeared as optional extras on earlier cars.   
I'll kick it off.

Built in Sat nav.  No, if  it still had the facility to display a better alternative. A penny pinching version that does the reputation of both Garmin and Honda no favours.   Fortunately the cost also included some good stuff.   ( I couldnt manage without any satnav  at all.)   
Heated seats,  yes, quite like them unless the cost was prohibitive.
Heated steering wheel. Surprisingly pleasant but could live without.
Reversing camera.  Definitely.  I'd retrofit something if necessary. It was this that finally tipped the balance and released a few more moths from my wallet for an EX. 
Parking sensors.  Probably not.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jocko on November 27, 2022, 04:40:19 PM
Heated seats, yes. Heated mirrors, definitely (I miss them on my S). Air con, definitely. Automatic transmission, yes. Top-of-the-range sound system, no.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Toptek on November 27, 2022, 05:29:18 PM
Yes:
Automatic transmission
Aircon/climate control
Parking sensors
Reversing camera

No:
Keyless ignition
Diamond cut alloys
Touch sensitive controls
Leather seats
Sunroof
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jocko on November 27, 2022, 06:44:06 PM
I wouldn't have a sunroof either. I have had two with sunroofs and the only time they were opened (or the blind back) was to check they still worked, every Spring.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jazzik on November 27, 2022, 11:34:39 PM
Most "yes" things such as reversing camera and heated steering wheel have already been mentioned here, but what made the difference for me to choose the EX were the blind spot information system and the cross traffic monitor.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Kenneve on November 28, 2022, 10:27:22 AM
I wouldn't have a sunroof either. I have had two with sunroofs and the only time they were opened (or the blind back) was to check they still worked, every Spring.

Obviously very much a personal choice, but a couple of my previous Jazz cars had a sunroof and the blind was always open, except in the height of the summer sun. It made the car feel much lighter and airey. I do miss it on the Mk4.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: madasafish on November 28, 2022, 10:37:30 AM
I would have  a chauffeur  if I could afford one .
And a helicopter to avoid driving.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Kremmen on November 28, 2022, 10:40:09 AM
I'm not a sunroof fan either, on my previous cars I also left the blind shut.

Never opened it because it fights the aircon.

My list is the same as Toptek but with the addition of mudflaps.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jazzdriver on November 28, 2022, 11:44:19 AM
Low profile tyres are a waste of money, especially on family cars.  They cost more, wear out sooner, are more prone to damage and punctures (although you might not notice that they are flat in extreme cases) and ruin the ride.

Alloy wheels.  Porous and easily damaged.  Bring back small steel wheels with tyres that have a good side wall.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: peteo48 on November 28, 2022, 01:03:24 PM
I'd do without:

Keyless Entry
Alloy Wheels
Low profile tyres
Any voice activated tech
RDMS (I loathe and detest this crappy feature as do many others)

I'd retain:

Heated seats and steering wheel (just love them).
Built in sat nav (don't know how to use my smartphone for Google maps and hate trailing wires with a standalone sat nav).
Air Con/Climate Control.
Cruise Control
Rear camera.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Kremmen on November 28, 2022, 01:29:16 PM
The built in SatNav would be fine for me but living down here at the sharp end near Heathrow I definately need traffic.

Google Maps has saved me so much time by showing the loca jams, as does my backup standalone Garmin. What I like about the standalone is that it shows a bar of your whole plotted journey with yellow and red bars at appropriate places. Google Maps only shows the traffic in view.

Garmin DS61 Traffic Display :

(https://i.imgur.com/zmPWrOO.jpg)
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jocko on November 28, 2022, 01:51:25 PM
Cruise Control
Forgot about Cruise Control With an Automatic that is a must. And preferably Adaptive.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Kremmen on November 28, 2022, 02:51:32 PM
 :-\
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: richardfrost on November 28, 2022, 04:04:18 PM
Must haves:
A spare wheel
Heated seats
Upright driving position
Parking sensors
Rear view camera

The common theme here is these all are great for my bad back.

Can do without:
Sat Nav
Rattles and squeaks
The colour grey
Auto anything

Looks like my next car might be a Dacia  ;D
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: TnTkr on November 29, 2022, 06:46:56 AM
Must have:
Air conditioning (manual)
Heated seats
Heated mirrors
Central locking with remote


Nice to have:
Heated windshield
Sat nav
Cruise control
Leather seats
Reverse camera
Electric windows (all or nothing)

Rather not:
Lane departure warning
Traction and stability control
Keyless ignition
Touch screens
Parking sensors
Climate control (automatic)
Auto anything

edit: added electric windows

Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jocko on November 29, 2022, 12:19:01 PM
Central locking is pretty standard these days but a remote would be nice. After 6 years my wife still grabs the handle before I reach the car, being used to me having remote unlocking (my S doesn't have a remote). Electric rear windows in the rear would also be nice (again something my S doesn't have).
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: peteo48 on November 29, 2022, 12:31:13 PM
The built in SatNav would be fine for me but living down here at the sharp end near Heathrow I definately need traffic.

Google Maps has saved me so much time by showing the loca jams, as does my backup standalone Garmin. What I like about the standalone is that it shows a bar of your whole plotted journey with yellow and red bars at appropriate places. Google Maps only shows the traffic in view.

Garmin DS61 Traffic Display :

(https://i.imgur.com/zmPWrOO.jpg)

I can see that absolutely although the traffic round our way can get very bad if there is an accident on the M6 and taffic then filters through Warrington which, in itself, can be busy.

The saving grace for me is that I can see almost instantly if the traffic is bad as the main arterial route into Warrington from the M6 is just round the corner and I know of rat runs that Joe Public is often unaware of. My tiny mileage is also a factor. I use the car about 3 times a week and don't go that far on most trips.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Kremmen on November 29, 2022, 12:42:37 PM
My experience of years ago, when I worked for a living, was the old TMC RDS which was all that was available. Remember the Trafficmaster Q-Busta ?

I used to leave Woking and barrel down the A320 heading towards M25 J11. TMC would tell me that the M25 was clear up to J14 or J15. No problem, then, upon entering the sliproad, too late, TMC info wrong and I'm in the jam.

I'm not surprised Honda stopped paying for TMC.

When Garmin released their digital traffic via Inrix, what a revelation. That would tell me almost exactly where the M25 jam tail was and I could take action.

The built in SatNav with no traffic takes me back to driving blind.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: Jocko on November 29, 2022, 03:05:23 PM
I use TomTom Go on my phone and the traffic is uploaded from drivers like myself and is very accurate. If I am sitting in a queue that info is fed back and the hold up updated. The same thing goes if the traffic starts to run freely again. There are obviously a lot of TomTom users out there.
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: RichardA on December 04, 2022, 11:32:09 AM
Must have:
Climate control
Alloy wheels
Leather steering wheel
Electric windows all round
Remote central locking
Heated mirrors
Reversing camera, at least on most modern cars
Parking sensors (ditto)
Metallic paint

Nice to have:
LED headlights
Heated steering wheel
Sat Nav
Sunroof
Leather seats
Cruise control

Rather not:
Black alloy wheels

Deal breaker:
Climate controls operated via a touchscreen
Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: peteo48 on December 04, 2022, 01:42:11 PM
Just on the alloy wheels thing - I much prefer the appearance but, over time, they can deteriorate and, even if careful, it's difficult to avoid the odd scratch. They can be difficult to clean as well.

Title: Re: Which extras and Luxuries are worth having.
Post by: RichardA on December 11, 2022, 11:14:51 AM
Forgot to add DAB radio. Down here there are only two stations to choose from that are not BBC or Classic FM, though as I live on top of a hill I can pick up some London stations and Funky SX on my driveway.

Just on the alloy wheels thing - I much prefer the appearance but, over time, they can deteriorate and, even if careful, it's difficult to avoid the odd scratch. They can be difficult to clean as well.

I've been lucky with my alloy wheels. All but one haven't deteriotated after 15 years and 126k. The only one where the surface has started to bubble is the one that was refurbished.