Bad designs on cars

Conscript said:
Ford headlight stalk.

On most cars, you push the stalk forwards to lock on main beam, bring it bank central to turn off main beam. Pulling the stalk toward you will flash the main beam and then return normally by a spring.

On my Focus, both actions are done by pulling it toward you. So you pull it halfway for flash and it springs back, or all the way to lock full beam on. Unfortunately, it requires only very gentle pressure. The amount of times Ive gone to flash an oncoming driver only to lock the full beam on, blinding them...its about the only thing I don't like about my car :o
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Yep mine does that too, it is crap.
 
Glad I'm not the only one who has noticed the rear light clusters then.

On the subject of rear lights I don't know why they are allowed to be so bright these days. Surely they set the 21W limit on rear lamps to limit how bright they would be so as not to blind drivers behind. Same for headlights really, 90W headlights aren't allowed because they are too bright but HID lights or whatever they are called are a lot bighter and more dazzling.
 
the spring in a focus cigarette lighter is way too strong - i pushed mine in just to see if it worked, and it leapt out into my lap, glowing orange
 
Door handle on my clio, the door is about 4 metres long and the handle is about 2cm from the front of the door, meaning you have to be super strong to close it properly, and being French this will no doubt cause a lot of falling apart in the near future.
 
Saytan said:
the spring in a focus cigarette lighter is way too strong - i pushed mine in just to see if it worked, and it leapt out into my lap, glowing orange
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detail ;)

I've noticed the VW indicators too... confused me.
My girlfriend even noticed it :S I wonder if they will do anythign about it?

Rb
 
The Honda Jazz I was driving had a stupid problem, that I'm sure no Japanese test driver or focus group ever noticed.

As it was an auto, my left left spent most of its time resting against the side of the centre console.

However right at the point where your leg is most sensitive, there is a stylistic 'point'. Why! No one looks down there. Why just not leave it smooth.
 
malc30 said:
The Entire Land Rover.
Built for Off road, Cost thousands & get stuck anywhere & cannot climb hills :D
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I agree with Pike, there is nothing wrong with the new landrovers, the new Defender is the best Defender ever made (if you already have a defender do not get in one since you will want to swap them), the Disco 3 and Range rover (not the sport) are absolutely nuts the inclines and wading they can do while carrying a complete family in luxury is beond me.

The Freelander is fine for a road car that needs to tow a horse box across a muddy field, but if you wanted a more extreme car you would have bought a defender.

A landrover driven by someone who has a clue and has the right tyres is as good as a factory built car gets in this country for off roading (I don't count Unimogs as cars) If I wanted to cross the Sahara I would use a Toyota Amazon, but I don't live there.

-What I don't like is oversized rear wings or strange lumps of metal getting in the way of my rear view mirror.
-Autos that make you stop for a second before you can go into reverse
-Traction control that will not turn off so you get stuck on icy days (its fine when you get moving, but dreadfull when you are stationary).
-Oversized body coloured bumpers that cost a fortune to replace if they are scratched.
-Self locking doors that kick in as soon as you start to move.
-I will also say the 3 flash indicator
-Volvos with yellow side marker lights that 1st glance makes me think they are indicating.
-Fiat Punto lights that blind me on country lanes and mean I end up on their side of the road since I can not see. I have not hit one yet, but I am not counting my chickens.
-Car manufacturers not putting ash trays into cars, I don't smoke, but I like to put my stuff in there.
-I have only seen it on wagons and not cars yet, but vehicles with out dip sticks, instead you get an on board light telling me when the oil is low
-Cars with the ignition in the centre of the car, its supposed to be safer, but its not when you can not find it yourself, plus if you get pulled by the rozzers when you have a central ignition they can start climbing all over you to get to it.

There are more trust me.
 
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Conscript said:
Ford headlight stalk.

On most cars, you push the stalk forwards to lock on main beam, bring it bank central to turn off main beam. Pulling the stalk toward you will flash the main beam and then return normally by a spring.

On my Focus, both actions are done by pulling it toward you. So you pull it halfway for flash and it springs back, or all the way to lock full beam on. Unfortunately, it requires only very gentle pressure. The amount of times Ive gone to flash an oncoming driver only to lock the full beam on, blinding them...its about the only thing I don't like about my car :o
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I hear you, I also hate having to pull the wiper stalk towards you for the rear wiper, then pushing the end to squirt the windscreen. One of the best layouts for cars is the Golf, my Mk4 GTi was great, the seat was fantastic, and the stalks did it the right way:)
 
Z4 door openening mechanism

You stop and go to exit the car, pull the interior handle once, nothing, pull it again and the door opens.. something to do with the auto-lock, I don't care, it's an insane idea having to pull the handle twice to open it..

And I'll defend the Astra Indicators, they are how indicators should be, the logic is very simple, and once 'used' to it, clearly a step up in usabililty.. I have a Zafira with the same setup.. I won't try and defend the fact they are different, but that doesn't make them bad..

On the other hand, the new Vauxhall return to centre indicator stalk.. the logic is simple, but with no instant visual feedback it often leads to confusion..
 
Dogbreath said:
Any of these stupid electronic indicators that try and do the drivers job need burning IMO. I almost snapped the indicator stalk off the last Ford I drove as I got so peed off with it.

One thing that really irks me is a lot of modern cars seem to be a triumph of form over function e.g. the new Astra, Focus, MINI etc. have the most pathetic amount of boot space. My old Mk2 Astra had a huge boot and yet was a smaller car than most of these.
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I quite like them, the Mk5 Golf has them iirc, and they are handy on the motorway, just tap them for 3 blinks when changing lane, but the first time I used them, I must have looked stupid, indicating every which way for half a mile.. :D
 
Oooh, while I remember, Washer filler bottles?? WHY are they usually so damn narrow and in awkward places, everytime you get a 5ltr bottle of screenwash, half a litre ends up on your feet :(
 
Placement of Audi engines in front of the wheels and then consistent amazement everytime Audi wonder why their cars understeer.
 
Skii said:
Volkswagen Golf Mk4

You can't fit a set of Golf clubs in the boot of a car called ...a Golf

hmmmm..
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Never had a problem, could usually get two sets in :confused:



Also, why do some manufacturers decide to put window controls anywhere else apart from on the door amazes me...
 
malc30 said:
The Entire Land Rover.
Built for Off road, Cost thousands & get stuck anywhere & cannot climb hills :D
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No, that's just the Chelsea Tractors, my mother's H plate 110 Defender is great on hills and mud etc. and in towns too...surprises the chavs a lot when it beats them off the line. :D Only like a 2l or 2.5l Turboed thing. :)

InvG
 
86daviesjk said:
The indicator storks on the new Astra's. Wont allways cancel after you have indicated. Pain in the bloody arse.
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Is that the same stupid thing they have on vectras. If so they are a total pain in the butt cheeks.

What i do to cancel them is push the stalk in the same direction you turned them on. Works every time.
 
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