Best secret features of a car no one knows about.

This was briefly mentioned in another thread earlier, about the 911 having a nice stash spot behind the easy to remove speedo. So I thought, what other "secret options" have you found? Factory intended or not.

Like on the E90, you can flick the headlights to give you a lighted path to your door when you get home at night. I know little stuff like that is corny but I love it, even just being able to roll windows down from the fob. So if its factory intentional like the BMWs, or not like the 911 stash spot, lets hear 'em!

-Nick

Mk4 VW's hold the key to the open position in the door for an extra bit of time and all 4 windows roll down.

NGTD wrote: Mk4 VW's hold the key to the open position in the door for an extra bit of time and all 4 windows roll down.

The last gen Saab 9-3's worked the same with the keyfob lock/unlock buttons, even opens and closes the top on the convertibles.

You can hide a keg of beer in the footwell of a 1977 Impala with the rear-facing seat option.

And the tailgate dropped down or swung out depending on which way you moved the handle.

Oh yes those tailgates are fantastic!

The 911 also has what is commonly referred to as the Smugglers Box, under the carpet in the frunk.

My Celica has a secret stash spot in the door. And a really secret spot on the front of the fuse box by your left foot. I'm convinced the secret spot in the door card is for a weapon, and the footwell is for your back up stash of money, or cocaine. Did I mention the Celica is an '85?

Turn the (key) door lock clockwise, then back, and clockwise a 2nd time, and all doors unlock.

2012 Toyota Highlander

Someone here once mentioned that on some Hondas, if you have the power mirror switch flipped to either side(vs. the center), when you put the car in reverse the mirror on that side will tilt downward for better visibility.

The R63 has a built in bottle opener. Two really, one for pry off tops and one to help you grab twist offs.

I'm not sure of the exact sequence, but I hit it accidentally when resetting the trip meter after a fill-up in my '06 E-150: Right after startup, if you hit the trip/reset button it will give you the ability to see OBDII live data in the odometer LED strip.

There is a sequence within the ecu of first gen mazda 3s that will allow you to unlock real time fuel, etc...that was supposedly a special top level only option.

petegossett wrote: Someone here once mentioned that on some Hondas, if you have the power mirror switch flipped to either side(vs. the center), when you put the car in reverse the mirror on that side will tilt downward for better visibility.

I'm going to try that. My Honda will start rear wipers automatically when the main wipers are on if you select reverse.

IIRC, MINI will do both.

If you buy a beige corolla, no high school.girl will ever flirt with you. I learned this a long time ago.

If you remove the driver's seat on a '88-92 turbo 626 or MX6, you'll see the power steering assist module on the floor. It has a sticker on it which hides a "secret switch" which allows you to adjust the overall steering effort.

petegossett wrote: Someone here once mentioned that on some Hondas, if you have the power mirror switch flipped to either side(vs. the center), when you put the car in reverse the mirror on that side will tilt downward for better visibility.

My Avalanche did that.

Some European cars will light up the left parking lights when you put the turn signal switch to left blinker mode with the ignition off. A feature for the narrow European streets at night. Found it accidently on my 70 Opel GT. Thought I messed up the re-wire job I did until I found out it's supposed to do that.

wlkelley3 wrote: Some European cars will light up the left parking lights when you put the turn signal switch to left blinker mode with the ignition off. A feature for the narrow European streets at night. Found it accidently on my 70 Opel GT. Thought I messed up the re-wire job I did until I found out it's supposed to do that.

Can confirm, mini will do.

I know the current Grand Cherokee and Durangos have a "stash" box under the drivers seat (and pass but the battery takes a lot of space) that could hold a rather large "brick" if one wanted.

The 1956 Powell pickup had this compartment. The dividers could be removed and fishing rods safely transported.

Here's one that several drivers on this morning's commute were painfully unaware of: pressing down on the pedal on right makes the car go faster.

Might be specific to my truck, but 450,000 miles nets a 4Runner that can start with a screwdriver.

Said truck also has a button on the lower left if the dashboard. It's the clutch override button. Start the truck with the clutch engaged. Pray it's not in gear.

Ha. My brother's Escort will start with a screwdriver.

Maybe this is just a German car thing but I really like how, in my 96 BMW, the medium windshield wiper setting will switch itself to the low interval setting when the car slows to a stop and then switch back to the medium setting when I start driving again.

63-67 Corvettes had covered compartments behind both seats. One was for the battery. The other had a removable plug in the bottom & was the perfect size for a six pack covered with ice. We didn't know much about dope & bricks & such back then.

All honda Fits at least 2009+ have a stash box under the drivers rear seat. It holds a flask well. Thanks librarian Honda, for helping me get away with flask stashes.