Added Extras You Could Live Without In Your Car, But Probably Wouldn't Want To

Cars have certainly evolved a great deal since Henry Ford sold the first one in 1903. In Ford's day, cars were little more than a means of transportation, offering little in the way of luxury other than the fact that they were more comfortable than riding in a horse and cart. A look at any car made today will tell you that that has changed immensely. Car makers have begun to include all sorts of extra features to make drivers' lives easier and more comfortable, and many people have added these same extras to older cars to get the same benefits. You may be able to live without these added extras, but you probably wouldn't want to. Here are just a few that you may have, or want to have, in your own car.

Tinted windows

For some people, window tinting is all about privacy. However, tinted windows offer more benefits than just a pretty, private look for your car. On hot days, window tint can block out the sun's rays and prevent the interior of your car from getting too hot. It can also protect your car's interior from UV ray damage, which is particularly useful if you have expensive leather seats in place.

Prolonging the life of your car's interior is great, but how about protecting you from skin damage? Tinted windows, especially on the driver's side, can help block UV rays that cause skin damage. Just how dark the tinting can be depends on where you live, so be sure to check your local regulations before having your windows tinted.

Remote car starters

This feature is particularly useful during cold or hot weather because it allows your engine to run for a few minutes before you ever step into the vehicle, allowing your heat or AC to make the interior a little more comfortable when you first get in. It's also good to run your engine for a few minutes prior to driving during cold weather, and you don't have to be sitting in the car to do so if you use a remote starter.

On a safety note, if you've ever had to let your car run for a few minutes before leaving your home in the morning in order to allow the ice to defrost from the windshield, it's easy to see the benefit of a remote starter. You don't have to sit in a freezing car for ages, waiting for the defroster to do its job. If you are one of those people who prefer to wait indoors while your car heats up, a remote starter allows you to let the car run without the keys in the ignition, making it less of a target for thieves.

Seat heaters

Seat heaters are the epitome of luxury, especially on a cold winter day. Sometimes, the heating system in your car can be hard to tolerate, especially while you are driving. You put the blower on high, and soon your eyes are dry and itchy. You try to adjust the temperature while driving, and you run the risk of having an accident. If you set the heat to "low," you could end up getting too cold, turning the heat back up and starting the whole cycle all over again. However, if you have a seat heater, you can keep the blower on low and still stay warm, without ever touching the heater controls while driving.

Whether you want the protection and privacy that tinted windows offer, or you just want to make sure your posterior stays warm in cold weather, there are plenty of "extras" available to make your car a little more luxurious. Sure, you could live without them, but after seeing just how useful they really are, would you really want to?

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