Not sure what you guys are talking about, with regards to the upgrades. Perception gives you a minimap, with each rank showing different items. Firearm is self-explanatory. Body armour actually increases your survivability a lot, if you're constantly being shot at with your windows rolled down. Windshield is the only one I'd complain about, as I'm almost always bashing into cars. Tires give a dramatic handling boost, and I'm pretty sure Tires 3 has the handling of tires 2, but if you blow them out on spikes, the handling only drops to like, tires 1-- meaning you can still control the vehicle. Bumper blows through things, the higher the level, the less damage-- you can see that on your windshield.
No, seriously, what's the "useless" upgrade?
Please make there some way to quit and start a new game. I accidentally clicked on the +1 soul and it took me like, four plays, to die enough to start a new game.