I have the very good fortune to join the Steve and Johnnie Show on Chicago’s WGN Radio a couple of times a month. We talk about cars and music, and the conversation occasionally wanders, as good exchanges do.
Recently Johnnie (Johnnie Putman), having taken note of the mostly absurd polls I conduct on Twitter (X, whatever), suggested I do something useful with my time and poll followers regarding their favorite modern-era car features—the ones they cannot live without.
Though it had never occurred to me that I might accomplish something useful on Twitter, I accepted Johnnie’s challenge. By way of a pair of Twitter polls (the first one proved a little limited on voting options) I plumbed the depth of the modern American driver psyche. I share here what I learned.
Almost 200 people with clearly too much time on their hands either voted in one of the polls, or left a comment sharing their favorite feature. While the results may seem a little obvious, one of the most-beloved features has actually been around for a very long time.
As I am now weary from conducting both the polls, and subsequently spending hours doing exhaustive data analysis, I cannot promise to conduct further meaningful research anytime soon. Look for my “Mary Barra: Hot or Not?” and “Best Places to Conduct Smokey Burnouts” polls in the days ahead.
About the reliability of this poll: All of our “analysis” took place on a stolen steno pad using a number-2 pencil and was fueled by a Big Gulp of Diet Pepsi. Also, the author was listening to a newly downloaded Wes Montgomery album and may have been a little distracted. And, and this is important, we were polling people on Twitter, so…
Honda adds Google Built-in apps to 2023 Accord
Tech Car Features You Can’t Live Without
Number One: Connectivity
While listed as separate items, Bluetooth and CarPlay/Android Auto were essentially linked as a single feature by respondent comments. It’s clear that contemporary drivers place a high value on hands-free connectivity, and easy music/podcast access. One assumes most of these folks are regular listeners of the Car Stuff Podcast, because, why wouldn’t they be?
Number Two: Back-Up Camera
Well, duh. I left this off the list, largely because I forgot to include it. But yeah, the back-up camera was a safety and convenience revelation when it came on the scene early this century, and its presence in cars now is required by law. How could I forget how useful a feature this is?
Classic Brochure: The First Car Phone
Number Three: Keyless Entry
I purchased a 1999 Nissan Maxima used in 2001. Great car. I took delivery of the car without the keyless-entry fobs because they had been lost by the previous owner. Having never owned a vehicle with keyless entry, I wasn’t too worried about it. I finally got around to replacing the fobs and my life was forever changed. I had no idea what a wonderful convenience opening the car door remotely could be.
Seems most of you agree, as Keyless Entry proved to be the third most-popular tech feature per my highly scientific polling.
Your Thoughts
Here are some comments shared by Twitter folks regarding their favorite features:
Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast co-host Jill Ciminillo is a connectivity fiend, though she famously listens to terrible music.
Disturbingly, Matt did not list the Car Stuff Podcast among his favorites.
Thanks to Daniel for making us all look like spoiled whiners.
The anti-Daniel.
Some of us remember. And that gunk we sprayed into the lock didn’t work nearly as well as advertised.
Fundamental. I should have listed it as a poll option.
Noted.
Thanks for making me feel old. And, I intend to drive for a while yet, so…
Cruise control is nice. Not sure it’s tech, but it’s nice.
This is the guy that goes to see a movie and orders his popcorn unsalted and without butter.
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
As a kid I enjoyed playing with the cigarette lighter.