Front parking distance sensors
- Thread starter Bri_dub
- Start date
They do, on the FR spec anyway. My MK3 FR didn't have front sensors but the new one does, also the ability to park & extract itself.
Apart from testing how it works, freaking out my passenger in the process, I'm not intending to use the assist function - like manually applying the electronic handbrake, parking is an essential skill that needs exercise. The front sensors are only slightly more useful than the park assist, they don't start until you are very close already and the automatic braking (when a long grass stem touched the sensor) made me think I'd hit an invisible brick wall.
Apart from testing how it works, freaking out my passenger in the process, I'm not intending to use the assist function - like manually applying the electronic handbrake, parking is an essential skill that needs exercise. The front sensors are only slightly more useful than the park assist, they don't start until you are very close already and the automatic braking (when a long grass stem touched the sensor) made me think I'd hit an invisible brick wall.
My current VW has front parking sensors, as did my previous two cars. Would I be bothered if it didn’t have them? Not at all. The cynic in me would say that front parking sensors are one of those many ‘must have’ features that car manufacturers have brainwashed us into believing we need.
Having previously driven cars without front parking sensors for nearly 35 years, I’d like to think that I’m reasonably OK at judging where the extremes of the front of my car are, so not having front sensors wouldn’t be too much of a hardship.
Having previously driven cars without front parking sensors for nearly 35 years, I’d like to think that I’m reasonably OK at judging where the extremes of the front of my car are, so not having front sensors wouldn’t be too much of a hardship.
mine doesnt have the parking assist pack, and doesnt have the front sensors. I just find it strange, as most cars have them as standard on the higher specs. they wouldn't be a deal breaker if i was ordering, but its just odd
Deleted member 123864
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thanks for that salient advice.
if you cant add anything to a conversation you should stay quiet IMO
Deleted member 123864
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Then why bother replying...as i said, people who dont have anything constructive to add shouldn't chirp in...
Deleted member 123864
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Chip. It's a discussion forum. I'm answering why manufacturers don't fit front parking sensors as standard. I'm sorry you didn't like my answer. 
Why aren’t front parking sensors fitted as standard? - the same question could be asked of many other features fitted to cars within a model range - not just the Leon, but any model range built by a car manufacturer - e.g. intelligent cruise control, LED headlights, automatic climate control, auto folding door mirrors, keyless entry / keyless start, reversing camera - the list goes on.
It‘s a way for car manufacturers to differentiate between different trim levels within a model range, and enticing prospective owners to upgrade to the next model up in the range to get all the features they want / need - or if specific options can be bought separately - for customers to pay extra and buy ‘must have‘ options. It‘s also a way to make a specific model range of cars more affordable to a wider customer base, so customers with a lower budget can buy / own the entry level car in a model range, but they’ll get a less well spec’d car with fewer features.
It’s a fine balance for the customer between affordability and must have features, and the car manufacturer’s solution is - and always has been - to have a range of models with different trim levels and features that caters to as broad a customer base as possible to maximise sales. So if a specific feature such as front parking sensors is a ‘must have’ and a car of a certain trim level within a model range doesn’t have them, then the customer has to make the decision to either pay extra for a more expensive model that is fitted with them, or sticking to their original budget and living without them.
It‘s a way for car manufacturers to differentiate between different trim levels within a model range, and enticing prospective owners to upgrade to the next model up in the range to get all the features they want / need - or if specific options can be bought separately - for customers to pay extra and buy ‘must have‘ options. It‘s also a way to make a specific model range of cars more affordable to a wider customer base, so customers with a lower budget can buy / own the entry level car in a model range, but they’ll get a less well spec’d car with fewer features.
It’s a fine balance for the customer between affordability and must have features, and the car manufacturer’s solution is - and always has been - to have a range of models with different trim levels and features that caters to as broad a customer base as possible to maximise sales. So if a specific feature such as front parking sensors is a ‘must have’ and a car of a certain trim level within a model range doesn’t have them, then the customer has to make the decision to either pay extra for a more expensive model that is fitted with them, or sticking to their original budget and living without them.
I know why they dont fit them as standard to every trim level in a range, my original question was, in the top trim level, FR+/FR Sport depending on region it doesnt have them fitted, which seems odd to me. It has ACC, emergency braking, camera for lane departure and road sign recognition, all much more expensive than simple distance sensors
Maybe you need to direct your question to Seat for the official reason why front sensors aren’t fitted - forum members can make suggestions as to why, but Seat should be able to give you the real reason.
There does seem to be no logic or reasoning to some of the decisions by car manufacturers with regard to equipment levels and options availability at different trim levels within a particular model range. With VW, on the 2020 model year Polo range, blind spot detection with rear traffic alert wasn’t available on the top of range GTI+ model, but it was available on lesser models - it is available on the GTI+ now, but can only be had in conjunction with lane assist (VW’s name for lane departure). It’s not available on one of the mid-range models though.
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