https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:21:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736904 Wed, 17 May 2017 08:07:20 +0000 kpc324 2736904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are looking at new cars as well and auto braking is a non-negotiable for me. Not because I think I will be distracted and won't stop, but a computer's reaction to stopping would be faster than mine. I've read that even a split second faster braking time can reduce the severity of a crash, so it seems worth it to me. </p> <p>I feel like auto braking is this generation's anti-lock brakes or air bags. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736869 Wed, 17 May 2017 06:56:27 +0000 Bluebonnet 2736869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a bunch of high end safety features (forward collision warning / braking and lane departure warning / blind spot warnings) in my car and I think it's well worth the extra money. </p> <p>Most of the time I'm driving the kids are in my back seat and they can be very distracting, despite my best efforts to be focused on the road. I love that I have the safety features to warn me of impending danger if my attention is briefly diverted. I think the features make me a safer driver and it was worth it to me to spend the extra money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736857 Wed, 17 May 2017 02:09:24 +0000 808love 2736857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 2008 suv with lane departure and brakes to adapt distance from car in front. The rear detection system is loud and beeps a lot I almost tune it out while parking. . I love the birdseye camera view but I could do without any of this. I like my car but prefer big windows and high visibility to gadgets. I am also concerned it will cost a lot as my car ages and systems go out. I didn't buy my car for any of the gadgets. I bought it used and the price was right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736837 Tue, 16 May 2017 21:54:46 +0000 Corduroy 2736837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I have forward collision warning on my minivan. I don't think I'd pay extra for it but it did cost me about $500 extra to replace my cracked windshield because the system is windshield mounted. The dealership wanted $500 or $600 for calibration at a third party. We went to a third party that had a more expensive method without calibration. It might all be BS but the car was so new and DH and I were worried about messing up our new systems. I wish we just had a normal windshield. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736806 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:55:00 +0000 HappyBaker 2736806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: That makes sense, thanks for sharing your thought process!</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Good to know those are your top two! I'm finding back up / blind spot camera comes with trim levels than the rest of the safety stuff.</p> <p>@petitenoisette: Yea I totally get that! I almost wish I had just bought a new car last year when things weren't becoming semi standard so much because now it makes comparing things harder! </p> <p>@looch: Good point! I know the IIHS definitely rates them highly when they have those features.</p> <p>@gingerbebe: Yea I do worry about becoming dependent on them! </p> <p>@pinkcupcake: Great to know, thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736624 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:23:04 +0000 pinkcupcake 2736624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a fully loaded 2016 4Runner and I love it. At first I was hesitant about paying so much but it's been worth it. I love the back up camera, the front collision, the side collision mirrors. The blind spot monitor is so helpful, especially since visibility can be limited with 2 car seats in the back. Lane departure, I don't use so much. But everything else, I've come to rely on greatly and would never wanna go back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736589 Tue, 16 May 2017 12:47:56 +0000 gingerbebe 2736589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bought a fully loaded 2012 Toyota Sienna certified used in 2015, so while it was high-end, it did not have all the safety features we have today. We have a small backup camera, and that's about it. I really like it that way, to be honest. I appreciate having a backup camera to double check behind me, but I HATE how much my husband relies on the larger screen backup camera on his newer Prius. I really think less features makes me much more aware of how I am driving. If I happened to be buying a new car today and it had things like lane drifting warnings in the trim level I wanted to buy, I'd be fine with it, but I would not go out of my way to pay more just for that feature. </p> <p>The only thing I might go out of my way for are things that help in weather, like fog lights and electronic stability control and roll mitigation if I lived in a place with harsh weather and required AWD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736407 Tue, 16 May 2017 07:54:12 +0000 looch 2736407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a skeptic until I started doing some research into the habits of drivers. My general observations are that people are becoming more distracted and making more mistakes and the computers, which never get tired or distracted, are becoming better at keeping us safer, so we have a car that can "take over" and let us know when another car is drifting into our lane and I have to say, it's pretty amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736405 Tue, 16 May 2017 07:50:49 +0000 petitenoisette 2736405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got a brand new car and didn't go with the extra features you described. We do have a backup camera which I appreciate but have already learned that the camera is just that, backup, and you should not be relying on it. </p> <p>Sometimes I do wish we had just gone for the extra features but only because I will hopefully have this car for 10 years and so by the end of it's life I'm sure the safety features will seem sub-par! But for now I remind myself that even without them cars are sooooo much safer now overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736404 Tue, 16 May 2017 07:49:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2736404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have the forward collision warning. Its nice I suppose. </p> <p>We also just have the lane departure warning which is nice when I start to drift if I"m reaching back to hand a kid something. </p> <p>The only other feature that I can't live without anymore is the back up camera (make sure its high quality, some are really grainy) and the camera on the passenger mirror. It turns on when I put my right blinker on so I can see that far blind spot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736402 Tue, 16 May 2017 07:38:42 +0000 peachykeen 2736402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I bought a new SUV last summer that has basically all the new features. My favorite one is the 360 camera which is so helpful with parking and backing out of spots. The forward collision/automatic braking is helpful but I'm a pretty careful driver in general.</p> <p>However, DH is buying a new sedan right now and he will likely go without the newest features because the cost difference isn't worth it vs previous year barely used car. Our other concern with certain people and the safety features is that he has a bad tendency to allow himself to be distracted while driving and we both feel he may trust the safety features a little too much and drive less carefully.</p> <p>So, the features are nice but I would still go without them if we could save a lot of money buying used. The main reason we bought my car new is just that there weren't any used ones available for the particular model (not specifically for the safety features). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/new-car-shopping-extra-safety-features#post-2736398 Tue, 16 May 2017 06:51:07 +0000 HappyBaker 2736398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are shopping for a new car and I'm wondering if the latest and greatest safety features are worth paying a premium for, or if we should just buy without since we never had them before! </p> <p>I'm talking about things like forward collision warning / braking and lane departure warning / correction. It seems like these are becoming more and more standard but I could buy a still-new but last year's model without them for much less money.</p> <p>If you have these features do you like them / think they make a difference in your driving? </p>