Motorists have had their say on what features they should have in the next cars they own – and it suggests Britons are finding it difficult to get in and out of parking spaces.
A poll of 13,000 motorists showed that parking sensors are at the top of their wish list, while rearview and all-round cameras also made it into the top ten most wanted attachments.
Three in five drivers said their next vehicle should have sensors to help them enter and exit parking bays, parallel park and make three-point turns.
We reveal the rest of the top 10 ‘must-have’ features drivers want in their next cars…
The one car feature that most motorists see as a “must have” for the next vehicle they buy is parking sensors. Three in five say their next bike needs them
The second most important feature drivers want in their next car is a built-in navigation system, which is a non-negotiable by 57 per cent of Britons surveyed by AA Cars.
Meanwhile, nearly half of drivers say a heated windshield – which makes defrosting a breeze on frigid days – is a critical feature for their next motorcycle.
While the popularity of the practical features comes as no surprise, the percentage of motorists who wanted one ‘obsolete’ technology came as a huge shock.
The second most important feature drivers want in their next car is a built-in navigation system, a non-negotiable by 57% of Britons surveyed by AA Cars
Just over half of motorists say a heated windshield – making defrosting a breeze on frigid days – is a critical feature for their next engine
Despite the popularity of streaming music and the availability of syncing songs, albums and entire playlists from a user’s phone to their vehicle through systems such as Apple Car Play and Android Auto, nearly a quarter of drivers surveyed still want to a CD player.
Considered by many to be out of fashion, 24 percent of motorists surveyed said a CD player is a “must have” for their next vehicle.
However, there is a clear dichotomy in demand based on the age of the drivers.
Surprisingly, almost a quarter of the 13,000 drivers surveyed said their next car will need a CD player, despite advances in music streaming via apps and in-vehicle Bluetooth
CD players are most popular among older drivers: 26 percent of those over 55 consider them non-negotiable on their next car purchase.
In contrast, only 13 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds feel the need to play CDs in their next car.
Instead, the youngest age group see Bluetooth connectivity – which allows streaming music from a mobile phone – as their most desired feature, with 66 percent of drivers in this demographic citing it as a “must have.”
The AA Cars survey shows how important technology is to motorists: 41 percent of drivers want a rear-view camera in their next car, while a similar percentage (38 percent) want all-round parking cameras.
It’s clear Britons want more help with parking, with sensors, cameras and reversing screens high on drivers’ wish lists
Other popular features include charging smartphones and devices, with nearly half (48%) of those surveyed saying their next car should have a USB port
Other popular features include USB charging (48 percent), cruise control (33 percent), heated seats (28 percent), and the simple but effective cup holder (25 percent).
Mark Oakley, director of the AA’s car sales website, says many of the high-demand features cited by drivers as “must-haves” were previously premium-priced options that now come standard in many recent models.
‘Parking sensors, which emerged as the number one ‘must have’ among UK drivers, are widely available in cars from the country’s favorite brands, including Ford and Volkswagen,’ explains Mark.
“As more near-new vehicles find their way into the second-hand market, previously high-end technology such as parking cameras is becoming more accessible.”
However, Mark warns that drivers should not let themselves be ‘blinded by gadgets’ when buying their next car on the used market.
Instead, the priority should be on the history of the vehicle and making sure it has been properly maintained and has no missed service intervals.
“Skipping your due diligence when buying a car increases the risk of overlooking a serious problem that will end up costing you money,” he warned.
“If you’re not a mechanical expert, it’s always worth booking a professional, impartial vehicle inspection to give the car a thorough check and make sure everything is working as it should.”
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