Old-school amenities

They hide among new car models, lurking between adaptive suspensions, satellite radios, and rearview cameras. It's a phenomenon many car buyers don't see on the sticker: Prehistoric equipment that defies time, technology, and most of all - common sense. To make the point, we highlighted 10 obsolete features on new US model cars and trucks, and solicited comments about them from John Paul, longtime technician and AAA "car doctor," and David Champion, a senior auto tester for Consumers Union.

Cigarette lighters and ashtrays
Found in: Audi A8, Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Ranger

For decades, cigarette lighters and pop-out ashtrays provided the comforting aroma of cloth baked in stale tar. Now, plastic caps cover empty 12-volt sockets and portable electronics - instead of crumpled Marlboro packs - cram storage compartments. But savvy smokers can still find their gear on a handful of cars, where an optional covered ashtray replaces one of the cup holders.

Hubcaps
Found on: Chrysler 300 LX, Pontiac G6, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta S

Hubcaps aren't exactly going away, but their reputation has fallen lower than politicians' approval ratings. Forget about fancy metalwork - today's hubcaps are Frisbees that don't even pretend to hide the even uglier steel wheels beneath. Alloy wheels have become standard on many sub-$30,000 cars, and they don't bend or loosen during hard cornering. Alloy wheels are usually lighter than steel wheels and hubcaps, said Paul, which translates into fuel savings. "For every 100 pounds of weight you can save, there's probably a 1 percent fuel economy gain," he said.

Powered and nonretractable antennas
Found on: BMW Z4, Ford Focus, Mini Cooper, Volvo C70

Cellphones integrate their antennas, and GPS units talk to outer space with a small, retractable bar. Not so for cars. While fixed-height plastic antennas are common, they stick out like a whisker after a clean shave. Many manufacturers now fit receivers in windows or mount them on the roof with inconspicuous, dorsal fin-like covers - with practically no difference in quality. Once-luxurious power metal antennas are easy victims to car washes and pricey to repair. The $75,000 Jaguar XK had one last year, but engineers hid it in the rear spoiler for 2008.

Cassette players
Found in: Acura TL, Hyundai Entourage GLS, Kia Sedona EX, Lexus GS

A dynamite factory radio used to boast an auto-reversing cassette deck, Dolby noise reduction, and not two, but three channels of FM presets. Against MP3s, hard drive bays, and iPod docks, tapes have little credence. If you're not driving around in a new Korean minivan - or oddly enough, in all but three Lexus models, which sport audiophile Mark Levinson systems - you will never again see a cassette deck. The disappointed few probably tuck floppy drives under their pillows.

Digital speedometers
Found in: Honda Civic, Honda S2000, Toyota Prius

After some trippy experiments in the 1980s, automakers realized most drivers didn't like staring at numbers to gauge their speed. Unlike a large sweeping needle, digital speedometers proved to be tougher to read quickly, and were washed out in direct sunlight. "Digital speedometers have the impression of being more accurate," said Paul, but when they fail "it's a big repair." That aside, customizable LCD displays are making new waves. The fighter jet readouts on the $1.4 million Lamborghini Reventon are a zany example, but the simulated analog dials on the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class prove simple design still works best.

Vinyl and leatherette
Found in: BMW 535i, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 WT, Ford F-150 XL, Mercedes-Benz E350

Base-model pickup trucks tout vinyl as being easier to clean than leather. But even the most plebeian rides today wouldn't be caught in a scrap yard with it. Except the Germans. You would think $52,000 for a luxury sedan buys cowhide, but Mercedes-Benz doesn't agree. That's the base price of the E350 with "M-B Tex," its low-cost look-alike - the real thing costs $1,570. Several BMW 3 and 5 Series models offer "leatherette" (considered an upgrade for only four payments of $362.50).

Hood prop bars
Found on: Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Dodge Caliber, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Toyota Corolla

Hood prop bars are a vestige of cheap car economics - paying less means settling for low quality. But thanks to demand for better fit, finish, and materials, that idea has largely eroded across all price segments. Yet many owners contend with these dinky, dollar-store substitutes for hydraulic gas struts. "A lot of manufacturers are moving back to them again because they are cheaper and lighter," said Champion. "Once you move up above $35,000, they tend to have gas struts."

Backseats without headrests
Found in: Ford Focus, Mazda 6 (2008), Mercury Grand Marquis, Toyota Yaris Liftback, Porsche 911

From windows that roll halfway to the drivetrain hump splitting the middle rider in two, backseats are automotive nosebleed sections. Cup holders, HVAC controls, and head-curtain airbags have upgraded them to mezzanine, but some manufacturers forget rear passengers have heads. Although whiplash is one of the most common passenger injuries, companies know the rear seat really is for stashing junk and people you don't want in front. That rear passengers haven't launched a mutiny is a small wonder.

Drum brakes
Found on: Chevrolet Cobalt, Dodge Dakota, Ford Escape, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent

No major manufacturer offers four-wheel drum brakes in the United States anymore. But many entry-level models from American and Asian manufacturers have disc brakes in the front - and less expensive drums in back. "With the advent of electronic stability control, where you're going to use quite a bit of rear brake," said Champion, "basically disc brakes are a necessity." Drum brakes overheat faster than disc brakes, making them fade. Disc brakes cool quicker and offer greater, more consistent stopping power.

Bench seats
Found in: Buick LaCrosse, Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis

Aside from various pickup trucks, these full-size US models are the only sedans left on the planet with front bench seats. The Toyota Avalon had a bench option until 2005, but it's a rarity now. Paul said the shift was due in part to costlier and more complex passenger air bags. Here's the bigger reason: Interiors in six-passenger sedans, while spacious and comfortable, are as stylish as cataract sunglasses. Granted, the over-65 crowd enjoys the classic American appeal, but there's not enough of them buying new cars to keep the style alive.