Whoa, I did int know dat

[ocnblu]

Coming home from the beach today, it was raining a bit. I had the intermittent wipers on. As it started to rain harder, I turned them up faster, notch by notch, until I got to the fastest intermittent speed. At the same time, I was getting out of town and speeding up on the highway. Then I thought I had a problem, until I figgered it out. As I reached 55 mph, my wipers started working continuously. If I let the car go slower than 55, they reverted back to intermittent. Cool! And an intuitively useful feature.

Have you ever discovered, by accident, any cool features on your car?

[Z-06]

Coming home from the beach today, it was raining a bit. I had the intermittent wipers on. As it started to rain harder, I turned them up faster, notch by notch, until I got to the fastest intermittent speed. At the same time, I was getting out of town and speeding up on the highway. Then I thought I had a problem, until I figgered it out. As I reached 55 mph, my wipers started working continuously. If I let the car go slower than 55, they reverted back to intermittent. Cool! And an intuitively useful feature.

Have you ever discovered, by accident, any cool features on your car?

HD radio the dudes had apparently put in my car that I accidentally located last week. Love the HD radio sound.

[z28luvr01]

Yes, we have speed sensitive wipers. I found that out the same way you did. I don't care what everyone says - Chevy put a lot of thought into the Cobalt and it's a fine car.

[Satty]

A little off topic, but I despise speed sensitive radio. The Fusion really soured me on it because it would just double the volume level as soon as I hit 65 then not go back down if I slowed down.

And HD radio is great, the Cooper has it. The only problem is that we've only got a few stations that broadcast in HD.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Satty

[ocnblu]

Speed Compensated Volume is not supposed to work that way, at least on my GMs with the feature, the volume went up AND down with speed, and it can be set for sensitivity, or turned off completely.

[Satty]

My friend's mom used to have a Bonneville and it worked just fine, the volume adjusted the way I would've adjusted it for speed. But the Fusion, no matter what setting I had it on (I believe there were 7 sensitivity settings) it went completely retarded. It once went to full-blast at 25mph. That radio got replaced.

[Z-06]

Yes, we have speed sensitive wipers. I found that out the same way you did. I don't care what everyone says - Chevy put a lot of thought into the Cobalt and it's a fine car.

+1. The magazine writers are fuel to people's whim. When Cobalt was released. Magazines lauded the level of standard accessories equivalent to loaded Jetta's and Corollas at a lower price.

It fails in the looks department and some questionable fit and finish issues, otherwise it is a great effort from GM.

[Cory Wolfe]

Yes, we have speed sensitive wipers. I found that out the same way you did. I don't care what everyone says - Chevy put a lot of thought into the Cobalt and it's a fine car.

I found out in the same manner. When it first happened, I exclaimed "WTF?" and turned the intermittent wipers down a notch.

Per the car, my opinion seems to sour the more I drive it; the more I live with it.

Edited May 18, 2009 by blackviper8891

[FAPTurbo]

Per the car, my opinion seems to sour the more I drive it; the more I live with it.

What do want for 5000 bucks!? Sheesh.

[Cory Wolfe]

What do want for 5000 bucks!? Sheesh.

A car that doesn't suck?

[gm4life]

SCV stinks I have it my Impala and SLE. I always have it off and adjust it on my own. All of the times I used it, it did work properly. The '05 Impala LS I might be getting will get it turned off right away as well.

[z28luvr01]

A car that doesn't suck?

Why not just sell it and get the car you want? 5K should fetch you a decent Jetta.

[Drew Dowdell]

Why not just sell it and get the car you want? 5K should fetch you a decent Jetta.

How would 5k fetch a decent Jetta when not even 20k can...

[ocnblu]

I'm a VW fan and even I know first hand they're hit or miss. Reality bites.

[Lamar]

To the original topic...

When I bought the Bonnie, I knew that the doors automatically lock/unlock when you shift out of/into P.

However, I JUST found out that you can't unlock the doors in R... at least not using the power locks.

[z28luvr01]

Another nifty Cobalt feature is the one where if you use the power lock buttons in the car (not the RKE fob), you have to hit "Lock" twice to lock the car. Hitting it once produces a warning chime, as if to tell you to make sure you have your keys.

[Croc]

Another nifty Cobalt feature is the one where if you use the power lock buttons in the car (not the RKE fob), you have to hit "Lock" twice to lock the car. Hitting it once produces a warning chime, as if to tell you to make sure you have your keys.

I hope that's programmable--that would annoy the $h! outta me.

On my Aurora, I didn't know the steering was programmable until I read about it on a forum. Now it's "firm."

[trinacriabob]

Well, I know what I DON'T have and EXPECTED to have: The LaCrosse does not give instantaneous MPG. Maybe it was changed for 2008, because 2006s and 2007s I've rented, per my recollection, had the instantaneous readout.

So I was expecting it. I still have average MPG and range, though.

The GPs and MCs I've rented have it, and the MCs in 3.5 V6 base form show fantastic instantaneous MPG under some driving conditions.

Maybe Buick deemed it as too distracting.

[z28luvr01]

I hope that's programmable--that would annoy the $h! outta me.

I'm not sure if it's programmable or not, but since I use the key fob 99% of the time it's a non-issue. To me, it's a reminder that says "Hey, you're locking your doors in a a different manner than you normally do. Make sure you have your keys because you're screwed if you hit that button again and you leave them inside."

[Intrepidation]

I discovered the automatic locking system wasn't broken but rather is programmable and somehow got turned off. I <3 that future. That day I also found out I could program the headlights to shut off right away or stay on for a minute after the car was turned off.

One thing I have always liked about Chryslers and whoever else does it is that when you pull on the driver's or front passenger's door handle it will unlock that door.

I've discovered that the car is also smart and won't let you open the trunk while the car is in gear, or central lock the doors if you leave the keys in the ignition. I'm sure other cars have this feature though.

[DetroitNut90]

Another nifty Cobalt feature is the one where if you use the power lock buttons in the car (not the RKE fob), you have to hit "Lock" twice to lock the car. Hitting it once produces a warning chime, as if to tell you to make sure you have your keys.

There's also another feature that's related to that ping, at least on my Intrigue and my mom's Venture; I dunno if it's programmable or not, but dad's Sonoma doesn't do it. If you hit "lock" on the central locking with a door open, you'll hear the chime; then shut the door without hitting lock again, and the car locks itself after 5 seconds. I use this pretty much every time I get out of the car, since my keyless entry stopped working.

[G_Man72]

I found out the other week that our beater 1991 Accord has retained accesory power. The windows can be rolled up after the car in turned off and the keys removed. I thought that was only a newer feature. Who knew?

[daves87rs]

Didn't know about the wiper thing....

[Intrepidation]

I found out the other week that our beater 1991 Accord has retained accesory power. The windows can be rolled up after the car in turned off and the keys removed. I thought that was only a newer feature. Who knew?

I love that feature...wish more cars had it. I drove a 9-3 with that feature.

[A Horse With No Name]

Yes, we have speed sensitive wipers. I found that out the same way you did. I don't care what everyone says - Chevy put a lot of thought into the Cobalt and it's a fine car.

Agreed, it's a damn fine car and I'm thinking one might be in my future...

Parked next to a black SS/TC sedan at lunch yesterday...

Chris