The Quirks, Features & Oddities
My Car Has a Built-In Umbrella. A Deep Dive into Rolls-Royce’s Best Feature.
A friend showed me the best feature on his Rolls-Royce. Hidden inside the driver’s door is a full-size, Teflon-coated umbrella. At the press of a button, it pops out, ready for use. The most amazing part is that the compartment it sits in is heated and ventilated, so after you use the umbrella, it will automatically dry it for you. It’s a completely unnecessary but incredibly thoughtful feature that perfectly encapsulates the Rolls-Royce philosophy: anticipating every need and providing an effortless, elegant solution.
The Most Bizarre and Useless Car Features of All Time.
The most bizarre feature I’ve ever seen was the built-in vase on the dashboard of the Volkswagen New Beetle. It was a tiny little flower vase, a strange and completely useless nod to the original Beetle’s history. Another one was the voice recorder in some old Chrysler models, which allowed you to record short voice memos. It was a solution in search of a problem. These features are fun novelties, but they serve no practical purpose and are a testament to the strange ideas that sometimes make it into production.
The “Quirks and Features” Hall of Fame: The Weirdest Things I’ve Found in Cars.
After reviewing hundreds of cars, a few weird features stand out. The Citroën C4 had a steering wheel where the central hub with all the buttons remained stationary while the rim turned around it. It was incredibly bizarre. The Fisker Karma had a solar panel roof that could supposedly add a few miles of range a week. And the Koenigsegg Regera has no transmission at all; the engine is connected directly to the wheels. These quirky, out-of-the-box engineering solutions are what make the car world so fascinating.
The Most Over-Engineered and Complicated Cup Holders.
The cupholders in a 2000s-era Saab 9-5 are a work of art. You press a button on the dashboard, and an incredibly complex, multi-jointed plastic assembly performs an elaborate mechanical ballet, unfolding itself into a flimsy but usable cupholder. It’s a marvel of Swedish engineering that is beautiful to watch but also feels like it could break at any moment. It’s the perfect example of a company solving a simple problem in the most complicated and wonderfully over-engineered way possible.
The Most Confusing Gear Shifters Ever Designed.
Modern cars have tried to reinvent the gear shifter, often with terrible results. The most confusing one I’ve used was the “monostable” shifter in some older BMWs. It’s an electronic joystick that always returns to the center position, so you can’t tell what gear you’re in by feel. Another confusing design is the series of buttons for P, R, N, and D found in some Honda and Lincoln models. It requires you to look down and break a decades-old habit of reaching for a lever.
The Hidden Compartments and “Easter Eggs” in Your Car.
My Jeep Wrangler is full of hidden “Easter eggs.” There’s a tiny silhouette of a vintage Jeep climbing a hill on the windshield. The new Ford Bronco has small “1966” model years stamped on some interior bolts, a nod to its heritage. And many Volvos have a tiny spider molded into the plastic of the center console storage bin, a tribute to a designer’s daughter who was afraid of spiders. These small, hidden details are a fun way for designers to add a layer of personality and discovery for observant owners.
The Strangest Factory Option Ever Offered.
The strangest factory option I’ve ever heard of was the “Highway Hi-Fi” record player offered by Chrysler in the 1950s. It was a small turntable mounted under the dashboard that was designed to play special, 7-inch records. It had a weighted tone arm to prevent it from skipping over bumps. It was a complex, unreliable, and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to bring the joy of vinyl records to the open road. It’s a fascinating and bizarre piece of automotive history.
The Most Illogical Button Placements in a Car’s Interior.
I once rented a car where the button to open the trunk was not on the key fob or the trunk itself, but hidden in the glove box. It was completely illogical. Another car had the window switches on the center console instead of the doors, which required an awkward reach every time. These strange ergonomic choices often happen when a car company tries to be different for the sake of being different, sacrificing intuitive, established design for a quirky layout that is just frustrating for the driver.
The Most Annoying “Features” That Can’t Be Turned Off.
My new rental car had an “automatic engine start-stop” feature that I could not permanently disable. Every time I came to a stoplight, the engine would shut off, and I’d have to press a button to turn the feature off every single time I started the car. It was incredibly annoying. Another one is the automatic lane-keeping assist on some cars that aggressively tugs at the wheel but has to be turned off through a complex menu every time. These “features” can feel more like a mandatory nuisance than a helpful aid.
The Car with the Most Buttons on the Steering Wheel.
I sat in a new Ferrari SF90, and the steering wheel was a dizzying array of buttons and switches. There was no traditional turn signal stalk; that was a button on the wheel. The windshield wipers were a button. The start-stop button was on the wheel. There was also the famous “Manettino” switch for drive modes. It felt like a Formula 1 car’s steering wheel. It’s a design philosophy that aims to put every single control at the driver’s fingertips, but the result can be incredibly complex and overwhelming.
The Most Unusual and Creative Key Fob Designs.
While most key fobs are boring plastic, some are works of art. The key for the Koenigsegg Agera is a solid piece of sterling silver shaped like the brand’s shield logo. The key for the BMW i8 was essentially a small smartphone with a color touchscreen that could show you the car’s charge level and range. And the key for an Aston Martin, called the “Emotional Control Unit,” is a beautiful crystal fob that you push into the dashboard to start the car.
The Most Interesting and Forgotten Car Technologies.
In the 1950s, the Packard Caribbean had a feature called “Torsion-Level Ride,” a complex system of torsion bars that connected the front and rear suspension to create a self-leveling, incredibly smooth ride. It was a brilliant but forgotten piece of engineering. Another is the four-wheel steering system on the 1980s Honda Prelude, which could steer the rear wheels slightly to improve agility. These technologies were ahead of their time and are fascinating footnotes in automotive history.
The Weirdest and Most Wonderful “Concept Car” Features That Never Made It.
Concept cars are a showcase of wild ideas. I once saw a concept car with a steering wheel that could slide from the left side of the car to the right for different country’s driving standards. Another one had seats made of a strange, gel-like material that would perfectly mold to any occupant. My favorite was a car that had a built-in, deployable drone that would launch from the roof to scout the road ahead. These features are too complex or expensive for production, but they are a wonderful glimpse into a creative future.
The Most Unique and Unforgettable Dashboard Designs.
The dashboard of the Citroën GSA from the 1970s was unforgettable. It didn’t have traditional stalks. Instead, it had two rotating “drum” controls on either side of the steering wheel for the wipers and turn signals. Another unique design was the “ribbon” speedometer in some classic American cars, where a colored bar would move across a long, horizontal display. These bizarre but memorable designs were a product of an era when car companies were not afraid to experiment with radical interior layouts.
The Most Frustrating Voice Command Systems.
I tried to use the voice command system in a rental car. It was a frustrating comedy of errors. I said, “Navigate to 123 Main Street.” The car replied, “Calling Mike Smith.” I said, “Turn up the temperature.” It changed the radio station. Early and even some modern voice command systems are notoriously bad at understanding natural language. They require you to use very specific, robotic commands, which makes them more frustrating to use than simply pressing a button.
The Most Ridiculous and Unnecessary Motorized Components.
The award for the most unnecessary motorized feature has to go to the power-operated glove box in a Bentley. Instead of a simple latch, you press a button, and the glove box door motors open with a silent, graceful sweep. Another one is the motorized air vents in some luxury cars. When you start the car, a panel will rotate to reveal the air vents. These are completely pointless features, but they exist to create a sense of theater and technological “magic” for the owner.
The Most Interesting and Unique Door Opening Mechanisms.
Everyone knows about Lamborghini’s “scissor” doors and DeLorean’s “gullwing” doors. But the most interesting door mechanism is on the Koenigsegg. They call it the “dihedral synchro-helix” door. It’s a complex and beautiful mechanism that moves the door outwards and upwards at the same time. This allows the car to have a dramatic opening sequence while still being able to open in a tight parking space. It’s a brilliant and unique piece of engineering.
The Most Bizarre Warning Chimes and Sounds.
My old Citroën had the most bizarre warning sounds. The turn signal didn’t have a “click-clack” sound; it was a strange, melodic “boop-boop.” The “door ajar” warning was not a beep, but a calm, synthesized female voice that would say, “The driver’s door is open.” It was a product of an era when car companies were experimenting with futuristic, synthesized sounds, and the result was both charming and incredibly weird.
The Most Unusual Factory Paint Colors and Names.
Some car companies have a great sense of humor with their paint names. Dodge is famous for this, with colors like “Go Mango” (a bright orange), “Plum Crazy” (a deep purple), and “Sublime” (a bright, lime green). Porsche also has a history of unique colors, like the iconic “Rubystone Red,” which is a bright, magenta-like pink. These unusual colors and creative names give a car a huge amount of personality and character compared to a standard silver or black.
The Most Interesting Use of a “Third” Windshield Wiper.
The most interesting use of a third wiper was on the Mercedes-Benz “panoramic” single wiper from the 1980s and 90s. Instead of two wipers, it had one massive, single wiper on a complex eccentric arm. As the wiper moved across the windshield, the arm would extend to reach the top corners of the glass. It was an incredibly complex and over-engineered solution that provided better coverage than a traditional two-wiper system. It’s a classic example of Mercedes engineering prowess.
The Most Complicated and Unintuitive Climate Control Systems.
I rented a new car where the entire climate control system was buried in a touchscreen menu. To change the fan speed, I had to tap the screen three times. It was incredibly distracting. The most unintuitive system I’ve used was in an older Cadillac, which had a confusing array of identical-looking small black buttons. The simple, three-knob system for temperature, fan speed, and vent position remains the most ergonomic and intuitive design, and automakers stray from it at their peril.
The Most Unusual Materials Used in a Car’s Interior.
While most cars use leather and plastic, some have used very unusual materials. The BMW i3 offered an interior with trim made from open-pore eucalyptus wood and natural, olive-leaf-tanned leather. The Fisker Karma had an option for “salvaged wood” trim that was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan. And some high-end cars now offer “vegan” interiors that use innovative materials like pineapple-leaf fiber or recycled plastics to create a luxurious and sustainable alternative to leather.
The “Talking” Cars of the 1980s: A Look Back.
In the 1980s, a popular feature was the “talking” car. I remember my neighbor’s Nissan Maxima. When you would get in, a calm, synthesized female voice would announce, “The door is ajar.” It could also warn you that “the lights are on” or that “fuel level is low.” It was a futuristic novelty at the time, a real-life KITT from Knight Rider. Today, it sounds incredibly dated and cheesy, but it was a fascinating first step towards the more advanced voice command systems we have now.
The Most Interesting Pop-Up Headlight Designs.
Pop-up headlights are an icon of the 80s, but some were more interesting than others. The Porsche 928 had unique, exposed round headlights that would pop up and look like frog’s eyes. The Lamborghini Countach had a bizarre dual-headlight system. But my favorite is the Cizeta-Moroder V16T, which had two sets of pop-up headlights, one stacked on top of the other, for a total of four pop-up lights. It’s a fantastically strange and over-the-top design.
The Most Bizarre “Special Edition” Cars.
Car companies have released some bizarre special editions. Volkswagen once released a “Golf Bon Jovi Edition” in Europe. Levi’s had a special edition AMC Gremlin with an interior that looked like a pair of blue jeans. But the most bizarre was the “Neiman Marcus Edition” BMW M5. It was a special color, but the main feature was that it came with a voucher for a high-performance driving school. It was a strange co-branding exercise between a high-fashion retailer and a performance sedan.
The Most Over-the-Top and Useless Spoilers.
The most useless spoiler has to be the tiny, cosmetic “lip” spoiler on the trunk of many family sedans. It’s too small to have any real aerodynamic effect at legal speeds. The most over-the-top, however, was the massive, basket-handle wing on the back of the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Charger Daytona from the 1970s. While it was actually functional for NASCAR racing, on the street, the towering wing was a completely absurd and wonderful piece of aerodynamic theater.
The Most Interesting and Unique Hood Ornaments.
The hood ornament is a lost art form. The most iconic is the Rolls-Royce “Spirit of Ecstasy,” which can retract into the grille for security. The Jaguar “Leaper” is another beautiful, dynamic sculpture. But my favorite is the three-pointed star from a classic Mercedes-Benz. It’s not just an ornament; it’s also a useful “sight line” that helps you perfectly place the car in a corner or a parking space. It’s a beautiful piece of design that is also functional.
The Most Confusing and Cluttered Instrument Clusters.
I once drove a 1980s Subaru XT, and its digital dashboard was a masterpiece of confusion. The graphics were a bizarre, asymmetric collection of lines and blocks that looked like a video game. The tachometer was a strange, 3D-effect ribbon. It was incredibly cluttered and hard to read at a glance. It was a classic example of 80s futuristic design that prioritized a “cool” look over simple, clear legibility.
The Most Unusual and Impractical Seating Layouts.
The most unusual seating layout is the central driver’s seat in the McLaren F1, flanked by two passenger seats set further back. It’s a brilliant, driver-focused layout but completely impractical. Another one is the rear-facing third-row “jump seats” in an old station wagon, like the Volvo 240. It was a fun novelty for kids, but it was also a questionable safety proposition. These are interesting but ultimately impractical seating solutions.
The Most Interesting Car Clocks.
Most car clocks are boring digital displays. But some are special. Many high-end Porsches have a beautiful, analog “Sport Chrono” clock in the center of the dashboard, which also functions as a lap timer. Breitling, the famous watchmaker, has a partnership with Bentley, and some models feature a stunning, optional Breitling analog clock. And the new Rolls-Royce has a beautiful analog clock set in a large, crystal-covered panel. These are not just clocks; they are pieces of automotive jewelry.
The Most Bizarre and Unsuccessful Automotive Innovations.
In the 1950s, Cadillac offered an option for a “memory” driver’s seat. It was not electronic; it was a clunky, mechanical system that was unreliable and quickly abandoned. Ford once experimented with a “wrist-twist” steering system that used two small, swiveling rings instead of a traditional steering wheel. It was incredibly unintuitive and was never put into production. These bizarre innovations are a fascinating look at the strange paths not taken in automotive history.
The Most Frustrating and Unreliable “Soft-Close” Doors.
Soft-close doors are a great luxury feature when they work. On my friend’s older BMW 7-Series, they were a constant source of frustration. The latch mechanism on one of the doors failed. This meant the door would never fully close. It would latch, and then the motor would try to pull it shut, fail, and release it again. The door was constantly ajar. A feature designed to add luxury became a major, unreliable annoyance.
The Most Interesting and Unique Convertible Top Mechanisms.
The convertible top on the Ferrari 575M Superamerica was unique. It didn’t fold away. It was a single glass panel that, at the touch of a button, would flip back 180 degrees and lie flat on top of the trunk. It was a simple and clever design. Another interesting one is the “targa top” on a classic Porsche 911, which is a single, removable roof panel that can be stored in the front trunk, providing an open-air experience without the complexity of a full convertible.
The Most Unusual and Hidden Gas Cap Locations.
In the 1950s, some American cars had a hidden gas cap located behind a hinged taillight. You would swing the taillight out of the way to reveal the filler neck. It was a clever way to create a smooth, uninterrupted side profile for the car. Another unusual location was on the classic Mini Cooper, which had its gas cap on the far-left side of the car, almost on the rear corner panel. These quirky placements are a fun detail from a different era of car design.
The Most Bizarre and Funny “Translations” in a Car’s Manual.
I was reading the owner’s manual for a car from a lesser-known foreign brand. The English translation was hilariously bad. It referred to the windshield wipers as “the screen rubbers” and the horn as “the warning trumpet.” The best one was the instruction for the cruise control, which read, “Engage the constant speed-walking function for a relaxing journey.” These funny, literal translations are a charming and often comical part of owning a more obscure, imported vehicle.
The Most Interesting and Unique Mirror Designs.
For a period in the 1990s, the Ferrari Testarossa had a single, high-mounted driver’s side mirror. It was located halfway up the A-pillar. This strange, asymmetrical design was a distinctive and iconic quirk of the car. Another unique design is the “fender mirrors” on many classic Japanese cars. The side mirrors were mounted far forward on the front fenders of the car. While they provide a good field of view, they are very small and take some getting used to.
The Most Over-the-Top and Theatrical “Welcome” Animations.
When I unlock my new Audi at night, it performs a theatrical “welcome” sequence. The LED headlights and taillights do a choreographed “dance,” with the lights sweeping back and forth. Inside, the ambient lighting gently pulses. It’s a completely unnecessary but very cool feature. It creates a sense of occasion and makes the car feel like it’s waking up and greeting you. It’s a small piece of theater that adds to the premium, high-tech feel of the car.
The Most Unusual and Uncomfortable “Third Row” Seats.
The most uncomfortable third-row seat I’ve ever experienced was in the back of a Tesla Model Y. It’s an optional third row that is clearly only designed for very small children for a very short trip. There is absolutely zero legroom, and my head was pressed firmly against the rear glass. It’s a completely unusable space for an adult. It feels less like a real seat and more like a feature added just for a marketing bullet point.
The Most Bizarre and Interesting Factory Wheel Designs.
The “phone dial” wheels on the Porsche 928 from the 1980s are a classic, bizarre design. They look exactly like an old rotary telephone dial. Another interesting one is the “turbo-fan” wheel cover, which was a flat disc designed to look like a fan and was supposed to help with brake cooling. But my favorite bizarre design is the “teddy bear” wheels on some old, high-end Japanese sedans. The spokes of the wheel were literally shaped like small teddy bears.
The Most Frustrating and Unreliable “Gesture Control” Systems.
I had a BMW with their first-generation gesture control. It was incredibly frustrating. I would be having an animated conversation with my passenger, and my hand gestures would accidentally change the radio station or mute the volume. And when I actually tried to use the “twirl your finger” gesture to change the volume, it would only work about half the time. It was a system that created more accidental inputs than intentional ones, making it a complete gimmick.
The Most Interesting and Unique Tail Light Designs.
The taillights of the Bugatti Divo are one of the most incredible designs I’ve ever seen. They are made up of dozens of individual, 3D-printed fins with LEDs in them, creating a mesmerizing, three-dimensional effect. Another unique design is the “infinity” taillight on the Koenigsegg Regera, which uses a series of mirrors and lights to create the illusion of an endless tunnel of light. These are not just taillights; they are complex works of technological art.
The Most Bizarre and Unusual Factory Horn Sounds.
Most car horns are a boring, standard tone. But in the 1970s, the Citroën SM had a high-pitched, almost trumpet-like horn that sounded distinctly European and sophisticated. The most bizarre horn, however, was the optional “multi-tone” horn on some old Cadillacs. You could select between a normal horn sound and a louder, more attention-getting sound designed for highway use. It was a strange and ultimately unnecessary feature.
The Most Over-the-Top and Unnecessary Ambient Lighting.
The ambient lighting in the new Mercedes S-Class is completely over-the-top, in a good way. It’s not just a subtle glow. It’s a fully integrated system. The light strips will flash red on one side to warn you of a car in your blind spot. When you adjust the temperature, the lights will flow red or blue across the dashboard to confirm your input. It’s a system that is not just decorative, but also functional, turning the ambient lighting into a key part of the car’s user interface.
The Most Interesting and Unique Center Consoles.
The center console in the Porsche Carrera GT is a masterpiece. The high, upward-sweeping console is made of carbon fiber, and at the very top sits a beautiful, laminated birch wood shift knob. Another unique design is the “bridge” console in some modern Volvos, which creates a floating effect with a large, open storage area underneath. These designs turn a functional area of the car into a beautiful, sculptural centerpiece.
The Most Bizarre and Unusual Factory Stereo Systems.
In the 1980s, the Toyota Soarer had a top-of-the-line stereo system that was one of the first to feature a graphic equalizer and a digital display. It was an incredibly complex and futuristic-looking unit for its time. But the most bizarre was the optional 8-track tape player that was still available in some American cars well into the early 1980s, long after the cassette tape had become the dominant format. It was a strange, outdated piece of technology in a modern car.
The Most Frustrating and Unreliable “Automatic” Wipers.
My car has automatic rain-sensing wipers. In a steady rain, they work perfectly. But in a light mist or drizzle, they are maddeningly inconsistent. They will either not wipe at all, leaving my windshield blurry, or they will suddenly go into a frantic, high-speed wipe for no reason. I often find myself overriding the “auto” setting and just using the intermittent manual setting, which is far more predictable and less frustrating.
The Most Interesting and Unique Glove Box Designs.
The most interesting glove box I’ve seen was in a classic Porsche 911. It didn’t have a traditional door. Instead, the entire front panel of the dashboard in front of the passenger would pivot downwards from the top, revealing a storage area. Another unique design is the chilled glove box in some luxury cars, which has a small air vent connected to the A/C system, allowing you to keep a drink or a chocolate bar cool on a hot day.
The Most Bizarre and Unusual Sun Visor Features.
Most sun visors are simple. But I once drove a car that had a “dual” sun visor. It had the main visor that could flip down, but also a second, smaller visor that could slide out from the side to block the sun from the area not covered by the main visor. Another bizarre feature I’ve seen is a sun visor with a built-in, but non-lit, vanity mirror. It was completely useless in anything other than direct sunlight.
The Most Over-the-Top and Unnecessary In-Car Perfume Diffusers.
My friend’s high-end Mercedes has a built-in “Air Balance” system. It’s an in-car perfume diffuser located in the glove box. You can buy small, expensive vials of special Mercedes-branded fragrances. The system will then periodically release a subtle puff of the scent through the climate control vents. It’s a completely unnecessary feature, the definition of opulent excess, but it does contribute to the car’s overall feeling of being a bespoke, first-class lounge.
The Single Weirdest Quirk on Any Car I’ve Ever Driven.
The weirdest quirk I’ve ever experienced was in a Saab 900. The ignition key was not on the steering column. It was located on the center console, between the front seats. The strangest part was that you could not remove the key from the ignition until you had put the car into reverse gear. It was a bizarre anti-theft and safety feature that was completely unique to Saab. It was a perfect example of the brand’s wonderfully strange and unconventional approach to engineering.