So when you bought the car, the car service center assured you these new gadgets would last forever, and they were everything that you needed. Now that you own the car with some of these creature comforts, you wonder if you ever really wanted them in the first place. New cars come with a range of new additions that are all fine and well, until something goes wrong. A look at some of the disasters.

• Column Stalk and Wheel Controls. Some cars have a range of buttons for the driver near the driver or on the steering wheel. The problem is that they can get over complicated and have many functions in the one area. Twist something the wrong way and the car could turn into a five-passenger R2-D2.
• Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers. Appearing more and more in luxury cars. Using infrared sensors to monitor the windshield for moisture. They don’t always work perfectly and when they spring to life they can scare the life out of you.
• Smart Transmissions. Most work fine, but if they don’t you can be left waiting a day for the next gear change or some really strange rodeo ride. Make sure yours is reliable.
• Power Sliding Doors. Great for taking the strain of loading and unloading your own home grown football team. Expensive options for those who can afford the remote, and hopefully another will not set it off.
• Self-Parking Features. Some of the best high end cars will do more than show you a video image of where you can park, they will move into it for you, just don’t forget you need to brake to stop, it doesn’t do that – kind of stupid. Will do the driving, but not the stopping.
• Over Zealous Navigation. If only you could turn off that annoying voice that boasts every street name as you go past. Apparently the voice was recorded in China and pronunciation is problematic at best. What did that just say? Oh Forker avenue, it was not trying to start a fight with you. Although with the constant drone or over happy voice, you might want to start a fight with it.
• Super Seats. Just make sure you went to yoga class first. Some car manufacturers put the turbo in the seat, and you get crushed up against the window as your hand slipped of the button. Others are so slow you wonder if they are even moving.
• Seat Belt Warning. That incessant ding ding ding when you don’t have your seat belt clipped in. Sometimes you might actually need it that way and there is no way to turn the thing off.
• Over 100 klm/hr Warning. The car is designed to go faster and the choice is yours but you put up with a sound that is more annoying that your seat belt warning prize fight bell. Who ever thought of this deserves to be shot.
• Slip Mats. That is why they are called slip mats, as you slide all over your car with them.

Good car repair and car care centres can advise on the best accessories and ways to modify some of these crazy features your car might have. Taking them out or disabling them might be your only option.