{"id":25929,"date":"2020-09-02T12:35:56","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T16:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25929"},"modified":"2020-09-03T12:37:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:37:24","slug":"payne-this-is-the-latest-feature-car-buyers-want-more-than-anything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/09\/payne-this-is-the-latest-feature-car-buyers-want-more-than-anything","title":{"rendered":"Payne: This is the latest feature car buyers want more than anything"},"content":{"rendered":"

Car buyers want\u00a0dashboard cameras on their next new vehicle more than any other feature, even though only a couple of automakers have started to offer\u00a0them.<\/p>\n

In an age when cellphones and doorbell cameras are nearly ubiquitous, about\u00a070% of car buyers in AutoPacific\u2019s annual Future Attribute Demand Study say an on-dash video camera is a must-have for recording on-road incidents\u00a0\u2014 or just keeping watch over their parked cars.<\/p>\n

While aftermarket dash cams are available starting at about $100, Silicon Valley-based luxury automaker Tesla Inc. is the only manufacturer that builds them standard into their vehicles.\u00a0Cadillac\u00a0is rolling out its Surround Vision Recorder as\u00a0a feature on its CT5, XT4, XT5, XT6 and coming 2021 Escalade.\u00a0A Performance Data Recorder is ready for duty on upper trims of the Chevy Corvette and Camaro.<\/p>\n

\"Dashboard<\/p>\n
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I’ve been using my Tesla Model 3’s Dashcam system on the road … and when I’m away from the car.<\/p>\n

In typical Tesla style, the Dashcam software was released as part of a model-wide over-the-air system update nearly two years ago. The software allows the cameras in Tesla’s Autopilot system to capture video on a USB drive.\u00a0Incremental upgrades followed with a significant update this year allowing owners to view video footage on the big 15-inch console screen.<\/p>\n

\"Sentry<\/p>\n
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\u201cFeatures that promote safety, whether through improved driver visibility or collision avoidance, have been trending upward in AutoPacific\u2019s Future Attribute Demand research for the past few years,\u201d said Deborah Grieb, a research analyst for the automotive marketing research and product-consulting firm.<\/p>\n

Comfort and convenience items have traditionally topped the list, and five years ago\u00a0the top two choices were power driver’s\u00a0seats and heated seats.<\/p>\n

This year, safety features like dash cams and air bags surged to the top of the list with convenience features such as head-up display and over-the-air software updates just behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsumers have experienced an influx of personal video in social and news media in recent years and are very familiar with the potential security benefits of camera footage,\u201d\u00a0Grieb said. \u201cIt\u2019s really not surprising to see such high interest in an in-vehicle recording device.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dashcam uses four of my Model 3\u2019s eight navigation cameras\u00a0\u2014\u00a0front, rear and both sides \u2014 to monitor surroundings. With flash drive inserted, Dashcam will automatically turn\u00a0on when I enter the car,\u00a0its camera avatar glowing red at the top right of the console screen.<\/p>\n

I have not been in any accidents, so I have no horrific video to share. But Tesla Dashcam videos of various incidents are popular on the web, drawing hundreds of thousands of views.<\/p>\n