The coming of age tale: new car buyer enters the dealership seeking for the Batmobile or KITT from Knight Rider, but forced to settle for a car with features no more impressive than those on a flip phone.
Technology in the automotive industry has been taking great leaps forward, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to splurge on a crime-fighting vehicle…yet. New gimmicky features can end up raising the price of your vehicle and the perks of having louder sound, cooler air and a push start ignition may be more than you can spare. So, unless you have a Bruce Wayne budget, it’s best to consider what your ride really needs.
Bells and Whistles of 2014 Cars
Like all things technology, there is always a more advanced version. Certain features that were once touted as high-end are now standards, such as power lock and window, air conditioning and Bluetooth, are no longer that impressive. Stereo systems today can sync up to your smartphone with ease and play all the tunes you have available without having to shuffle through your collection of CDs or fumbling around with the auxiliary cable. For those who enjoy music, podcasts or any other form of audio entertainment while cruising down the highway, Internet radio is the next feature to look forward to. Yep, even pulling out the smartphone and activating the apps can be considered primitive now.
This year some of the newly integrated features may turn your car ride into a spa treatment, Mercedes’ 2014 S-Class’s Hot-stone massages and E-Class’s semi-autonomous driver may enable drivers and passengers to travel with the luxury of a sultan. And the Tesla Motor’s Model S’s receding door handle will not replicate the palanquin of royalty, but they are still very impressive.
Meanwhile, in a more practical world, Honda has partnered up with industrial vacuum company Shop-Vac to equip drivers with an integrated vacuum. With a new advancement like this, you might only be slightly angry with your friends for eating in your vehicle.
Some might say that every luxury feature only adds to the safety as a car ride because a comfortable driver is a good driver. Advancements in seating technology may seem like a feature we can forego – sure, massaging seats may be an overkill, but a seat that is smart enough to recognize your ergonomic needs is one worth investing in, for your health and the safety of others.
Safety Features That Will Save Your Family
Safety has always been a top priority when it comes to car buying. But whether new safety features are actually beneficial are still in question. While enhanced visibility additions, such as brighter headlights and hydrophobic windshield have proven to be effective; fancy warning systems may in fact be distractions says 2012 Highway Loss Data Institute report.
Regardless, manufacturers are making efforts in developing innovations to enhance safety and mitigate accidents. Pedestrian detection is a feature that Volvo, among other manufacturers, are focusing on. And traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning systems are other features aimed to improve the driving ability of those in urban environments.
Technology packages may be an addition to your new vehicle that might be worth considering. Each manufacturer will have a different set of features and price, here are just a few to give you an idea of how much new innovations can cost:
Make (and Features) |
Approx. Price for Technology Package (or Additional Tech Features) |
|
Volvo: tech package |
$2,100 |
|
Mercedes-Benz: tech package |
$1,800-$3,500 |
|
BMW: night vision, pedestrian detection |
$2,600 |
|
Audi: night vision, pedestrian detection |
$2,300 |
|
Lexus: Advanced Pre-Collision System and pedestrian detection |
$5,800 |
Technology advancements can never truly replace a quality driver, but if you feel the need to add on some tools to make your trip safer, consider the three aspects of vehicle safety when deciding which feature will offer you the best security: crash avoidance, crash protection and driver comfort.
Features for Your Kids’ Future and Your Wallet
For many years now, car manufacturers and drivers have been trying to reduce their carbon (footprint) tire streaks on this planet. To do so they have been gradually introducing new features to offer drivers an opportunity to feel less guilty about their choices.
Honda’s Eco Assist is a feature built specifically to improve fuel efficiency. A push of the button is all it takes for the vehicle to operate at its most economical mode. Honda is leading the way in the car manufacturing revolution by introducing Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles, an alternative to electric cars and hybrids.
Adding eco-friendly features to your car will make a significant difference to the world we live in and the price we pay to get around. I probably don’t need to tell you about the money you’ll save at the gas station – but I guess I kind of did. In addition to fuel, the government also offers tax rebates for those who choose to drive environmentally friendly cars.
How to Get All the Features You Want Through Greater Negotiation Power
Add-ons cost money and if you want the latest features, you will need to re-evaluate your budget to incorporate some wiggle room or you’ll have to be savvy enough to find the best deal through research or negotiation. There are deals all the time, you just need to be alert when they pop up.
Yahoo! Auto Car Deals offer monthly updates on a wide variety of Canadian vehicles. If you want to have the advantage when you step into the dealership, know what you want and how much it will cost ahead of time.
By simply clicking on the make and model of your choice, you will be directed to the information about the car’s features and finance, courtesy of unhaggle.com.
From there you can carefully strategize and determine which features suite you. After all, oil slicks and fire boost may help you catch criminals, but if you just want a pleasant ride from home to work, like most people, figure out what will make your car safer and more enjoyable – after all, why shouldn’t getting stuck in traffic be more pleasurable?
