New car--what are your "must haves"?

DH's SUV has the backup camera and I really like that. I don't care about bluetooth and actually prefer a wired input with a 1/8" jack or USB so I can play music from my phone without using bluetooth, which runs the battery down quickly. I don't take calls in the car so don't care about being able to do so through the car's speaker system.

For me, I would look at safety, reliability and ease of maintenance before I cared a lot about extras. And don't forget - if you don't find the selection you want locally, places like Carmax (and probably others) will ship a car you like for free within 500 miles or so. Do a web search to expand your options.

Regret is such a personal thing. Is the new house a "must" to get out of a declining neighborhood, get the kids into a better school district or is it a "want" with no urgency behind it?
My only "must have" on a car is power mirrors. I use my bluetooth some but would be fine without it. I don't use my phone a lot while on the road so pulling over to make a call is very doable for me. I don't have a review camera.

We just purchased a new-to-us used vehicle. I opted for the one with fewer fancy features because I figured more extras means more things to break and repair in the future. We keep our vehicles for a very long time.

I've never had heated seats or a hatch that opens with my foot, so I decided I wouldn't miss those features. I also couldn't justify the cost.

However, my new car does have Bluetooth and I'm appreciating its ease - I push a button and say "Call DH" - magic.

I'll add DVD to my "don't need" category. Your kids are younger than mine but it's a feature that rarely gets used in our current vehicle. Everybody has their own devices and it's not needed.

The DVD player was nice on one road trip because Redbox was plentiful and we'd just switch out movies at the next stop. By the time we took the next road trip we had to hunt for Redbox locations and the time wasn't something DH wanted to add to the trip.

I would not buy a car without a backup camera and Bluetooth, especially if I was planning on keeping it a long time. I didn't think I cared about a backup camera until my husband put one in his car -- makes crowded parking lots and tight parking spaces so much easier. I love Bluetooth for running music through my car without a cable (never in a convenient location), and in my personal case, I take a lot of long conference calls where I don't need to talk, but I do need to listen. Having Bluetooth is so nice for that.

When my husband sold his car, he installed his after-market backup camera and bluetooth in my 2004 car, and I love it. But it doesn't hold a candle to the built-in systems in his 2010 or in the newer cars I've rented. My after-market is slower, clunkier, not as good sound quality.

I will drive my current car until it's not reliable anymore, but those extra features are some of the biggest temptation to me to look at upgrading. The relatively small upfront cost now (compared to the total cost of the car) versus how long you'll own it -- totally worth it.

I do not think Navigation is worth it - in many areas, the maps get outdated super quickly and are a PITA to update, it's a PITA to input your destination, and overall doesn't work as well as Google Maps/Waze. I'd want the Bluetooth so my phone could give me navigation, but the actual built-in navigation has no value to me and is actually kind of an annoyance. Depends on your driving style though. 

I like my backup camera because it's easier to see if someone is walking nearby in a parking lot. Navigation isn't that big a deal to me -- my phone has more capability than my car in that department. I've never used DVDs since my kids are 18+.

My personal "must have" is all wheel drive because of my steep driveway in the winter.

On my short list would be a Honda -- non-negotiable, we are a forever Honda family -- and one that's newer than my current 2002 vehicle.    Darn Hondas are made too well so they last forever.

Personally I'd also like a radio that tells me what the song is. I'm forever asking Siri to identify songs, so if I could just glance at the radio to find out that would be great. 

I'd also like a jack/port/whatever to play my iPod without having to use one of those cassette tape converter things. (like I said, it's a 2002, lol)

CD player because I like to borrow books on CD from the library for when I drive out of town.

From reading this thread it also looks like I'd like a backup camera, although I've never had one so I don't know what I'm missing.

Basically I'd just like something newer than 2002. 

I would not buy a van without a backup camera! My last van we bought in 2004 at least had the sensors. We bought that car after my best friend accidentally ran over their 14 month and I won't drive a large car without them now.

I also can't believe no one has mentioned the push button start! I used to always end up looking for my keys and losing them all the time. Now they just stay in my purse and I love not having to dig through my purse when I have my arms full.

I also love my Bluetooth.

Have fun with your seach. We LOVE cars so we get a lot on them and buy new. It's our one thing that we have fun with. Love to drive and have a fun car. Enjoy!

A couple things I haven't seen mentioned - USB ports for charging things, I have a couple in front and a couple in back, they're useful.

Coded door entry for when you don't have your keys is nifty if you leave the car to hike or run and don't want to carry keys.

If you live in a place where heated seats are appealing, then remote start might be good too - I don't think you have to pay for that, it's standard on many cars.

Push button start is nice when the program also includes opening the door if you are standing nearby with the fob. I don't have to press "unlock", just pull on the handle within a foot or so of the door and it opens.

The sync/bluetooth feature on my car texts me when it needs an oil change. It's a big of a nag.

I have 4 uses cars so for me must haves are reliability and affordable payment.

When i had younger kids i bought a new Pacifica because it came with a tv and headphones.

For a new car my must haves are few. Comfort, adjustable seat belt, seat raise and lower for comfort, good easy access dash board.

Your list is very similar to mine, right down to your opinion on the sunroof. My last few cars didn't have them, and while at first I thought I'd miss it, I never did. My current car has a moonroof that goes all the way to the back seat. I think in the 16 months we've had it, I've had it open maybe twice. I don't even open the shade much because then the sun bakes down into the car and it gets really hot.

Add to my must-have list a good audio system. Tinny car speakers make my ears bleed. I need GPS - I'm totally directionally challenged. DH's car doesn't have it and I use my phone in that. While the map may be slightly more updated, the convenience of just having it in the car is huge. Mine runs on a hard drive, and I can update the maps whenever I want by downloading them. Not that I've done that, but it's an option.