[spazzyfry123]

Something I’ve always been fascinated with is a vehicle with a “neat” feature that sets them apart.

Toyota 4Runners with their rolling rear window


Rolls Royce has a floating center cap on the wheel so that the logo is always upright.


Could be something as simple as a sliding window on a Landcruiser


or extravagant as a sliding door on a Z1.


What sparks your fancy?

[SteveinArizona]

Being able to turn on my AC with a phone app.

[Alfisti]

Cool story.

Saab put the ignition near the hand brake for 2 reasons instead of the usual placement on the steering column because .....

a) They felt the dangling keys were a risk of impaling the driver's knee
b) They felt that under the right circumstances, a heavy set of dangling keys could turn and switch the car into neutral whilst locking the steering (shit you not)

So, GM buys Saab and naturally GM are like ... what the fuck are you doing with the ignition down there? This costs a damn fortune and it is right where the cup holders go you swedish meatballs, change it to be like our other cars. Head of Saab says sure, no worries, but basically ignores the mandate because Saab.

Sure as shit, the whole GM ignition issue starts to raise it's head and then totally blows up, Sven in Sweden is like "I fucking told you so" .... admittedly as he was packing his shit 'cos they went tits up but still ... fuckers had a point.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Being able to turn on my AC with a phone app.

Why the fuck wouldn't you just reach over and turn the god-damn knob?

[smrtypants44]

I always liked all the german-esque features on the phaeton...

i.e. the headlight washers spraying only one side at a time in order to not impact visibility

[overcoil]

Ferrari 275 GTB gas filler cap is in the rear trunk. Not so unusual for cars designed before the early sixties I guess.

Also, not sure if this is factual but an older Colombo 12 cylinder due to cylinder size is extremely easy to push start.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Why the fuck wouldn't you just reach over and turn the god-damn knob?

Tesla Model 3 when parked, I read, turns on A/C system of the drivetrain on it's own to cool the batteries in hot climates to preserve the batteries.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Why the fuck wouldn't you just reach over and turn the god-damn knob?

Because I have just finished the 17th hole on a golf course in 110 degree Fahrenheit and I don't have a one mile reach.

[nick3753]

8400 rpm

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Because I have just finished the 17th hole on a golf course in 110 degree Fahrenheit and I don't have a one mile reach.

soft

[chassis]

The 4Runner sliding liftgate window is the best feature in all of SUV-dom.

Heated and cooled cupholders on my GLE 350

Brake HOLD function on a variety of brands

Twin fuel tanks on the Series 1, 2 and 3 Jaguar XJ-6 and 1980s Ford F-150

"Granny" or creeper first gear in the 6-speed manual in Ford Super Duty trucks of the early 2000s

Kick to open liftgate on a variety of brands

Heated steering wheel. First time I experienced this, it was a revelation.

Parking pilot/self parking

[dreamingat30fps]

My Camaro and Corvette both had capless fuel fills... why this is not standard on every car I have no idea!

I also like the auto rev match.

[BeEmVe]

My Land Cruiser has a built in beer cooler.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

My Camaro and Corvette both had capless fuel fills... why this is not standard on every car I have no idea!

I also like the auto rev match.

Oh yeah, the rev-match is brilliant.

[Law]

Off the top of my head:

BMW Touring models- The glass portion of the tailgate on all 3 Series and 5 Series Touring/Wagon models can open independently from the rest of the hatch. Useful if you need to put stuff in or retrieve something quickly without stuff falling out or if you just want to give your dog some air without it running off (at a car meet or tailgate picnic, for example).



BMW M Cars - The illuminated manual shift knob, a very unique touch that adds to the experience and ambience, has appeared on most M models, incl. all M3/M5 models equipped with manual gearboxes since the Z3 M & late production E36 M3s.


BMW M Cars - A Variable Redline/Tachometer feature first appeared on the E39 M5 and has appeared in subsequent M3/M5/Z4 M, etc. models since then. When the M engine is cold (oil temperature determinant), the redline is visually indicated at a lower RPM and acts as a soft redline to prevent the driver from high-revs until the oil temperature is up to optimal operating temperature. (Figure below shows E9x M3 'cold soft/suggested redline' under 7000 rpms instead of the full 8400 rpm)


Porsche - Ignition keys on the left, a legacy of racing starts at Le Mans where the driver could start the car with their left hand while simultaneously placing the transmission in 1st gear with their right hand, hence saving precious time in the race. It's a tradition that has been retained in Porsche's production street cars.

[Redd]

Q-System gearbox in the Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6. It was basically a 4-speed torque converter slushbox from Aisin (like your family Toyota) but with a gated H-shifter for sport mode. When you felt like a bit of fun, you slide slide the shift knob to the left and live out your favourite Daytona arcade game fantasies.

[MrOhnoez]

Porsche - Ignition keys on the left, a legacy of racing starts at Le Mans where the driver could start the car with their left hand while simultaneously placing the transmission in 1st gear with their right hand, hence saving precious time in the race. It's a tradition that has been retained in Porsche's production street cars.

[/QUOTE]

Funny enough, at Porsche training they tell you this is a load of crap.
The reason was simple, during the war metals were very precious, having the ignition switch on that side saved some wire. The whole Le man start thing was just a rumor, perhaps a bi-product. Not the actual reason however.

[BBri89]

Cooled/ventilated seats. That was in my Ford Mondeo, not exactly premium.

Heated steering wheel was a game changer too.



The original Honda CR-V had a picnic table under the boot floor. A pretty decent one as well, nice and sturdy.


Some cool and useful original features are not exclusively the remit of high end brands.

Originally Posted by MrOhnoez

Funny enough, at Porsche training they tell you this is a load of crap.
The reason was simple, during the war metals were very precious, having the ignition switch on that side saved some wire. The whole Le man start thing was just a rumor, perhaps a bi-product. Not the actual reason however.

Stirling Moss used to leave his car in gear, jump in and start cranking it so it's moving forwards whilst he's still firing up the engine... get that few yards of head start.

Didn't need to use both hands then.

[spazzyfry123]

Land Rover Discovery's Alpine Window (window on the roof for the rear passengers).

[Murf993]

1964 Mercury Meteor rear window rolled down.

[freakystyly]

Chevy Avalanche (pickup truck) had a fold flat rear seat, so it would extend your truck bed for a few extra feet inside the cabin, really weird.

[9M71]

Mini coopers use toggle switches to control your windows, traction, door lock, fogs, etc. Pretty fun to play with.