Car Features That Are Going Away

As technology advances, the features that can be found on a new Honda HRV in Los Angeles is astounding. From touchscreens to great sound systems to cars that can stop themselves, vehicles are looking for ways to making driving safer and more enjoyable. As these advances take over, some of the old technology gets left in the dust.

There are a variety of features that used to exist in cars that are no longer included. This can be because people no longer have a need for them or because they have been replaced with something better. Below are some of the features that used to be found in cars but no longer are or they will be going away within the next few years.

Crank Windows

For a long time, electric windows didn’t exist or could only be found on really expensive, luxurious models. If a person wanted to roll their window down, they had to do it manually. This meant that there was a crank that accomplished this task.

Sometimes, this crank could be really challenging for a person to operate. It could get stuck, or a kid who didn’t quite have the strength to get it moving would have to try to get the window up or down. This could be bothersome if a rainstorm hit out of nowhere and they needed to get the window up before getting soaked.

Electronic windows have certainly made it easier for people to roll these elements up and down. In some cases, the new Honda Civic lease in Los Angeles might come equipped with auto roll windows, which means that person doesn’t have to hold the button down to get the window all the way up or all the way down. This means they will be less distracted when partaking in this motion.

Since rolling windows up and down is so easy, it can be something that kids really enjoy doing. To combat having kids who like to play with the buttons, locks have been installed. These make it so that only the driver can roll the windows up and down.

Cigarette Lighters and Ashtrays

There was a point in time when every car came equipped with a cigarette lighter and ashtrays. In some cases, even the backseat was equipped with ashtrays. They could be found on the door handles or on the back of the front seats. That way, if the passengers needed to put out their smokes, they had easy access to receptacles.

As it became apparent that smoking wasn’t good for people’s health and could have a negative impact on children, these features have gone away. Now, in the place where the cigarette lighter used to be, more often than not it’s now a power source for electronic devices. Ashtrays are now storage or no longer exist at all.

Hinge Windows

Speaking of windows and smoking, another feature that is difficult to find on modern cars is the hinged vent window that used to exist on a variety of different models. This was used by a variety of smokers to ensure that their smoke would drift out of the car. However, most vehicles don’t have this feature on them anymore.

Manual Transmissions

These haven’t gone away completely, but they are getting much harder to find. At one time, having a manual transmission meant that the vehicles would get better gas mileage and would cost less than their automatic transmission counterparts. With the advancement in engine technology, vehicles with automatic transmissions can get really good fuel efficiency and they are much more affordable.

In addition, having an automatic transmission means that people don’t have to press in a clutch to switch gears. This is one less thing they have to pay attention to while driving so they can keep their eyes focused on the road. Not having to push in the clutch can also be gentler on their joints.

Keys

It might seem weird that a car wouldn’t have a key, but as technology has advanced and the push-button start has become popular, there’s no reason to have metal keys any longer. The fobs can also be used to unlock the car and to open the trunk. In some models, the car can sense when the fob approaches and unlock automatically, which means that the person doesn’t have to take it out of their pocket or purse.

Keys haven’t disappeared completely. Some vehicles still require them, but they are becoming less and less common. Eventually, they may disappear altogether.

Antennas

Remember those long, pole like protrusions that used to be on cars? Sometimes they were on the hood and sometimes they were on the top? Those no longer exist. Cars still have antennas so that they can pick up radio stations, but the technology is either embedded into the back window or it is a smaller bump that sits on top of the car.

Handbrakes

These are levers that are generally found in the front of the car in between the driver and passenger. They are also referred to as the emergency brake. These are used most often with manual transmissions and would be pulled to keep the car from rolling down a hill. They were extra security to keep it in place.

While these still exist on some vehicles, they are being replaced with an electronic version that is supposed to be safer. Often referred to as “hill hold,” this engages when it senses the vehicle is on an incline, then releases when the gas pedal is pushed. For anyone who has ever struggled trying to get one of these released, they probably won’t be sad to see them go.

Tape Decks and CD Players

For the younger generations, they may not know what a tape is. They may have seen CDs, but with the invention of satellite radio, and being able to store music in a variety of different electronic and portable devices, many cars are getting rid of these music players. People still have the ability to listen to their playlist and favorite songs, but they have to be accessed by pairing a device with the car or hooking the device up through cords.

 

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