Remember the good old days when buying a car felt like a simple, straightforward experience? You’d walk into a dealership, pick a model, and drive away with all the bells and whistles included—no extra charge. Fast forward to today, and you might feel like you’re participating in a game of “Choose Your Own Adventure” at the dealership, where every little feature comes with its own price tag. Let’s chat about some car features that used to be standard but now feel like luxury upgrades.

1. Air Conditioning

Can you believe there was a time when air conditioning was a given in every car? Nowadays, you might need to fork over some extra cash for this feature, especially in certain budget models. It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? You’d think that in our quest for comfort, auto manufacturers would want to keep us cool in the sweltering summer heat. But alas, if you want to avoid rolling down the windows and feeling like you’re riding in a wind tunnel, be prepared to pay up!

2. Power Windows

Picture this: you’re cruising down the highway, and the sun is shining just right. You want to let in that lovely breeze, so you reach for the window crank. Wait, what? Crank? That’s right! While power windows were once the norm, many base models today come with the old-school manual windows. Unless you want to feel like you’re in a classic car, you’ll likely need to add that power feature to your purchase. It’s almost like they’re trying to keep us fit with all this cranking!

3. Bluetooth Connectivity

Now, let’s talk about Bluetooth. It’s hard to imagine life without it, right? But in some new cars, you might find that this essential feature comes as a pricey add-on rather than a standard inclusion. If you’re anything like me, you spend half your time in the car jamming out to your favorite playlist or taking hands-free calls. So, be sure to check if you’ll need to shell out some extra bucks for the ability to connect your phone. After all, who wants to go back to fumbling with cords and aux cables?

4. Backup Cameras

Let’s face it, parking can be a bit of a nightmare. Remember the days when you could just rely on your instincts and a little elbow maneuvering? Nowadays, backup cameras have become essential for preventing those oh-so-awkward moments when you accidentally back into a pole. Yet, in many models, this feature doesn’t come standard anymore. If you want to see what’s lurking behind you, you might have to add it to your list of “must-have” options. It’s like they’re saying, “Oh, you want to avoid that tree? That’ll cost ya!”

5. Heated Seats

Ah, heated seats—the little slice of heaven that makes winter driving a bit more bearable. There was a time when these cozy cushions were included in most mid-range vehicles. Now? You often need to pay extra to enjoy that toasty embrace. It’s almost comedic how quickly we forget how much we love being warm and snuggly. So, if you’re planning on tackling those frosty mornings without freezing your backside off, consider budgeting for those heated seats. Your future self will thank you!

6. Navigation Systems

Finally, let’s chat about navigation systems. Once upon a time, having a GPS built into your car was a given. But now, many manufacturers are leaning toward the “bring your own” approach, meaning you’ll likely need to rely on your smartphone—and hope it doesn’t die mid-trip. Sure, some higher-end cars still come with fancy navigation systems, but if you’re on a budget, you might need to download an app and get creative with your dashboard setup. It’s like they’re nudging you to embrace technology while keeping their prices down. Who knew navigating was a luxury?

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it: six features that used to be standard but now come with a side of “that’ll be extra, please.” It’s a little wild how quickly the landscape of car features has changed. As consumers, we need to be more savvy than ever, checking to see what’s included in the base price and what’ll cost us an arm and a leg. The next time you’re car shopping, take a moment to think about which features you truly can’t live without—and don’t be afraid to negotiate! After all, you deserve to drive in comfort without breaking the bank.