Car Gadgets

Forget furry dice - iPods, Satnavs and DVD players make up today's must-have fun car accessories. Motoring journalists Mark Dishman, Steve Parker and Chris Pollitt tell us what car gadgets, and trusted accessories, they can and can't drive without.

A good audio system Listening to music or the radio through a good audio system is still probably one of the best ways to stay relaxed behind the wheel, so it's little wonder reports say that 'improved sound systems' are the top in-car add-on which new vehicle owners install.
Steve Parker

Satnav I'm a lover of the older car, so car gadgets don't really fit into my world. I will, however, speak highly of Satnav, provided it's used correctly. People are far too quick to assume that you just throw in a postcode and then head off when it's not always that simple. I have a good Satnav but even so, it has still taken me down farm tracks and roads which haven't been used since Roman times. Do some research first so you have a rough idea of where you're going. If you trust a Satnav entirely you might not notice that you're going the wrong way until it's far too late. Crucially though, before all of this, make sure you put the postcode in correctly. My father once hit the wrong bit of the screen and ended up some 30 miles from where he needed to be, resulting in a phone call asking me why my house wasn't where it was last time he visited.
Chris Pollitt

A road map A good, up-to-date road map is such a brilliant invention, which is why it's lasted for so long. Admittedly, it can be tricky to use if you're on your own in the car, but there's an uncomplicated satisfaction to be had from navigating your way out of a traffic jam, or plotting a cross-country route that includes a selection of interesting roads, instead of the usual 'quickest route' motorway slog.
Mark Dishman

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