Automotive features/innovations that are actually useful

[Laconian]

I have had buddies who swapped Maxima seats out for heated/cooled seats from an M45. Maybe not a fair representation, but those fuckers were heavy as hell. Heating element + fans capable of pushing through perforated leather and cushioning.... tough stuff.

I bet the N-way power adjustments add a lot of weight on their own.

[12,000 RPM]

I bet the N-way power adjustments add a lot of weight on their own.

Oh yea, that too. I think BMW is up to 60 way adjustments

[ifcar]

The seating material itself for this isn't heavy.  It's a special nylon weave pattern that's patented.  Started in ventilated seats, then shrank down to become the backing material for a lot of interior components that are wrapped.  Really crazy material, but it's expensive.

I have had buddies who swapped Maxima seats out for heated/cooled seats from an M45. Maybe not a fair representation, but those fuckers were heavy as hell. Heating element + fans capable of pushing through perforated leather and cushioning.... tough stuff.

I think y'all are talking about slightly different things -- perforated leather versus cooled seats. It sure would be nice if my current Mazda3 test car, with black leather, had either.

[cawimmer430]

Most BMWs I've been in have them in the console. Dunno why they put them in the dash sometimes.

On my 1-Series they're behind the transmission - two of 'em.  Well-made, solid cup holders that don't look so flimsy and breakable as they do in that 3er picture. Like here (not my car but same cupholder style and position).

[Raza]

German cars in General have the worst cup holders.

Both my VWs had awesome cup holders. My brother's Audi's are even better. It's just Mercedes that has crappy ones.

If you back a couple of generations, they were all pretty bad, but nowadays that's no longer the case.

[cawimmer430]

German cars in General have the worst cup holders.

Up until recently cup holders were an option in most German cars (and not available in some). Kind of difficult to keep your Weißbier stable in a cup holder while blasting down the Autobahn at 250 km/h. 

These days they appear to be standard on most German cars.

[Rupert]

None in the 944. Kind of a PITA.

[hotrodalex]

None in the 944. Kind of a PITA.

Annoying when I go get food to go and have to remember to not bother with a drink (unless it's a bottle) because there's nowhere to put one.

But good for keeping people from eating in my car.

[AutobahnSHO]

I want remote locks. Such a hassle to unlock the front with a key to unlock the backdoor to get stuff out then relock them all from the front door...

[Madman]

The cup holders in the front console of my Passat are pretty decent but the ones inside the back seat armrest are beyond useless.

[Soup DeVille]

I have no cupholders. Too many lighters and ashtrays.

Its almost enough to wonder if we've just replaced one oral fixation with another.