Car Accessories – A Top Ten
June 10th, 2013
After my last post, where I had a bit of a snigger about some of the stupidest car accessories I’ve ever seen, I thought it was probably about time that we had a look at some good ones.
Of course, when it comes to compiling a top ten list of good accessories, it’s not easy. There are so many different types of motorist in the world. What is a brilliant idea for one type of driver is a real waste of time and money for another driver. So if I’ve left one of your absolute “must haves” off the list, apologies in advance – and let the world know what it is and why you like it in the comments section.
- P plates and L plates. I have a teenage son so they’re legal requirements.
- A towbar. Being able to do your own hauling is so handy. In fact, essential, at least in our family. There is always a
load of greenwaste to take to the local recycling depot, bikes and surfboards to take on holiday, kayaks to take to the nearest suitable body of water, people to help when they’re moving house, furniture to pick up from the store and a caravan to be pulled. Trailers can be hired, but what are you going to do if you haven’t got any way of hauling the trailer you’ve hired? My family have always insisted on towbars, to the point that my dad got one put on the Alfa Romeo they inherited from my grandmother. The installer said he’d never had to put one on an Alfa before… - Rubber floor mats. Someone is going to get into the car at some stage with wet, dirty shoes or boots. Or the dog will get into a mud puddle when you’re out on a picnic. If they’re not in the car already, buy them. They are so much easier to clean off.
- Roof racks. Great for adding extra storage, so much so that a lot of vehicles come with them as standard. If they haven’t come with yours as standard, it’s a smart move to take them off when you don’t actually need them, as they add drag and reduce your fuel efficiency.
- Seat covers. You can get them to protect the upholstery from dirt and tears (seat covers are easier to wash, especially if you have a child who hasn’t quite got the hang of holding on until you can find a suitable place to stop and pee). You can get them to personalise your car. Or you can get them to cover over the cheaper upholstery with something more luxurious such as sheepskin.
- Bike racks.
- Jumper leads. Much easier than pushing a heavy Land Rover!
- Storage holders that involve small pockets. I hate fumbling around in the depths of the glove cabinet for the house keys (kept separate from the car keys so someone else can open up the house while I’m putting the car away), a pen or my cellphone.
- A map. They’ve improved a lot but GPS systems and sat nav sometimes get it wrong, and they don’t always pick up things like road works or heavy traffic. Having a real hard-copy map helps you find a good alternative route.
- A microfibre cloth for cleaning off the inside of the front windscreen. There’s always something that manages to get onto it. A good cloth also doubles as a cleaner for sunglasses and regular corrective glasses. Smudges and smears reduce visibility and that reduces safety.
Level 2, 9 Help Street
Arthur says:
Hi Megan
Surprised not to see a first aid kit or fire extinguisher on the list and I’m sorry, but a towbar on an Alfa? Are you deliberately trying to be provocative?
Have a nice day
June 28th, 2013 at 12:37 am
Robert Clark says:
I always keep a first aid kit in the car as an essential. It just might come in handy one day.
June 28th, 2013 at 7:45 am
robert whyte says:
Towbars should be removable when not towing.
June 28th, 2013 at 8:13 am
Dot says:
Hi Arthur
What model Alfa do you drive? I saw the Guilietta 2 days ago and was quite impressed at the value for money.
Dot
June 28th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Dot says:
I agree!
June 28th, 2013 at 4:26 pm