Technology has made our lives easier in essential aspects like driving (transportation). Features like built-in GPS can help when traveling or trying to locate somewhere you don’t know; however, not all advancements are worth the hype. These days, several high-tech features are more trouble than they’re worth, but carmakers still market them as the must-haves of modern vehicles. If you’re concerned about convenience, think twice before paying extra for these 15 car features.

Rain Sensing Wipers

While you’ll always get it right with a manual switch, rain-sensing wipers have too many issues. They can malfunction in extreme weather conditions, such as heavy downpours or freezing rain. Also, they can unexpectedly activate if they misinterpret heavy dust or fog as rain, causing unnecessary wiping that wastes washer fluid and distracts the driver. Besides, maintenance and potential repair costs can easily outweigh their convenience.

Electronic Parking Brakes

Back then, brakes were simple and reliable, as you only had to pull a lever or step on a pedal. These days, modern cars have electronic parking brakes controlled by buttons and switches. Although they sound impressive and easy to use, carmakers can improve on several parts. If the electronic wiring goes haywire, like when it deploys unexpectedly while in motion or fails to respond, the driver can end up in a life-threatening situation.

Gesture Control

The idea behind gesture control in cars is that you wave your hand, and the car does what you want, playing music or increasing volume. However, drivers can get frustrated and annoyed when the car misinterprets a gesture or fails to respond accurately. Moreover, drivers may need to divert their attention from the road to make gestures, increasing the risk of accidents correctly.

Social Media Integration in Cars

If using social media on the road is unsafe for pedestrians, you’d wonder why automakers decided to add the feature to cars. The most apparent disadvantage is how it can distract the drivers,  compromising their safety and that of other road users. Critics maintain that the constant chime of notifications is dangerous and that attempting to post updates while driving isn’t worth the trouble. Besides, integration may put the vehicle at risk of increased cyber threats.

Mercedes’ Fancy Air Fresheners

Mercedes’ Fancy Air Fresheners may seem luxurious, but the strong scents may trigger allergies or migraines in sensitive people. In addition to the obvious reasons not to have them, they often come with expensive refills, incurring unnecessary costs to the owner. You can add a pleasant and fresh scent to your car without overspending on fancy stuff.

Shift Indicator Lights

While seemingly convenient, gear shift indicator lights in manual transmission cars are more trouble than they’re worth for experienced drivers. The best drivers became skilled because they learned to rely on intuitive cues like clutch feel and engine RPM to determine optimal shift points. So, while these lights may help learners, they still do more harm than good if drivers rely too much on them, neglecting to develop their instincts.

Oversized Touchscreens

Although wide touchscreens look high-tech, drivers should use physical buttons, which are quicker and safer, instead of these risks marketed as “the latest high-tech feature.” Even as a passenger, using your phone on a bumpy road is like trying to get blood out of a stone; now, imagine the difficulty as the driver. For safety’s sake, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on a wheel, not a giant smartphone lookalike.

Fake Engine Noise

It’s okay to buy fake engine noises, but they may mislead drivers about their vehicle’s actual performance, which could lead to risky driving. Also, these artificial sounds may cover up genuine engine issues that require immediate attention or repairs; hearing your engine’s sound gives you honest feedback on how your car is performing. These reasons explain why enthusiasts got pissed when they discovered BMW’s Active Sound Design system enhanced engine noise.

Complex Infotainment Systems

One of the best ways to identify unnecessary features is to determine if they’re more flashy than helpful. At first, combining several controls and functions in a touch-sensitive screen seemed impressive, but drivers tend to take their eyes off the road when there’s menu after menu. Considering that divided attention is one of the highest causes of accidents, you’re better off using physical buttons to adjust volume or change channels when driving.

Wi-Fi Hotspots

Are Wi-Fi hotspots a modern luxury or a redundant feature that exceeds what’s necessary?? Critics don’t see the use of an additional in-car Wi-Fi service when smartphones have data plans. Besides the constant distraction, drivers must deal with the extra costs and time needed to update and secure the hotspot software.

Automatic Start-Stop Systems

This feature automatically disengages the engine when the vehicle is idle or stops and starts again when the driver removes their foot from the brake pedal. While designers installed this feature with good intentions, like saving fuel, the vibrations and noise from frequent starting and restarting can cause discomfort. Also, frequent engine cycling may wear out the starter and other engine components in heavy traffic.

Self-Parking Vehicles

Self-parking cars rely heavily on sensors, which can malfunction in awful weather or tight spaces, leading to parking fails. These systems remove the essential skill of maneuvering a car from drivers who rely on them, leaving them confused when they don’t work. Drivers shouldn’t dull their driving skills while adding extra cost to the car when they can choose better safety features.

Voice Commands

Voice commands are a welcome feature if they reduce distractions as promised; however, they have several annoying issues that make them unnecessary. Many of these systems only respond to pre-set commands such as “audio system,” “Bluetooth,” or “play track.” They may also have accuracy issues due to accents, speech affectations, or background noise.

Knobless Radio Tuning

Although this sleek feature sounds like an idea straight out of a futuristic movie, it can be frustrating. Changing radio stations by pressing up/down buttons one tap at a time is time-wasting and distracting for what you could do in seconds. Physical knobs are safer because they allow you to change channels or adjust the volume without losing concentration.

Lane-Keeping Assist

When a mini-trailer speeds down your lane, the ideal response is to shift lanes, but these systems may not respond promptly enough. Using lane-keeping assist when driving can hinder swift lane changes or swerving to avoid danger. Moreover, drivers who rely on this technology may develop a false sense of security that makes them complacent while driving.