(Really boring) Things you'd never noticed before

[dollywobbler]

Even when you've spent your life surrounded by cars, little things crop up that surprise you. Really interesting* ones like:

 

The wipers on a Golf Mk2 are more different than you think between LHD and RHD.

 

LHD

 

RHD

 

Now, if you look really, really closely, you'll notice on the RHD car that the 'middle' spindle is actually very slightly offset towards the offside. 

 

That means that when you flip a LHD pic, it doesn't quite look like a RHD one.

 

Ok, so the wiper spoiler (not fitted to RHD it seems) also shows a change, but I reckon there's a kink on the LHD driver's wiper than isn't replicated on RHD. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the RHD wiper arms are identical, but not on LHD.

 

This fascinating fact is perhaps because the RHD wipers were only applied mid-life, in about 1987.

 

Anyone got any others?

[Junkman]

That means that when you flip a LHD pic, it doesn't quite look like a RHD one.

 

 

I know why. It's because the 'G60' script is mirror image then.

Did I win something?

[warren t claim]

You clearly have too much time on your hands!

[fiatdaft]

Something even more anal,if you check that golf out,it has a bonded windscreen,only g60 models had that,plus the wider arches etc etc etc

[Jim Bell]

What is the small nub of plastic on the window frame leading diagonal edge of the front windows, between the wing mirrors and the top horizontal for?

 

 

 

 

Sorry. Bad pic and just noticed it recently.

[Ghosty]

Loads of cars have it, but they're always, or very often, Japanese, and pre-2000. Fitting wind deflectors perhaps?

[vulgalour]

I'd wondered about those nubbins too.  I had assumed it was some clever little Japanese thing to stop you getting that funny line of rain at eye level on the side window in torrential downpours... but wind deflector fitting is probably what it really is.

[overrun]

Loads of cars have it, but they're always, or very often, Japanese, and pre-2000. Fitting wind deflectors perhaps?

Nah. The jdm tite rain guards don't interfere with the weird plastic thing in question.

 

Noone knows what they are there for! There was a time I thought they were only fitted to cars with electric windows.

I wonder if they're for the water to run off, so you don't get a wet bracket, if foolish enough to wash the windscreen with the side windows open.

[phil_lihp]

There was a time I thought they were only fitted to cars with electric windows.

 

Me too - guess I was wrong.  Now a little bit curious and awaiting someone to explain them

[Junkman]

Many yanks have them too.

As we all know, moving air has less pressure than static one, hence slightly open windows have a tendency to slightly tilt outwards at the top when travelling at highway speeds.

When closing them while in motion, they often don't quite get into the upper part of the door frame. Those plastic bits will prevent this by guiding the window inwards into the frame channel.

 

Does this make sense?

[overrun]

Many yanks have them too.As we all know, moving air has less pressure than static one, hence slightly open windows have a tendency to slightly tilt outwards at the top when travelling at highway speeds.When closing them while in motion, they often don't quite get into the upper part of the door frame. Those plastic bits will prevent this by guiding the window inwards into the frame channel. Does this make sense?

It does. Good shout!

 

Me drivers window on the Escort is reluctant to fully close at speed.

It also suffers from the annoying water line.

[Jim Bell]

 

Does this make sense?

 

Not really. As theyre triangular and point outwards. And are on the frame, away from the glass.

[stuboy]

What is the small nub of plastic on the window frame leading diagonal edge of the front windows, between the wing mirrors and the top horizontal for?

 

 

 

 

Sorry. Bad pic and just noticed it recently.

my mondeo has that... thought to do with windstream and noise it creates

[overrun]

Not really. As theyre triangular and point outwards. And are on the frame, away from the glass.

I imagine if that's what they do do, then they displace/deflect the air away from the window, enabling it to seat fully home.

 

Mind, with bicep spec jobs, they're needless.

[overrun]

my mondeo has that... thought to do with windstream and noise it creates

Mk1/2? My mk3 doesn't have them.

[Spiny Norman]

I'm sure this was asked recently on the Stupid Question Amnesty thread, these little wedges are indeed to help guide the window into the frame if you wind it up at speed.

[Jim Bell]

I'm sure this was asked recently on the Stupid Question Amnesty thread, these little wedges are indeed to help guide the window into the frame if you wind it up at speed.

 

It was probably me.

 

I have Asbergers, dyslexia, ADHD, ACDC, hamburgers and dementia.

[Spiny Norman]

Mmmmm...burgers...

[KruJoe]

...windows have a tendency to slightly tilt outwards at the top when travelling at highway speeds, they don't go up into the door frame...

 

The Polonez does this when it's standing still.

[explosive-cabbage]

The Polonez does this when it's standing still.

I have to drive Polly with the windows half inch down and drafts in my ears because of this

[KruJoe]

Black in the left ear, white in the right?

[chaseracer]

Now I know what those strange plants were in DW's garden...

 

[fordperv]

on a mk3 and 4 escort just in front of the wing mirrors there is a small swage line a couple of inches long which looks like a dodgy dent, does anyone know what the purpose of this is

[overrun]

on a mk3 and 4 escort just in front of the wing mirrors there is a small swage line a couple of inches long which looks like a dodgy dent, does anyone know what the purpose of this is

Is there?

All I can think of is where the wing butts up against the scuttle and A pilar.

[fordperv]

Is there?

All I can think of is where the wing butts up against the scuttle and A pilar.

 

its a very strange looking thing indeed, its probably to aid airflow under the mirror or some thing silly like that

 

heres a picture 

 

[overrun]

That's weird as hell.

 

Bet I can't fail to notice it on mine, now.

 

It almost lools as though the door has been bent back.

[dollywobbler]

Those triangular things always provoke a good debate. I'm not sure I believe any of it. My Mk1 BX and the last one I owned did not have them, but other BXs did. On none of them did I ever have a problem closing a window at speed.

 

The Escort one is a great spot. Must just be a busy meeting of various lines and angles perhaps?

[KruJoe]

It could be a crease formed un-intentionally in the pressing process when they make the doors..?

[fordperv]

It almost lools as though the door has been bent back.

 

that's exactly what i thought

[Grundig]

Even when you've spent your life surrounded by cars, little things crop up that surprise you. Really interesting* ones like:

 

The wipers on a Golf Mk2 are more different than you think between LHD and RHD.

 

 

 

The wipers on the Mk2 Passat  (81-88) are exactly the same on LHD & RHD - no difference at all, none whatsoever, zilch