Standard Features Car Makers Need To Stop Advertising

Rear Wipers

Pretty much every vehicle with a rear window that sits at more than 60° has a rear wiper. This has been the standard now since about the mid-90s, and with the rise of hatchbacks and crossovers, rear wipers aren’t just for SUVs and vans anymore. Which is why the back wiper needs to stop being advertised - like opinions and orifices, everyone has one. And I’m not wholly convinced that they’re an excellent invention since every time I clean my rear window, streaks of washer fluid run down the hatch, necessitating a spray down to keep the liquid from eating at the clearcoat.

Airbags

In most places, vehicles are required by law to have airbags, which is why it’s frustrating when I see them listed as a feature. The Government requires they be there; the consumer is fully aware that cars have airbags - so why do manufacturers act like it’s 1951 and this is some new invention? While I realize different configurations range from simple driver and front passenger forward bags to full side curtains that turn the inside of your vehicle into a momentary marshmallow. Safety is an important factor, especially for car buyers with kids, but telling me about a feature I already expect in my vehicle comes off as condescending towards the consumer. But hey, if car makers didn’t treat their customers as if they were a bunch of bumbling idiots who don’t know a Fiero from a Fiesta, we wouldn’t have this list.

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