Heated car seats, they have certainly evolved over the years.

[SpokeyDokey]

Had a few Saab 9-5's way back and 'hot seats' were a bit of a novelty then and considered luxurious.

Our last 4 cars have had hot seats and, tbh, we wouldn't buy a car without them.

Never had the luxury of a heated steering wheel, though.

I saw a Rolls Royce on YouTube recently and it had heated centre, and door, armrests!

 

[biggs682]

The first time I had electric seats was in a Saab 96 and then nothing for 20+ untill a company demo Honda CRV had them in.

Love them

 

[biggs682]

My 20 years old Yaris has modern features like carpet.

And the reliability that a lot of modern cars don't have

 

[Electric_Andy]

Having said all of the above, motorcycle heated grips are an absolute godsend. I commuted in all weathers without them for 10 years. Finally bit the bullet and fitted them one winter and it was absolute luxury, plus safer because you have more control of your hands if you can actually feel them

 

[fossyant]

A d the reliability that a lot of modern cars don't have

I'm with you there. Too many electronics in modern vehicles. Mine has been 'bonging' a battery issue, which I suspect has been dirt or slight corrosion on the connector for the electronic battery state monitor on the negative terminal. It's shut up since using electrical contact cleaner. New battery has been fitted though.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Where will it end? My 81 SAAB had automatic front seat heaters. You never knew they were there, they just kept you comfortable automatically.

Now the stuff in the drive has heated and cooled seats. When the seat fans are on it takes about 1 minute for your kidneys to let you know it was a mistake turning that option on. It’s all connected to the automatic climate control ( climate concierge they call it ) so the seats and steering wheel are switching themselves off and on with the heating and air conditioning.

geeze… do I ever miss that SAAB. For so very many reasons!

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

Having said all of the above, motorcycle heated grips are an absolute godsend. I commuted in all weathers without them for 10 years. Finally bit the bullet and fitted them one winter and it was absolute luxury, plus safer because you have more control of your hands if you can actually feel them

Most of my bikes didn’t have the extra juice to power such devices., some were still six volt. I used to just fondle the cylinder head(s) when sitting at a traffic light. That would restore your hands enough to get you about as far as the next light.

you had to have good leather gloves though… damn head would melt nylon bits pretty quickly. Snowmobile mitts helped as well, living in Canada means there’s more dealers of those things than motorcycles in some areas.

 

[geocycle]

My Renault 4 ev has heated seats and heated steering wheel. Mrs G loves them, to me it feels like incontinence. Remotely warming the car up and the seats is also possible but I’m not convinced.

 

[ivegotabike]

My Renault 4 ev has heated seats and heated steering wheel. Mrs G loves them, to me it feels like incontinence. Remotely warming the car up and the seats is also possible but I’m not convinced.

Setting the climate control to pre-condition (warm / cool) the car before getting in it is a boon.

Just tell the app what time you are setting off and it does the rest.

Heading out, in winter, to a car that is already fully defrosted and warmed up ready to go is great.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

My Kia EV is the first car I’ve owned that has heated seats, even the rear seats have a two-level setting.

Front seats have three heat levels plus air-con, which is great in the summer. It’s a top level model so has a heated steering wheel as well. All very fancy but not exactly essential.

What I do like is being able to set the cabin climate remotely prior to driving the car.