You’ve just purchased a new car, what are you having that is essential? It’s obviously a different time to when people had cars before, no more aftermarket radios, stereo system or alarms.
Maybe a wireless charger or magnetic phone holder?
For me personally it’s pet seatbelts. Great at tying down even objects and bags.
String back driving gloves, and lots of Toblerones.
I’ve been bad Lynn
You forgot trilby, aviator shades and a tin of boiled sweets.
When driving your Japanese Mercedes!
Well it’s not gonna be a Mini Metro.
In your Rover 400. Driving to Dundee. Barefoot.
Well I have been eating a lot of Toblerone
Ice white shoes, ice white socks with double cadet stripe.
Sports casual?
You've popped out again
They did have an underpant lining but it's perished.
Roachford’s Cuddly Toy on the stereo
You’ve got your fog lights on! There’s no fog!
Only applies if you drive a Lexus. Those of us that drive Lexi (that's the plural, by the way), understand that comfort is key
Lynn! Stuffs Toblerone into mouth
Good suspension for the big gals picked up at the local dogging spot.
Arguably worse suspension does some of the legwork for you.
Good suspension has potential for adjustability, for various sizes!
Fire extinguisher and a first aid kit and hope you dont need to use them
Don't forget a hi-vis top, either jacket or vest. Putting them on if you are on the roadside is highly recommended.
Knowing how to use the first aid kit is pretty important too.
Lastly I would recommend a blanket, is useful for an impromptu camp or just to keep warmer if broken down or to act as a pillow/cover for a casualty.
I don't have a car but my brother does. My dad got all of the above for him, plus some small reflective cones in case the lights on his car break / there's no hard shoulder.
Got strobe lights for that. Would add a spade, good walking shoes, and a folding spade. And ice remover.
Edit: lived UK rural and if need to wait hours for help, then best to be prepared. Now live mainly urban but also have jump pack, heavy duty charger and air compressor in car.
Northern rural? Cause I grew up on the Somerset Levels and all you needed was some mushrooms.a Dennis Wheatley novel and some practical experience of the Dorset Flop.
Skye. Northern winters could be fun. More black ice than snow but car got stuck in peat a few times.
A spade AND a folding spade? Jesus Doug you are prepared.
Indeed in winter if am rural having a collapsing entrancing tool, way to stay warm, high energy bars, head torch, second torch, usb battery pack, and basic car repair kit (when in old cars).
If expected freezing weather maybe chains.
Do you keep the spade next to the thing wrapped in bin bags and the duct tape?
I have a mate who loves driving. Will pick us up and just drive for fun and it's great. One time I was getting pretty cold (the usual for me) and he brought me out a blanket. Turns out he usually keeps at least 1 in the car and calls it the community blanket. Not necessarily for if he breaks down or something, just for on those late cold nights when someone might want a blanket. I thought it was awesome and have benefitted from those blankets the most out of the group
My family laughed at me for having an emergency bag in my car: all the time, snack bars, water, a disposable camera (well, not anymore), first aid kit, space blankets, and emergency lights. In winter, cat litter and a folding shovel as well. In a little bag in the boot and forget about it.
I should add a fire extinguisher, it's a good shout.
Torch.
I would NOT recommend a big heavy steel torch like security guards carry, made by Maglite in a variety of colours and sizes as this could be used as a weapon in dire circumstances and would be largely frowned on if it wasn't a torch.
I wouldn't recommend this at all!
You should have a torch though.
I do NOT have a traditionally black maglite that is weighted perfectly in my hand.
Nor do I, that's the exact one I don't have too
And one of those seatbelt cutter/window breaker things.
And it needs to live in the door pocket, no point having one if it’s inaccessible in an emergency
I recommend a closed compartment if possible so it doesn’t fly around and get lost if the car rolls, etc. - I keep mine in the centre console.
Oh that’s a good shout! I hadn’t thought of the car rolling
Add a pair of jump leads too.
Lots of people are saying Aircon. For a new car is that not just standard now? Like electric windows?
It's hard to get a definitive answer, but I see a few articles (U.K. and U.S.) indicating that pretty much 2023-onwards every new car has a.c.
The Citroen Ami (if you can call it a car) still has manual windows, like not even a rotary handle, an actual pane of glass one tilts...
That's got to be a retro design choice..... That's still absolutely insane
I believe it's very much the ethos - the doors are reversible/interchangeable, by design, to minimise production/repair costs. Think the door close handle on the inside is just a loop of nylon belt.
It's like if a dodgem had to deliver artisanal croissants.
Well that and isn't the car like four digits to buy new?
Might be a Citroën thing. My 2014 Cactus had manual opening back windows (via little brace clip things). Electric front though.
It's early, I have not had coffee yet, I read "a pair of glass t1ts", I thought wow that's some accessory
Makes me think of a champagne coupe and Marie Antoinette. It's too early for champagne, so I'll stick with the coffee...
It’s never too early for champagne. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere in the world.
Never experienced a car with aircon, but drive a 2010 Corsa, it’s not anything posh. I wouldn’t be fussed to have it or not though. I guess you don’t need it till you’ve had it
It's useful for demonstrating the windows in winter.
Defrosting
No, demonstrating. I'm sticking with it.
Ok 🤣
Demisting
Both 😊
Demoistening
When I want to demonstrate my windows I usually point at something I can see through them
drive a 2010 Corsa, it’s not anything posh.
It wouldn't matter if it was posh if you had cracking aircon. It's the one automotive thing the Americans have over us.
Well it tends to be hotter in America, I can’t say there’s been many days I’ve wished for something more than the vents blowing and the windows down
This, like what car this last decade doesn't have aircon.
I’m no fancy man, but automatic aircon is something I’d like in my next car as well. My last two cars had it and it’s nice to have options between ‘north pole’ and ‘mordor’ modes, especially with kids.
I drive a 70 plate van for work, it has no aircon. Summer is going to be hard.
Oh I have noticed that vans are a law unto themselves. I've had 22 plate vans which have had no ac, no dab and no electric windows!
It's madness!
2017 ford focus ST line. Rear windows have winders! I no longer have the car 😂
There's a difference between aircon and practical aircon. If I'm stuck on the M25 in August I want my testicles located somewhere near my kidneys.
Kitchen roll, wet wipes, some disposable gloves.
Edit - sounds sinister but these items are really handy.
Don't forget the duct tape and some bin bags.
You now have the perfect murder kit!
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
I carry all those things, apart from the duct tape, promise!
In addition there is an umbrella, shopping bags and £1 coin for supermarket trolleys.
Fetish shit! I like to bind, I like to BE BOUND!
I need my tools!
Fold up spade as well. Or petrol.
Nope.
I have listened to enough murder podcasts to know that will only lead to more trouble. /s
Ah, you're more of an acid bath type right?
I dont remember posting this
First aid kit, torch, fleece blanket and a glass hammer/seat belt cutter.
I keep a picnic blanket so it's useful in the summer as well.
Also: a few bottles of water, cereal bars, bin bags, spare t shirt and towel/kitchen roll.
Air compressor, tyre pressure gauge, cloth, ice scraper.
Air compressor is such a good suggestion. I bought one last year, then left the house couple of weeks later to a screw in my tyre. Managed to inflate it and get it to the garage for repair. Same thing happened yesterday.
For the most part though, it’s nice to just check the tyre pressure on the driveway.
I've got a rechargeable one. It's paid off more than once with others cars to just grab it and do a tyre.
And fairly cheap compared to spending £1 at garage every long drive.
Also, on a motorway, it is best if you can inflate the tyre temporarily and drive to an exit and change it where it is safe. This is especially true if the puncture is on the drivers side.
Sunglasses
I’m reading these comments n thinking damn I’m really unprepared in life, been driving for 20 years n never had these things in my car 🤣… BUT… sunglasses yes!! You need to be prepared to come out of work and be blistering sun after going to work in a storm 🤣🤣🤣 xxx
Spare slip leash in the boot. I have come across a loose dog in traffic twice, once without a slip leash and once with, so much easier with one.
I work in animal welfare and I have a hedgehog kit in mine 😂
What does a hedgehog kit consist of? :)
Thick gloves, carrier, plug in heat mat, fluids and needles
Do hedgehogs need more needles?
Cheese, toothpicks, and olives / grapes
Carrier, some cat food, puppy pads, wet wipes, good gloves, blanket, spot on. Syringe and convalescence food.
A magic tree and a wooden ball seat cover.
An Andy and Fanny tinted windscreen stripe.
Plastic anti ding door opening protectors.
An earthing strip on the back with a scorpion on it.
My other cars a Porsche window sticker.
Baby on board sticker.
Keep your distance bumper sticker.
Cyclists don't pass sticker.
A car dashboard compass.
Anti travel sickness wristbands.
A beeping flashing light to pretend it's got an alarm.
Entire boot filled with sub woofer and signs saying Kenwood sound system
Entire boot filled with sub woofer and signs saying Kenwood sound system
Apropos of nothing, on a business trip to Korea we were collected from the airport by a middle-management type, very unassuming, presumed he got volunteer-duty by virtue of driving a big Kia people carrier. We're all about to sling our bags in the boot when we find it's crammed, to the last cubic inch, with sub-woofer. We get driven to digs, bags in laps, with K-Pop at surprisingly considerate volume.
Magnetic plastic fingers “trapped in the boot”
Mints and my water bottle
Mince and my hot water bottle.
Petrol.
Air con is a must for me. USB port for phone charging.
Usb port that offers fast charging. Most ports in cars only so slow charges.
It's 2024, they don't sell cars without air con.
A great steering wheel that doesn’t fly off when you are driving.
Too small
So when you get in there, you're like, "If the steering wheel fly off, I'm toast."
Stinky
Rear parking sensors and cruise control, in terms of installed kit.
Glass hammer/belt cutter, first aid kit, phone charger cable, in terms of bric-a-brac in the cabin.
High Vis vests, rain ponchos, cable ties, bungee cord, basic tools, warning triangle, screen wash tablets
Used to have a box of disposable gloves for refuelling but now I've gone all fucking fancy with an electric car.
Bluetooth and rear sensors. Because I need music and complete assurance when reversing.
"Oh, I have to reverse into this parking spot, better turn up the radio"
Starts blasting out Rise of the Valkyries for motivation
No you have to turn down the radio so you can see better when looking for a house on a street.
I recently got a volvo with a 360 camera and I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I can go back to a car without one now
In mine are dashcam, air freshener, jump cables, air compressor, can of tyre goo, blanket, water, winter hat and gloves, change of clothes, first aid kit and an AA road map
There's a lot less Dashcam in this thread than there should be. I got one after dickheads took my wing off twice in 6 months and didn't stop and recently upgraded to a rear one as well after somehow being in another hit and run from the rear.
Thankfully my insurer's protection accepted me yelling the reg into my dash cam as evidence and didn't ding me for the claim but the police understandably had to drop the case.
Leatherman, tissues, baby wipes, windscreen wipes or a demisting sponge, OBDeleven dongle, Lightning and type-C cables, a decent 12v USB adapter, Trebor extra strong mints, binoculars, rain coats, dog belt, spare dog belt, spare dog lead, poo bags, dog blanket, dog towel, dog treats, AoifeNet treats, air freshener, some change in the elbow rest, mascara, lip balm, latex gloves, small tool set (common socket sizes etc), emergency medication. That’s about it for stuff that is in there all the time. Anything else is location/season dependent.
ETA: First aid kit that came with the car and is probably out of date by now.
A load of 5/10/20p coins for the ridiculous toll bridge near me. 5p for a car and I use it once or twice most weeks.
Been over it hundreds of times and think I've only ever had to pay a couple of times. Old blokes never there
It has limited hours of staffing, so yeah if you were doing it for a standard commute say, you'd definitely never need to pay. I'm often, but not always, doing it during the staffed hours. Occasionally they knock off early but they are there more often than not.
I've got an aftermarket wireless android auto head unit in my car. Wireless charging would be cool but I haven't found a neat way to integrate it.
Disposable cutlery in the glove compartment and napkins, and straws.
Powerbank, charge lead and £20.
That way you've got juice for your phone, and enough to feed yourself should you be in a backwater that doesn't take cards.
Don't skimp on breakdown cover either, it seems like a waste of money till you have a blow out.
At night
In the rain
On a busy motorway.
AC, Android Auto, heated door mirrors, all round sensors.
Heated door mirrors in rain are priceless.
I do miss heated mirrors. They're useful in the winter too
I got Android auto retrofitted or aftermarket as the OP says
Drum and bass
Air con, speed limiter, USB and AUX port
Full toolkit, jump leads, tyre pump, trolley jack and stands. Some oil, red rubber and copper grease, and distilled water.
More of a lucky talisman than anything, if I am prepared for every eventuality then Sod's Law states I will never break down.
Also it keeps clutter out of the garage.
Trolly Jack is a bit excessive, no?
You are lugging around extra weight which will affect your MPG.
Isofix. Makes putting in car seats so much easier.
Microfiber cloth and wet wipes in my car.
As someone whose aircon has packed up, I can now confidently say ‘aircon’.
A hardwired dash cam is the 21st century essential... You hope you'll never need to rely on it, but it's invaluable for the times if you do.
As a plus, allows you to rewatch funny/weird things that generally occur when driving around!
Mini car bin, wireless charger that also acts as a phone holder, grocery bags 😂, car cleaning stuff, ice defroster, first aid kit, blanket .
A prostitute
Box of wine sellotaped to the interior roof to obscure my vision, allowing me to suckle and an iPad on the dashboard and 3 or 4 screaming kids in the back
First aid kit , glass breaking device and a fire extinguisher. I also have those silver warm up sheets. I have had to use everything but the extinguisher and all saved someone’s life.
Rope, duct tape and something that can cut bone 🦴
A fire extinguisher.
A thick reflective waterproof coat. I have been stuck in the car overnight and it is fucking cold, and if you break down on a busy road a reflective coat helps you a lot (and can be used as a flag for the stopped vehicle when you are all out of the way).
USB port and apple play.
Keys
Zip straps, tarps, rope, a folding crate or two, plus loose coins, cough sweets and data/charging cables.
This one here, officer ^
Phone charger, phone holder, defrosting spray, microfibre cloth, air freshener spray, ice scraper, jump leads, normally a water bottle
FM tuner for my phone and a holder. Now I have music and GPS!
A ghost immobiliser
Heated front seats
Oh yeah I need a faux leather cover on the steering wheel that the manufacturer could have made it like in the first place if they didn't know better like me.
Plus a custom gear stick knob.
Big boot (I generally drive an estate)
Climate control (not dumb a/c), pref. dual-zone
Bluetooth audio
Adaptive cruise control
Heated windscreen
In that order of importance.
I'd love an auto, but the missus is scared of 'em.
Bluetooth connected speakers and wheel music controls. Let's ball
Wank rags
In the boot I have a first aid kit, high Viz, spare dumb phone, road battery flares. In the front I have a phone holder with built in wireless charger, dash cam and some sweets
Spare tire with jack, first aid kit and high viz triangle and jacket, empty unused fuel canister. Bundle of rope for if I ever need to store something and the trunk doesn’t close all the way. A blanket to cover things that may look valuable if I’m leaving my car parked. CDs, reserved for when there’s no radio and I need music. BT/USB car charger. Gum. I keep a bottle of water in my glove box. Scissors in the console if I need to cut my seatbelt in an emergency.
Napkins, charging cable, a bottle of water, random change that I swear I didn't put there and some basic tools in the boot. I also have an enet cable in there for scanning, logging or map related activities.
Hammer, shovel and a bag of quick lime.
Roll of carpet, tooth pliers, tape, bin bags, disposable hazmat suits, petrol, matches and a glock 9mm.
Gardening type gloves. You never know when you might have to change a tyre or pick something up off the road. Also useful at fuel pumps.
Car sauce, car salt, car sugar.
Air freshener, napkins, trolley tokens, de-icer, scraper for windows, spare oil, RAC membership card, lip balm. And a charger cable!!
If you drive places to go for walks I'd recommend a boot liner to protect the carpet.
I have an Anker charger (35W with two USB-A outlets) and a Vanmass phone holder which have both seen me through about 15k miles with no problems bar the odd "suction cup peeling off" incident which has gone unnoticed for a while because the cup is also super sticky, it's actually pretty hard to remove.
Also just a pouch for little bits you need, I've got a pencil case in my glovebox for my locking nut key thing plus USB cables, my Bluetooth OBDII adaptor (that's only really essential if you have a shit car that keeps throwing codes though) and "emergency snacks" that get eaten five minutes into the journey after I buy them.
Oh and if you have a toddler or hairy pet, a little vacuum cleaner is a good idea.
Boot contains wellies for me, and my son, waterproof trousers for him, a bag of beach toys/football/picnic blanket for impromptu beach trips. A bag containing bags, fire aid kit, umbrella or 3. Inside the car is deicer spray, few books for my son, a plastic lobster (not sure where that came from!), a little blanket in case my son gets cold. I'm diabetic so like to have Haribo available, a pen, a seat belt cutter, glasses and sunglasses.
Polorised sunglasses
6 speed manual and cruise control. To me comfort, quietness and reliability are a must then the rest are just bonuses.
Cruise control. Central locking. Elec window. Aux port/Bluetooth. Bed.
A steering wheel is a deal breaker
A little pack of handy wipes/ baby wipes. That and spare glasses.
Fuel. 🤣
Jump leads, first aid kit with foil blanket/s, emergency triangle, tyre pressure gauge and pump (I bought a small Chinese branded one that pumps the tyres, has a torch built in and also a USB port to charge phones/devices in an emergency), bottle of water, small bottle of engine oil… just the helpful bits that may be useful for me or someone else in an emergency.
Dashcam and a paper road atlas.
Dvd player, bullet food processor, hair straighteners, weed, ab fab dvds, Halloween 6 dvd, epilator, skin sander, makeup bag, hair brush, coca cola, candy, mangos, passion fruit, bananas, sunglasses, dinner tray, Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson on CD, gameboy with pokemon gold, BBQ sauces (both honey and smokey) ranch dressing, ceaser, thousand island, spicy mayo, garlic sauce, burger sauce, american mustard, mustard sauce, black pepper sauce, Doritos, Nik naks, scented candles
Lip balm
Looking for my next car after years driving a 2000 model, I keep discovering must-haves. Self-Parking, wow, got to have that, and obviously 360 degree bird’s eye view. Lane assist, road sign recognition, collision avoidance, surely all no-brainers. Then I was in a Tesla recently and the display showing nearby traffic/pedestrians/objects/motorbikes approaching from the rear quarter is just insane. I want it! But also the DS4 and up has active scan suspension, where forward facing cameras scan for bumps so the car can adjust its dampers to float over them. All of these things are now must-haves.
Adaptive cruise
An engine
Android Auto. Very jealous of the Apple Car Play in my wife's Mini, so much better than any built-in ICE.
Heated seats and heated steering wheel
Coffee.
Foldable triangles in case you break down.
This little thing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CGR4BH4V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 in case you break down at night in a dangerous spot
Emergency snacks that don't melt.
Sunglasses that are dedicated to the car.
If you have iPhone, magsafe charger holder combo.
Folding crate for unexpected B&Q trips.
Bag of shopping bags.
Spare phone charger (cable and plug) in case you need to stay somewhere overnight.
&& Learn how your spare / compressor works.
As someone who just bought a 2016 car after having 04/05 cars for 9 years my essentials were:
Blue tooth
Ability to charge phone
A/C
Reverse sensor
Cruise control
Nice screen
Big
A charged powerbank and phone cable.
Id get a portable tyre inflator, cheap and Very handy.
Also a cheap power pack you can stick in the car for anyone in the back.
A torch.
And breakdown cover.
Android Auto - or some sort of semi decent phone integration
All round sensors.
There is really no reason why these two features should not come with every single car.
When i had my car: phone cradle, charger, hi vis vest, warning triangle, sunglasses, shopping bags, ice scraper. Also a boot organiser since i'm overly tidy. I upgraded the stereo in it.
Now that I drive a van, which is my office on wheels: all of the above, android auto, pens, phone cradle is magnetic instead, a pack of mentos, snacks (have under seat compartments that will have packs of nuts, crisps, plantain chips, maybe biscuits) and I have my middle seat folded to use the table and extra cup holders < that feature alone I will miss when i sell it and move jobs! Oh, and a floor mat, when it rains it gets very slippery.
In the cargo area I have bin bags, kitchen roll, an extendable ice scraper since i'm short, bungees, and cleaner spray for when something liquid gets spilt. Also a bottle of tap water and hand soap, never know when you might need to wash your hands! Finally a tyre compressor.
I also have a dog seatbelt and seat cover for when I have my best friend's family dog with me.
Seat covers, steering wheel cover.
Purely additions-wise: Wireless charging phone holder, some kind of Bluetooth device into aux if my car didn’t come with Bluetooth, some sort of bin for rubbish, a tyre pump of some kind (since I guess spares are a thing of the past RIP), emergency kit with flares/lights, first aid kit etc.
If I was buying a car new I’d be aiming for something with an entertainment system that supports Android auto/carplay, reverse camera, heated seats, cruise control, and eco/sport mode options as well as a turbo for the funsies of it. Friend has a car with fancy headlights that senses oncoming cars and cars out front and it literally blanks out that bit of the headlight somehow in order to not blind other drivers and that was such a rad feature I now covet that as a feature
Steering wheel, engine, wheels.
Mobile phone holder
1st aid kit, european travel kit, air compressor, travel snacks, sunglasses and music!
I don't drive anymore.
But through experience I learnt to keep the following in the car.
I PROPER CAR-ONLY phone charger. Never ever to be removed from the car. Ever...
Hand brush, blanket, bottle if water and some snacks. Spare shopping bags, TISSUES, wet wipes, gloves, scrapper and a towel or two, plus newspaper.
Bottle of caffeine pills, sun cream and water
I have one of those clip on boot organisers so I have baby wipes, antibacterial wipes, sanitiser, ice scraper, waterproof gloves, driving gloves, mini first aid kit, tyre puncture repair kit, blanket, couple 500ml bottles of water, super bright flashlight (it's a clip on for my keys), microfibre cloth, dashcam, usb charger and I think I have a neon fire blanket that can double as hazard warning stuff because it's got a reflective side.
It seems like a lot but between the glove box and the boot organiser, it all fits in quite nicely and I still have room for a spare tyre and suitcases when going on holiday.
Diesel??
If I'd just purchased a brand new car, I expect to get booked in to a mental health clinic and be tested for whatever drove me to waste so much money.
a good pair of those small nail clippers. even if your hands are all sorted, it's good for 'nipping' the edge of snack packaging which is otherwise a nightmare to open - obviously while parked and not driving at 40-50mph (or 20 thanks to Welsh leaders)
A phone charger (and headphone charger also).
Blanket, pillow, towel (to cover back seat in case l have to put something not too clean on it).
Clips on the seatbelts! Just holds the seatbelt in a more comfortable position and stops it riding up over your boobs and trying to garrote you.
First priority is to get to know your car. Check the oil and water levels frequently during the first two months of ownership. Watch the brake fluid level, and power steering fluid level too (if it's pump-based).
Listen to how quicky it starts after a long journey Vs after a short journey. If there's a significant difference then the battery could be weak. Get it tested at a motor factors before winter. Winter kills weak batteries.
As for stuff to carry... In my old car I carry jump leads (though I've only ever used them to help others), a hi-vis jacket, a bottle of water and breakdown membership.
Front and rear dashcams
Depends on the car - my current car is ancient and I have to use an aux cord to plug my phone in for music, my main essential. My last car didn't have air conditioning so I had a fan stuck to my dashboard that plugged into the cigarette lighter.
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