We all have someone in our life we call mom. It may be your mom, grandmother, your mother-in-law, your baby’s momma, etc. All moms work hard and their jobs seem to never stop, they never get a day off and they’re always busy doing something. I’ve decided to dedicate this page to the new car features that will make mom’s life a little easier.
Vehicle manufactures have been installing rear-seat DVD players and rear door kid-locks on vehicles for a long time now. However, there are several other features with added benefits to help mom out with her daily driving activities.
The features listed below are available when buying a new car. They range from special safety features to keep your precious cargo safe to make it a little easier to load or unload your vehicle with groceries or cargo.
Some of these items are not just limited to the soccer moms out there, I’m sure some of the hard-working dads out there will enjoy them too. You may want to consider the next time you’re car shopping online.
How to Buy a New Car Online – Not sure where to start? My step-by-step guide on how to buy a new car online.
Top new car features soccer moms like best
These are my picks for the top new car features soccer moms and dads will like best in a new car. If you can find a vehicle that has all of these features you are sure to make your mom very happy. Maybe this article should be forwarded to the vehicle manufacturers.
1) Conversation Mirrors
Not to be mistaken for vanity mirrors, a conversation mirror is normally located in the center of the roof by the windshield. It drops down and gives a fish-eye or 180* view of the vehicle’s cabin so mom can keep an eye on who’s hitting who in the backseat.
2) Foot Activated Hatchback
We all know most new cars come with key fobs so you can open the trunk or hatchback by pushing or holding a button. However, this can be complicated if you have your arms full and the key fob is in your pocket or purse.
There are some vehicle manufacturers, such as BMW, making it to where you can wave your foot under the rear bumper to automatically raise and lower the hatchback without the use of a key fob. This is a great benefit to the person that has their hands full unloading their vehicle of groceries or cargo.
I’ve grouped these because they’re considered overboard and not worth the money to most people. But, if you want to score some brownie points with mom, this is what you do.
Flip the heated seats and heated steering wheel switch too on, on a cold winter’s night. Then let mom start the vehicle with the remote start and run for a few minutes the next morning. When she gets in the vehicle and it’s all defrosted, warm, and toasty, you’ll never own another vehicle without them.
4) Large Purse Sized Center Console
One of the accessories most women have is a purse, some are small and some are quite large. Moms normally have to throw their purse in the passenger seat or have it, being a safety issue, sliding around down by their feet while they drive. Vehicles like the Kia Sedona have a nice big center console that fits a plus-size purse easily and allows mom to have space just for her in the car.
5) Stow’n Go Seating
Most SUVs and minivans will let you fold down the rear seats so you can get more storage space if needing to haul something large. Some automakers also allow you to fold down the front passenger’s seat. The problem with this is you still have about 12 inches of unusable space because of the folded seats.
Stow’n Go Seating from Chrysler allows you to drop the seats down into special compartments on the floor. Storing the seats on the floor is the same as if you were to completely remove the seats from the cabin, dramatically increasing the storage capacity of the vehicle.
The Dodge Grand Caravan (except entry-level American Value package line) and the Chrysler Town & Country come standard with Stow’n Go Seating. The upper trim level of these minivans comes standard with third-row seats that stow themselves with a push of a button.
6) Built-in Car Vacuum
The Honda Odyssey Touring Elite has a built-in vacuum cleaner called the HondaVac. It’s a much smaller version of a Shop-Vac. With two attachments and a hose long enough to reach anywhere in the cabin, it makes quick work of any crumbs, dirt, or other kid creations that normally accumulate on a family ride.
Best New Car Quote Services
RydeShopper has one of the largest new car dealership networks in the world. Select the make and model you’re interested in and they will instantly search clearance pricing within your local area. Don’t forget to select as many dealers as possible to increase your chances for the greatest discounts and savings.
Edmunds is one of the oldest and best new car research and review sites on the internet. Their huge dealer network allows you to shop, research and compare millions of new cars so you can find the exact vehicle you’re looking for.
MotorTrend is one of the best kept secrets on the Internet. Best known for their automobile magazine, MotorTrend has a vast dealer network across the nation. Their referral service is 100% free and there’s no obligation to purchase. Pick a vehicle, select local dealers, and receive discount pricing.
CarsDirect has been in online vehicle research business since 1998 and has all the right tools to help you find your next car, truck or SUV. They offer a no-hassle experience from configuring a car to making the final purchase. You’ll find your next car quickly and easily.
Vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT offer cold storage as standard or optional equipment. Some of these systems are just insulated coolers to help keep drinks that are already cold from getting warm and some are actual little mini-fridges that tap into the vehicle’s electrical and cooling systems.
They’re normally just big enough to keep a few drinks in them but that can mean the difference of defusing a child’s tantrum on a hot summer’s day stuck in traffic.
8) Collision Avoidance Systems
When it comes to kids, mom’s number one priority is to keep them safe. Collision avoidance systems are radars built into the vehicle that detect when a vehicle in front of you has slowed down or stopped and you haven’t.
They normally flash big red lights on your windshield or dashboard and sound a warning tone. These visual and audio tones are great if you’ve taken your eyes off the road to play referee with your little ones or teenagers. Some of these systems will even automatically apply your brakes if the other warnings failed to get your attention and the system detects a crash is imminent.
You can always ask your salesperson to demonstrate how all these systems during the test drive while at the dealership.
Car Price Quotes
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9) Phone and Tablet Mounts
These mounts easily expand or retract to fit any size phone or tablet and are adjustable to be viewed from anywhere in the vehicle. This allows you to use a tablet instead of a standard in-vehicle DVD entertainments system.
Many car shoppers are opting out of DVD players with the versatility of the hand-held tablet and it’s understandable, you can switch between games, movies, and all kinds of entertainment without mom having to remove or replace DVDs while driving.
10) Dual Cargo Floor
The Fiat 500L has a dual floor in the cargo area. it allows you to store “not-used-as-much-items” and leaves the upper cargo space for daily storage use. The Fiat’s cargo shelf holds up to 200 pounds, plenty of weight for groceries or sports equipment.
Most under-floor storage bins are hard to get to, but the Fiat allows you to reach in and grab whatever you need without having to clear the upper cargo shelf first.
In conclusion
If you’re considering the purchase of a new car, truck, minivan, or SUV. As always, I recommend using a free online referral service such as Ryde Shopper and Motor Trend to guarantee you pay the lowest price. These services will tell you what others are paying for the vehicle you’re considering in your local area and which dealers give the greatest discounts.
If you’re not sure where to start or in a time crunch to buy a new car… check out my new car buying cheat sheet to follow my step-by-step guide on how to get a great deal and avoid unethical dealer scams.
About the author
My name is Carlton Wolf and I have been in the retail and wholesale car business for well over 20 years. I created the Auto Cheat Sheet to better educate buyers on the deceptive sales practices found in many dealerships across the country. Please understand, not all car dealers are dishonest. However, you never know who you will be dealing with. I’m willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone willing to listen. Keep in mind, I’m a car guy, not a writer.
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