Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: bepperb
The Highlander has this amazing feature where you can control the temperature of the entire interior with just one easy to turn knob. Not three knobs (our Sienna), not an LCD with a bar graph, not in a menu somewhere, no touch screen.
It also doesn't ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding if you drive 20 feet without the seatbelt, like in a parking garage, or to get the mail, or backing a trailer.
Lastly it has a full size spare.
Sadly, probably my last car with these features.
I have that HVAC feature too, and I agree it is awesome! My truck will aggressively chime if driven without a seat belt on, but that is quickly disabled by simply pushing the buckle release once. Ford did away with that trick in '04 I think.
I have a full size spare as well, and conveniently mounted on a winch system from underneath so you don't have to remove any cargo to get to it.
Every vehicle I have had with a donut had had the donut replaced with a real tire. On my cars, it has always been a winter tire; on the Jeep, it's a full sized spare (albeit slightly smaller). Donuts aren't safe.
The seatbelt chime is annoying. My '11 focus had it, hitting the seatbelt release does not longer work. I had to go through this odd procedure to disable the beltminder.
I also had to go through an odd procedure to disable the auto locks. I never liked that feature ... I attribute it to the door locks wearing out on my 2001 Taurus.
As far as the hard to use HVAC controls; I'm glad I have two vehicles that are fairly "simple". I always liked the manual HVAC levers that older vehicles had, because they rarely failed. Then the vacuum ones weren't so bad, minimal electronics.
My Focus has an electronic push button one for the vents (push defrost, feet, face, etc). I suspect I'll have problems with it eventually.
I recently drove a Ford Taurus X (08) and ... I could NOT , for the life of me, figure out how to operate the HVAC. I'm in IT.
Another feature that I miss on my Focus is the trunk key ... I can only open the trunk with the keyfob or switch in the car.