Some automotive features were charming in their day but are now hopelessly outdated. They were clunky, unsafe, or just plain annoying, and modern technology has thankfully sent most of them to the history books. Let’s take a nostalgic yet brutally honest look at the car features that should never make a comeback.
Pop-Up Headlights
They might have looked cool on 80s and 90s sports cars, but pop-up headlights were mechanical traps waiting to fail. The motors could jam, one light might get stuck halfway, and they added complexity for no real benefit. Today’s sleek LED headlights look better, work better, and do not come with the risk of driving around winking at strangers.
Manual Window Cranks
There’s a certain retro satisfaction in winding down your own window, but in daily life, it’s just a hassle. Modern power windows are faster, easier, and allow every passenger to control their own glass without an arm workout. Manual cranks are best left to budget cars from decades ago or pure nostalgia projects.
Cassette Players
They gave us mix tapes and the occasional spaghetti mess of tangled tape, but cassette players have no place in a modern dashboard. Streaming, Bluetooth, and digital media offer better sound and far more convenience. Unless you still have a box of tapes from 1987, it’s time to let them go.
Cigarette Lighters and Ashtrays
Once a standard feature, cigarette lighters and ashtrays have rightfully disappeared from most new cars. They encouraged smoking in enclosed spaces and often left an unpleasant smell that no amount of air freshener could remove. USB ports and wireless chargers have taken their place — far more useful and healthier for everyone.
Non-Collapsible Steering Columns
Before safety regulations, steering columns in older cars were rigid metal spears aimed at the driver’s chest. In an accident, they could cause devastating injuries. Modern collapsible designs absorb impact energy, making cars infinitely safer. The old version is a relic of a time when safety engineering was not a priority.
Lap-Only Seatbelts
Lap belts were better than nothing, but they offered limited protection and could cause serious abdominal injuries in crashes. The three-point seatbelt we have today is a massive improvement in safety. There’s no reason to go back to the days when a single strap was all that kept you in place.
Vent Windows
These little triangular panes could be twisted open for extra airflow, but they were noisy, leaked in the rain, and were an easy point of entry for thieves. Modern climate control and better sealing have made them unnecessary, and most drivers are not mourning their disappearance.
Tailfins
Huge tailfins were a design craze in the late 50s, inspired by the jet age. While they were visually striking, they served no functional purpose and often made cars harder to park. They remain fun to look at in a museum, but in a modern context, they are just impractical excess.
Bench Front Seats
They allowed you to slide across and fit three people up front, but bench seats offered little in terms of support or safety. Modern bucket seats hold you in place better, especially in corners, and usually come with integrated airbags. Bench seats are best remembered, not revived.
Carburetors
Carburetors were once the heart of every engine, mixing fuel and air the old-fashioned way. But they were temperamental, required constant adjustment, and struggled with emissions standards. Fuel injection is more efficient, more reliable, and delivers better performance. Carburetors belong in classic car restoration projects, not in new vehicles.
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
