The Most Impractical Automobile Features and Customizations

The road to innovation often includes just as many ‘bad ideas’ as good ones. When it comes to the automotive industry, features that make our day to day lives easier are matched with equally impractical auto features. Many of these car features could have been excluded from production altogether, while others probably should have been improved upon before they were made available to the general public.

The Rear Spoiler: ‘What Does That Thing Do?’

One feature that rapidly gained popularity due to its unique look was the rear spoiler. The rear spoiler came standard on many sporty coupes of the 1990s, such as the Toyota Celica and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, but really offered no additional practical functionality. It was rumored that the rear spoiler may have had “magical powers” that helped keep lightweight vehicles on the ground or that it helped boost speed by adding to the aerodynamics of the car, but the fact is that the rear spoiler never has served any practical purpose other than aesthetics.

Everyone Wants the Suicide Doors

Although the rear spoiler is becoming less and less popular, it is still added as a modification to some sports cars by car enthusiasts. Naturally, some of the most impractical automotive features can be found among show cars and classics that have been customized for either racing or show. A car feature that has been popular for several decades now is the use of modified doors such as suicide doors, Lamborghini doors, and gullwing doors. Lambo doors, also referred to as “butterfly doors,” became a pop culture phenomenon in 1985 with the release of the movie “Back to the Future.” The Michael J. Fox movie depicted a custom futuristic car that was nicknamed “the Delorean.” The car had automatic doors that lifted upwards in a gullwing fashion.

“Butterfly doors” have also been used on Lamborghinis for several decades, making them even more highly desirable among the general public. Suicide doors are often a bewildering modification to any vehicle-with doors opening from the opposite side. Although more recent mod kits have made these kinds of doors more affordable than in the past, suicide doors and Lambo doors are still viewed as something only seen on show cars or extreme luxury sports cars. This is largely due to the fact that the feature is immensely impractical and serves no real physical purpose-but impracticality is still a much desired trait among car enthusiasts who love fast cars manufactured primarily for show.

One recent mainstream coupe, the Saturn Sky, attempted to introduce Lambo doors to the general public on a larger basis, but the vehicle was only manufactured for a couple of years before production ceased. When it comes to modern vehicle manufacturing, it seems that the race to come up with more attractive automobile features is becoming more competitive than ever. Not a lot has changed in the way of vehicle mechanics in the last 20 years. This means that consumer appeal is largely dependent upon two things: body design and onboard features. When it comes to pleasing the public for the sake of making money, there are apparently no limits.

GPS, DVD, LCD: How Much Technology Can We Fit in One Car?

On-board GPS navigation systems seemed attractive when they were first introduced, but are now viewed as a largely unnecessary expense. Many people already have navigation programs for free or for a nominal fee through their smartphones or can afford dash-mount navigation devices for less than $75. The same is true for many “hands free” features that allow drivers to plug their cell phones in or mount them while they drive. These types of devices can usually be offered for less by wireless retailers.

On-board DVD players and LCD screens mounted to the back of headrests are a great feature for larger passenger vehicles and family minivans. Popular among parents, the Chrysler Town and Country offers standard rear DVD players and additional storage for kids to tow their movies and games. While shows can help keep kids in the back occupied, DVD players and LCD screens in the front of the vehicle can become a dangerous distraction for drivers. Several car manufacturers have attempted to introduce dash-mount movie players, but later removed the screens for safety reasons. Dash-mount DVD players are still available as a modification through consumer electronics stores, but are not recommended for most vehicles.


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