[dtox9]

Originally Posted by rwheels

I remember these. How was it? What did you like, or not, about it?

I loved it...
it was a 2004.... inline 6 under the hood, had rain sensing wipers, heated adjustable seats, could be switched from 2wd-4wd, sunroof, leather, headlight washers, fog lights... rear passenger radio and ac controls... ... the works!

With the mid-gate closed and glass up, heating or cooling the cabin was so much quicker than my old explorer... Surprisingly quiet, too. The stereo was also more like a car than an SUV due to this design.... I added a solo 10" sub box behind the rear 60/40 seats... designed for a pickup truck... fit like a glove!

I liked the versatility of it.... closed up like a traditional SUV, or fully open like an extended cab pickup... With the retractable roof, there wasn't very much that couldn't be loaded in the back. And you could hose down the entire back end after hauling mulch or block or whatever else you needed to get from point 'a' to point 'b'.

Downside.... none for me other than 11 mpg gas mileage...
I didn't need a 3rd row at the time, so that loss of convertible cargo space didn't affect me... Was smooth on the highway, plowed through the snow, and tackled everything I threw at it.

Oh yeah... also had auto leveling air bags in the rear, with the built in onboard air compressor which had an outlet in the rear cargo area and a 20' air hose accessory.

Was just an all around great vehicle for that time in my life for what I needed in a car/truck.

[stein_325i]

The W140 S-Class had many cool features, such as the power interior mirror, but the weirdest one had to be the reverse antenna.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by jstein55

The W140 S-Class had many cool features, such as the power interior mirror, but the weirdest one had to be the reverse antenna.

What is a reverse antenna?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

What is a reverse antenna?

This version of the S-Class (W140) was so large that MB added antennas that would automatically extend when in reverse so driver's could see where the end of their car was. This was eventually replaced with parking sensors.

Some really cool features on this gen as it was heavily over-engineered, from power interior mirrors, to covers on the side of the seat so items wouldn't get stuck between the seats.

[VisualEcho]

Maybe I'm getting old, but there are several creature comforts that I really like about the new cars.

- hill assist
- rev-match
- heated steering wheel
- heated and cooled seats
- umbrella in the door
- onboard vacuum

I've always wanted a dry-brake fuel filler on a car, but have yet to see one.

I've also always wanted a 1-touch (on the fob) "suck all the hot air out of my car before I get to it" button.

For the life of me I don't know why cars don't come with a 1-quart oil reservoir that could be dispatched as-needed, and a fill light when you're low.

Still never had a car I was happy with the heat and cold at the knee level. I mean, what year is this again?

[chassis]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

What is a reverse antenna?

spazzyfry123

Like this, but a little more upscale.

[Mingwan]

Unfortunately, a neat and seemingly novel feature you’ll find in any car today is a manual transmission...

[Rob1285]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Blinkers on a BMW. The most interesting of them all.

Yours has blinkers?

For real though, I actually kinda like the blinkers on mine. Everyone acts like the passing blinker vs turning blinker is over complicated and confusing and what the fuck was BMW thinking, but I like it.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Rob1285

Yours has blinkers?

For real though, I actually kinda like the blinkers on mine. Everyone acts like the passing blinker vs turning blinker is over complicated and confusing and what the fuck was BMW thinking, but I like it.

What is a "passing blinker"?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

What is a "passing blinker"?

Blinker only goes off 3 times, when you press slightly on the stalk it will engage.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jstein55

Blinker only goes off 3 times, when you press slightly on the stalk it will engage.

Lol. Ok. I've always heard that called the lane change feature. MANY cars have rhat. My 2013 Passat, 2016 Maxima and now my 2018 230i.

[GenXer]

Originally Posted by jstein55

This version of the S-Class (W140) was so large that MB added antennas that would automatically extend when in reverse so driver's could see where the end of their car was. This was eventually replaced with parking sensors.

Some really cool features on this gen as it was heavily over-engineered, from power interior mirrors, to covers on the side of the seat so items wouldn't get stuck between the seats.

I remember those reversing posts on the S class but then somebody invented rear camera, 360 cameras and proximity sensors

Now they're just silly over engineered automotive anachronism.

[VisualEcho]

That reminds me, with such expensive wheels on these BMW cars, it'd be nice to have modern-day curb feelers (camera sensors?). I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

[GenXer]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

That reminds me, with such expensive wheels on these BMW cars, it'd be nice to have modern-day curb feelers (camera sensors?). I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

They do have 360 cameras on several BMW model.

[Climate Changer]

Originally Posted by King Rudi

I had a Mazda 626, years ago, that had oscillating front heat/AC vents. Simple. effective and everyone who rode in my car thought it was the coolest thing ever.

The AC seats in my first IS 350 were so nice in the summer. Nothing like wearing Nike dri-fit golf shorts and having cold air blow up through the nether region. So damn nice.

The rev matching on the current IS is nice, and also kinda stupid considering the car is as slow as it is.

I had a 97 Mazda 626. Everyone loved the swing feature for the middle vents.

[kb2wji]

My 128 has a neat feature where it lets you guess your coolant temp and oil level.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by kb2wji

My 128 has a neat feature where it lets you guess your coolant temp and oil level.

Originally Posted by kb2wji

My 128 has a neat feature where it lets you guess your coolant temp and oil level.

Haha that's funny.

Convert your fuel economy gauge to oil temperature, just using perfekt toolbox

[kb2wji]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Haha that's funny.

Convert your fuel economy gauge to oil temperature, just using perfekt toolbox

that's really cool that you can do that but unfortunately I don't have that gauge. There's just a blank spot. I like to think of it as weight savings I just have the "haha it's too late!" light.

[Nashville]

In japan they used to have these parking poles, it's supposed to help with tight parking spots, but idk how.

[ASAP]

Back in the day... Mazda had oscillating AC vents... not reslly sure why that conpletely went away from all cars.

[KingOfJericho]

early VW beetles with protruding turn signals:

[KingOfJericho]

I also think things like automatic cruise control are fantastic innovations. I drove 200 interstate miles last weekend and didn't touch the pedals from the time I entered to the moment I exited.