What's your car's annoying foibles?
- Thread starter Jonny69
- Start date
Associate
- Joined
- 24 Apr 2004
- Posts
- 2,059
- Location
- Warrington, UK
My brakes are in need of a rebuild to stop the whinning they make. Thats it
passenger seat, when you move it forward to let someone in the back, you then have to push it almost all the way back before it clicks back into place and you can then move it forward again, this certainly crushes the legs of the rear passenger.
driver seatbelt, unless you know the knack, it will jam when unreeling it. Sometimes it keeps on jamming even if you do have the knack. Seriously annoying.
sometimes second gear is a bit difficult to engage when really cold, only mildly annoying though.
pull to engage full beam, such a bad design, as a result I just dont flash anybody, ever. I probably seem like i'm being an arse when someone has given way to me and I didn't thank them (in the dark, when they have allready flashed me).
fuel gauge, it's rubbish. Reading varies according to the slope you are on, also it frequently sinks like a eighth of a tanks worth when you floor it a bit, then slowly rises back up after you calm it down.
driver seatbelt, unless you know the knack, it will jam when unreeling it. Sometimes it keeps on jamming even if you do have the knack. Seriously annoying.
sometimes second gear is a bit difficult to engage when really cold, only mildly annoying though.
pull to engage full beam, such a bad design, as a result I just dont flash anybody, ever. I probably seem like i'm being an arse when someone has given way to me and I didn't thank them (in the dark, when they have allready flashed me).
fuel gauge, it's rubbish. Reading varies according to the slope you are on, also it frequently sinks like a eighth of a tanks worth when you floor it a bit, then slowly rises back up after you calm it down.
The only thing that really annoys me on mine is the indicator stalk. To flash full beams, you have to pull it back a little bit. To stick full beams on, you pull it back fully. I often end up pulling it back too much when I want to flash people, resulting in burning their retinas until I notice
Same problem as me - Focus?
My gripes:
I have some sort of rattling at low revs like a heatshield.
Reverse doesn't always engage due to reverse on the IB5 box having no synchro for some unknown reason, which makes reversing a chore.
Reverse will crunch.
Indicator stalk doesn't automatically turn off when turning left.
Very slightly gutless
I'm still driving a 100BHP car
Fuel gauge stuck, luckily reserve tank light still works or I'd be up the creek.
Bulbs behind the MID panel need replacing.
Headlights are utter garbage.
Steering is a little vague with a tendency to understeer.
The cup holders are designed exclusively for 330ml tins, which block the radio and heater controls.
It is a Vectra though, so probably to be expected...
Bulbs behind the MID panel need replacing.
Headlights are utter garbage.
Steering is a little vague with a tendency to understeer.
The cup holders are designed exclusively for 330ml tins, which block the radio and heater controls.
It is a Vectra though, so probably to be expected...
Last edited:
Passenger window is annoyingly slow and doesnt have a one touch button like the drivers side one.
Alternator's on its way out so battery dies every couple of weeks.
There's a silly slot/tray thing in the centre console below the heater controls that's useless as anything you put in it falls out when accelerating.
Heater only works on full, not on the 1,2 or 3 settings ( i know the problem, cant be bothered fixing it)
Alternator's on its way out so battery dies every couple of weeks.
There's a silly slot/tray thing in the centre console below the heater controls that's useless as anything you put in it falls out when accelerating.
Heater only works on full, not on the 1,2 or 3 settings ( i know the problem, cant be bothered fixing it)
I don't know of any car with synchro on reverse.
Replacing the cabin filter might help there. Had that issue in the mondeo of doom
[TW]Fox;10807762 said:I use the 'coming home' lights on my car all the time. They are really useful but, yea, people will keep telling you that your lights on. I went into Sainsburys once and even though they only stay on for 30 secodns I had a tannoy announcement to tell me my lights were on
. Bet that was a tad embarrassing. Still you can't expect everyone to understand.I first saw this "coming home" feature when I was sat waiting for my mother while she was food shopping. I was sat in my car and a Jag came and parked opposite. The people got out and locked the car and walked into the shop leaving me completely blinded by the HID's for about thirty seconds. I was like WTF, soon got home and found out exactly what it was.
Was rather "fun" driving home with my eyes practically bleeding
So now I'm wondering why reverse is a bitch to engage on the Ford IB5 yet I have never been faced with the issue on other cars with different gearboxes...
The windscreen wipers wipe too many times
The horn buttons are easily pressed by accident on the steering wheel
Standard alloys are the wrong size
Front fog lights are useless and you can't even tell they are on
Massive turning circle
The horn buttons are easily pressed by accident on the steering wheel
Standard alloys are the wrong size
Front fog lights are useless and you can't even tell they are on
Massive turning circle
-something in the passenger door rattles when playing any music with the slightest hint of bass notes
-fuel guage might aswell not work its so innaccurate, low fuel warning light i rarely take seriously either, on off on off, on for 10mins, get in car next day off for entire day of short trips, fill up cos i know itll stay on perminantly when i need it to get to work
-rear demister doesnt work, should get it sorted, cant really be bothered though
-seats reset to a default position if someone needs to get in the back, hence no one ever gets in the back from the drivers side of the car
-right headlight wont line up with the left at the 0 angle setting (broken top bracket so light will jog if you close the bonnet too hard, should really replace)
-cabin light tends to flicker as it doesnt seem to sit properly in its socket, resorted to punching the thing now and then
-no method of securing the emergency tools in boot, makes for lots o rattling
-parcel shelf incredibly loosely fitted and not strung to boot, even more rattles and a pain to use the boot on the rare occasion i have to, again another problem i could remedy but am clearly far too lazy
-no foot block next to clutch pedal, gets uncomfortable on long trips or i lay my foot flat in which case my knee is rubbing against the steering wheel
-destinct fog pattern on rear windscreen and hole in plastic cover, distinct signs of a missing 3rd brake light (why is it not there???)
-wax crayon imbedded into one of the rear seats, dear god its a pain to get rid of it all
-indicator disengages too early a lot of the time or wont engage at all at certain steering wheel rotations
-plastic cover on the left side of the wheel comes loose and pokes out sometimes (provides access to the airbag mounts i guess)
-passenger window is incredibly slow at ascending and descending
think thats everything
-fuel guage might aswell not work its so innaccurate, low fuel warning light i rarely take seriously either, on off on off, on for 10mins, get in car next day off for entire day of short trips, fill up cos i know itll stay on perminantly when i need it to get to work
-rear demister doesnt work, should get it sorted, cant really be bothered though
-seats reset to a default position if someone needs to get in the back, hence no one ever gets in the back from the drivers side of the car
-right headlight wont line up with the left at the 0 angle setting (broken top bracket so light will jog if you close the bonnet too hard, should really replace)
-cabin light tends to flicker as it doesnt seem to sit properly in its socket, resorted to punching the thing now and then
-no method of securing the emergency tools in boot, makes for lots o rattling
-parcel shelf incredibly loosely fitted and not strung to boot, even more rattles and a pain to use the boot on the rare occasion i have to, again another problem i could remedy but am clearly far too lazy
-no foot block next to clutch pedal, gets uncomfortable on long trips or i lay my foot flat in which case my knee is rubbing against the steering wheel
-destinct fog pattern on rear windscreen and hole in plastic cover, distinct signs of a missing 3rd brake light (why is it not there???)
-wax crayon imbedded into one of the rear seats, dear god its a pain to get rid of it all
-indicator disengages too early a lot of the time or wont engage at all at certain steering wheel rotations
-plastic cover on the left side of the wheel comes loose and pokes out sometimes (provides access to the airbag mounts i guess)
-passenger window is incredibly slow at ascending and descending
think thats everything
[TW]Fox;10807762 said:I use the 'coming home' lights on my car all the time. They are really useful but, yea, people will keep telling you that your lights on. I went into Sainsburys once and even though they only stay on for 30 secodns I had a tannoy announcement to tell me my lights were on
I used to get similar with my Cinq. They weren't 'coming home lights' but unlike most cars the lights were switched with the ignition and went off when you turned the engine off. As a consequence I left the lights switched on almost permanently as it was just easier.
Was quite scary the number of pedestrians who felt it necessary to jump out in front of me and start pointing at the front of the car to let me know I had my lights on in broad daylight.
i drive around with my sidelights on all the time in my cinq because they are igntion switched, only thing ive had walking folk point out to me is that i'd left windows open - which then closed itself when i blipped it.
things that annoy me at the moment with my car.. i have no idle control valve, so until there is a bit of heat in the engine in the this kinda cold it will stall if you let it try and idle.
things that annoy me at the moment with my car.. i have no idle control valve, so until there is a bit of heat in the engine in the this kinda cold it will stall if you let it try and idle.
I use my lights in daylight most of the time in winter as it's still pretty dull.
I've yet to have any pedestrians do this but old men in other cars often flash me and point at the headlights. Yeah thanks, i didnt realise
on my volvo the cruise control annoys me, the light comes on when you turn it on not when its engaged. For a few seconds i am never sure if it is on or not 
Rear legroom is non existant with how far i have the seat back
No warning when low on petrol just a tiny red light, i miss my mondeo beeping at 50miles left
Rear headrests, there is a button to make them go down when reversing but if i have a rear passanger i have to tell them to manually push them up.
Battery in the boot, to do just about anything without getting an SRS waring needs the battery disconection which being in the boot takes about 10 mins to unbolt all the covers.
Rear legroom is non existant with how far i have the seat back
No warning when low on petrol just a tiny red light, i miss my mondeo beeping at 50miles left
Rear headrests, there is a button to make them go down when reversing but if i have a rear passanger i have to tell them to manually push them up.
Battery in the boot, to do just about anything without getting an SRS waring needs the battery disconection which being in the boot takes about 10 mins to unbolt all the covers.