Five Fantastic Modern Add-Ons For Cars
If it’s been a while since you last arranged car finance to buy a new car, you’d be amazed to see the kind of options you’ll have to choose from. Built-in video entertainment systems? Hands-free hookups for your mobile? A GPS navigation system in your dashboard? That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
1. Never Get Lost: GPS Navigation
There is a huge market for GPS-based navigation equipment. They’re already so popular that even most mid-range new cars these days come with the option to have one built in. If you’re looking at a new car that doesn’t have one or if you want one for your current vehicle, you can get a third-party GPS device from companies TomTom, Garmin, and Navman, as well. You can leave your map and compass behind.
2. Good Vibrations: Entertainment Systems
Forget the CD player and speaker systems with no audio mixer. With most modern stereo systems, you can count on finding CD players that can switch between several disks at once and allow you to finely adjust the fade, balance, treble and bass. Of course, being able to plug your phone or MP3 player into your car audio system is a given.
Speaker tech is now so good that it’s not even pricey to install an amazing 5- or 6-speaker and subwoofer system. On top of all that, you can even get satellite radio set up in your car, which often offers much higher-quality content and more variety than what you can reach with FM or AM. If you frequently road trip, ferry children or just have lots of passengers, you can even get a video entertainment system that will play DVDs and Blu-Rays.
3. Never Tailgate Again: Adaptive Cruise Control
High technology isn’t just bells and whistles and fun toys; it can save your life. Adaptive Cruise Control systems are particularly useful because they’re designed to prevent you from rear-ending someone. Your run-of-the-mill cruise control system simply maintains a certain speed so that you don’t have to constantly apply pressure to the accelerator and pay attention to the speedometer. That’s great, but it still means that you have to be careful about getting too close to the car ahead of you. Adaptive cruise control, instead, maintains a constant distance between your car and the one ahead. This can be a lifesaver on long, monotonous highways.
4. Sensors, Sensors Everywhere
Most cars have a lot of blind spots that you have to watch out for. They’re especially problematic when reverse parallel parking or changing lanes. Modern cars have the option for installing front, rear, and side sensors that alert you to other vehicles or even smaller objects hiding in your blind spots. Parking sensors watch out for curbs and other cars while you park, keeping you from bumping into anything while trying to fit into a tight space. Side view assist sensors alert you whenever something is in one of your blind spots so that changing lanes is no longer a gamble.
Modern-day cars have plenty of other options available as well, especially if you go for a high-end model. These are just some of the most useful and sought-after. If you’re going to work with 360 to access car finance and insure your new car, you should consider adding on a few extras as these options help ensure long-term satisfaction and increase resale value.