Gadgets & Gimmicks.

[Esses]

Not to be taken too seriously as most of these actually have a practical purpose, but what are your favourite car Gadgets & Gimmicks? Here's a few that spring to mind.

Power windows.
Power mirrors.
Hidden, lit vanity mirrors.
In-car DVD.
Cup holders.
Sliding sun-visor extenders.
Heated exterior mirrors.
Sunglass holders.
Map-lights.
Rear A/C.
Separate rear heating.
Cruise control.
Arm-rests.
Round ash-tray to fit cup-holders.
Trip-computer.
Under-seat locking security tray.
Power outlets.
etc etc.

[Gan88]

Most important in-car technology:

1) Electric seats (with memory)
2) Electric mirrors (with anti-glare)
3) Electric windows
4) Heated & ventilated seats
5) Slot for SIM card
6) Steering mounted audio controls
7) Adapter jack for i-Pod
8) Automatic window wipers
9) Multi-zone climate control
10) Electric blinds for rear passengers

Damn, I have to spend less time looking through Mercedes Benz brochures!

[ferrari fan]

Originally posted by Gan88
Most important in-car technology:

1) Electric seats (with memory)
2) Electric mirrors (with anti-glare)
3) Electric windows
4) Heated & ventilated seats
5) Slot for SIM card
6) Steering mounted audio controls
7) Adapter jack for i-Pod
8) Automatic window wipers
9) Multi-zone climate control
10) Electric blinds for rear passengers

Damn, I have to spend less time looking through Mercedes Benz brochures!

You hardly can go wrong with a good old Mercedes as your choosen form of transport.
I am in the process of choosing my next one:)

[KiwiRallyFan]

I was impressed with variable-speed intermittent windscreen wipers, however I think the most useful gadget in my car is the automatic garage door opener......:)

[Esses]

I forgot: Tray tables.
Individual storage compartments.
Rain sensor.
Light sensor.
Backing sensor.
Fuzzy logic auto trans.
Personal a/c outlets.
Personal reading lights.
Automatic free-wheeling hubs.
Shift-on-the-fly 4WD transfer-case.

[Gan88]

Originally posted by ferrari fan
You hardly can go wrong with a good old Mercedes as your choosen form of transport.
I am in the process of choosing my next one:)

I'll take a tough Q car anyday!

I love how the dealer demonstrates the strength of the doors by swinging on them- bloody heavy things!

A brand spanker is out of the question right now, but I've been watching W202 C36 prices keenly. They are dropping past the 40K barrier now.

[XR8]

The 3 on the tree in my XF ute. The gear lever makes a nice comfy arm rest!

Between that, the bench vinyl seat & the sunvisor, I can't go wrong.

Oh, the rubber floor mat is great for those rainy days too & is easy to clean.

Practical and comfortable.

Ed :)

[HSVLOVER]

POWER AND LOT'S OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[TBVX05]

To XR8: :rolleyes: Thats technology from the dinosaur era. Talking of dinosaurs your ute is one of them!

I wonder when the Holden Caprice will get automatic braking when it senses a car in front is too close...

[Esses]

Originally posted by TBVX05
To XR8: Thats technology from the dinosaur era. Talking of dinosaurs your ute is one of them!

I wonder when the Holden Caprice will get automatic braking when it senses a car in front is too close...

An ol' 3-speed would just about be a gimmick these days, wouldn't it? A young "doof-doof" lad wouldn't know what to do with one.:D

As for auto-braking, I'm sure I've read that BMW & Merc & maybe Lexus have optional Radar-sensor activated braking systems available. For use on der Autobahn.:)

[REDVRSS]

for me, Cruise Control is the best comfort ever....had it on my VR SS, but sadly when I downsized to an Astra I have none.

now my 7hr drive to my mothers in central NSW becomes a tiresome ride... when I had cruise i was refreshed at the end.

all the other stuff is just 'fluff' :)

Its amazing how many people I know, including my stepfather who drives 100s of k's each day on the highways in his prado, just will not use his cruise....just wont trust it....


Paul.

[Esses]

Loved the Cruise on our EF & the Carnival will be getting it before we do another big trip. Thought that the "Big 6/Auto" combination on the Falcon was ideal for C/C. Be interesting to see how it works on "Small 6/Manual".:)

Last years Day-Trip to the snow, the In-Laws tagged along in their 3.3 Auto Pathfinder, no C/C. My FIL hates C/C, but it was really interesting to watch the Pathfinder drop back on every hill as the C/C just kept the Falc. on 100 kmh, dropping gears as needed. I hate to admit it, but I think that it even did better fuel economy than when I actually drove it.:D

REDVR, you CAN get aftermarket Cruise if you really want it.

[bev]

Sat Nav...

Specify it on rental cars, so we can find our way, plus have it on my 'best' car, along with moisture sensor windscreen wipers, darkness sensing lights and park-tronic.

Someone was not actually reading the M-B brochures.

What this means is that you can back out of the garage (auto door of course) and if it is raining the wipers operate at the appropriate speed, the lights come on if it is still a little dark and the back of the car beeps if you are about to back into something.
With the sat nav. set you can then be advised whether to turn left or right out of the driveway. You want to phone someone, click the steering wheel control and it will scroll through the address book and you click another switch and the phone dials and the conversation comes through the stereo system.

Another button click and you can see how far to the next service, the sat nav. will advise where nearest Mb dealer is, as well as how far you have travelled, how much fuel used, how long it has taken, how long till you need to refuel, the outside temp and you can set the inside temp. for each side. If it is sunny, another button will open the sunroof.

The downside is you get into the 'other car', forget about the lights and wipers, can't see or be seen and back into someone....

[timbo333]

I use the cruise control all the time.

Very handy and stops my speed 'creeping' up on longer runs.

Timbo.

[Esses]

Originally posted by bev
Sat Nav...

Specify it on rental cars, so we can find our way, plus have it on my 'best' car, along with moisture sensor windscreen wipers, darkness sensing lights and park-tronic.

Someone was not actually reading the M-B brochures.

What this means is that you can back out of the garage (auto door of course) and if it is raining the wipers operate at the appropriate speed, the lights come on if it is still a little dark and the back of the car beeps if you are about to back into something.
With the sat nav. set you can then be advised whether to turn left or right out of the driveway. You want to phone someone, click the steering wheel control and it will scroll through the address book and you click another switch and the phone dials and the conversation comes through the stereo system.

Another button click and you can see how far to the next service, the sat nav. will advise where nearest Mb dealer is, as well as how far you have travelled, how much fuel used, how long it has taken, how long till you need to refuel, the outside temp and you can set the inside temp. for each side. If it is sunny, another button will open the sunroof.

The downside is you get into the 'other car', forget about the lights and wipers, can't see or be seen and back into someone....

Bev, most of that stuff is available on a MUCH more affordable brand than Merc. Dare I mention the "K" word?:D

[singer]

Originally posted by Steve
Bev, most of that stuff is available on a MUCH more affordable brand than Merc. Dare I mention the "K" word?:D

Mercedes were tied to one Korean Brand for the supply of Engines for their 4WD until MB decided to get in on the act with their own ML Class 4WD

[tonynz]

SAT NAV
I use it all the time in rental cars when in OZ or the USA.
I have just purchased the NAVMAN ICN 635.
Now I don't hane to worry about taking the option of making sure the renal cars have them.

I hardly ever use cruise,
I have had my VZ SS for about 6 months and have never used it.

And Rador Dector ( they are not illegal here). great with our stupid speed limits of towing a trailer at 90km.

[Esses]

Originally posted by singer
Mercedes were tied to one Korean Brand for the supply of Engines for their 4WD until MB decided to get in on the act with their own ML Class 4WD

That was Ssanyong, then became part of Daewoo (or the other way round, maybe?) & has mostly disappeared. There was a 3.2 litre straight-six & a 2.3 four, 5-door 4WD Wagon. The four is still being used in one of the Merc. Commercial Vans - the MB100? My memory is hazy.:)

[The Hammer]

As i've been working 'on-road' installing car phone kits, alarms, stereo's and such for 13yrs. now, it always amazed me how people justified the expense of getting a SatNav. As a fitted accessory i'm taking here, not as standard equipment, as in some Merc's and Beemers.
Admittedly, they have come down in price from around $5000 for a 'in Dash' unit, when they first came out, to under a grand for a portable Navman. I'll just stick to my portable $30 'Melways' street directory, it only needs it's map data-base upgraded every 2-3yrs. More money for Diecast that way.:D

One thing no-one has mentioned yet is, your friendly "can/cup holder" . You know the one, it's that large round hole in your dash that the kids have deposited a thick sludge of Macca's coke into :)

[MarkHM]

And Rador Dector ( they are not illegal here). great with our stupid speed limits of towing a trailer at 90km. [/B][/QUOTE]

Are we allowed to do 90 now? When did that change?

[tonynz]

Mark
Earlier in the year either 1st March or 1st April.

[MarkHM]

Good grief, I can go faster now. Mind you I need a new detector! I was caught speeding last year at Parnassus, doing 110 and he pulled me over to talk about my excessive speed. I replied that 110 was hardly excessive. The officer then pointed to the trailer (which had been in my blind spot and I'd forgotten completely about) and, of course, said, "it is when towing a trailer". Loads of demerits later.....

[tonynz]

I have been stopped on the motor way out of Christchurch a couple of times towing the trailer.
A few years back a cop was sitting under one of the fly overs a caught quite a few of us on the way to a MX.

[MarkHM]

And the Aussies think they have problems!!

[bev]

Originally posted by Steve
Bev, most of that stuff is available on a MUCH more affordable brand than Merc. Dare I mention the "K" word?:D

Y

[Esses]

Originally posted by bev
Y

?:confused:

[singer]

Originally posted by Steve
?:confused: I think Bev is saying "Yes" to your earlier question:)

[Esses]

Originally posted by singer
I think Bev is saying "Yes" to your earlier question:)

Sigh. Been married 11 years. Have a Mother, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Sister-in-Law, 3 Female cousins & now a Daughter & I STILL don't understand Feminine shorthand.:)
Where's the gadget for that?

[singer]

Originally posted by Steve
Sigh. Been married 11 years. Have a Mother, Mother-in-Law, Sister, Sister-in-Law, 3 Female cousins & now a Daughter & I STILL don't understand Feminine shorthand.:)
Where's the gadget for that?

I only said "I thought" :rolleyes: not that I knew

I've known my Trouble & strife better known as the "Minister for War & Finance", Mother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, for over 36 years & Sister for 27 years, (not that it makes much difference), & I STILL don't understand Feminine shorthand either,

[bev]

Originally posted by Steve
?:confused:

Phonetics again - another thread.

You used the letter K standing for some other brand - guessing from Korea.

My response was Y = WHY?????????????????????

[Esses]

Originally posted by bev
Phonetics again - another thread.

You used the letter K standing for some other brand - guessing from Korea.

My response was Y = WHY?????????????????????

See, I REALLY don't understand Feminine shorthand. Phonetics, I understand ('enry 'iggins) but not the symbols.

"K" stands for KIA (& Korea) two of which we recently bought. A big one for MY Minister for War & Finance (I make it, she spends it) & the Junior Ministry. It has most of the bells & whistles you mentioned in relation to Merc., but obviously at a lesser $ tag, and a little one for me. That's the mid-life-crisis "Sports Car" - it's red, after all.:D

[bev]

Before I was beaten on the edit, was saying the the shorthand version I learned was called Pitmans, which was invented by a male.

For younger members shorthand (is it still used now?) was where you wrote everything down in squiggles at dictation then went back to your desk and produced letters and documents from the squiggles on your manual (and later electric) typewriter, which printed each keystroke straight onto the paper.

Extra copies, load in more carbon paper, then try fixing typos, no spell check, delete key, colour printers etc. Want to send the same letter to someone else, no mail merge, type it again.

Life at the office has changed and so has life behind the wheel, which is why after writing lots of squiggles it is neat to be able to enjoy all the latest in something from Underturkheim.
:) :)

[Esses]

Originally posted by bev
Before I was beaten on the edit, was saying the the shorthand version I learned was called Pitmans, which was invented by a male.

For younger members shorthand (is it still used now?) was where you wrote everything down in squiggles at dictation then went back to your desk and produced letters and documents from the squiggles on your manual (and later electric) typewriter, which printed each keystroke straight onto the paper.

Extra copies, load in more carbon paper, then try fixing typos, no spell check, delete key, colour printers etc. Want to send the same letter to someone else, no mail merge, type it again.

Life at the office has changed and so has life behind the wheel, which is why after writing lots of squiggles it is neat to be able to enjoy all the latest in something from Underturkheim.
:) :)

My Mum tried teaching me shorthand once, but it didn't work. Music now (as in notes on manuscript) , that's a different thing. Workshop Manuals are easily decipherable, too.

Back to cars. I was just making the point that the "Third World" manufacturers are catching up, fast, at a much more affordable price tag. If you saw last Sunday's 60 Minutes on the Korean Ship-Building yards (now the WORLD's busiest - $70 MILLION dollar ships here) you'll know what I'm talking about.

[Leigh]

Originally posted by Steve
My Mum tried teaching me shorthand once, but it didn't work. Music now (as in notes on manuscript) , that's a different thing. Workshop Manuals are easily decipherable, too.

Back to cars. I was just making the point that the "Third World" manufacturers are catching up, fast, at a much more affordable price tag. If you saw last Sunday's 60 Minutes on the Korean Ship-Building yards (now the WORLD's busiest - $70 MILLION dollar ships here) you'll know what I'm talking about.
I always thought we had the west, east and third world...so Korea would be an Eastern country, not third world...;)

Cheers

[Esses]

Originally posted by lcfp2297
I always thought we had the west, east and third world...so Korea would be an Eastern country, not third world.

Cheers

Hence the ".....". I was speaking in an industrial sense, as in the 3rd part of the world to become industrialised, in a very broad sense. The 1st being UK/Europe, 2nd USA/Canada/Aust./NZ etc & the 3rd is basically all the rest!:D
Based roughly on the concept of "Old World", "New World" & "Third World".:)

[HSV GOD]

a MOMO STEERING WHEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Esses]

Prefer a SAAS myself.:)

[HSV GOD]

each to there own

i think momo are in a league of it's own though the quality is quite evident

[Esses]

Yup. So's the price.

[tonynz]

While I was in the USA the last week I bought a
PassPort G Timer "vechicle performance computer"
It measures G forces. times and speed over 1/4 mile,
horse power at different speeds. etc
It plugs into cigeratte lighter.
Cost US$100