What are your 'weird' likes in cars?

[Jim Bergerac]

Odd Styling, particularly if it's futuristic.

 

Pop up headlights

 

Fibreglass

 

Rovers

[Noel Tidybeard]

renner 12 fuel gauge- reads different depending if you're going left, right or straight on

flush fitting headlight washers when the operate

[Timewaster]

Odd Styling, particularly if it's futuristic.

 

Pop up headlights

 

Fibreglass

 

Rovers

An oddly styled fibreglass Rover with pop up headlights?

 

That's a TVR isn't it?

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

The car with the most peculiar features which I like is probably the Peugeot 604.

 

the little clear plastic domes with the red pin for Renault 18 GTS/GTX/GTD/Turbo door lock indicators (what is the correct term for these?). Loved the little red dot on the central locking button on Renaults of that era too.

 

Leccy window switches. Always fascinated by them - the positioning of them, the shape of them etc. Specifically fascinating is the little blank anonymous switch found between driver window and off-side rear on many models (safety cut-out) on BMWs, Mercs, Granadas, Hyundai Stellar GSL; between the rear window switches on 80's and 90's Audis. Loved the proximity of the rear window switches for the driver and rear passengers on Peugeot 405s. They are a few cm apart - can't see why the driver couldn't use the same ones as the rear passengers. Didn't a Citroen CX have the rear window switches positioned so only one pair was needed? Loved the location of the driver's control for rear windows on the Megane RX4 and high spec gen 1 scenics. Roof mounted switches on Alfa 90 (and 75s?). The BMW 8 series rears can only be controlled by the driver. The Rover 800 Coupe rears didn't even move! The leccy rear quarterlight style opening rears on the Fiat Ullyse, Lancia Y10 LX (and to a lesser extent the BMW Compact). The brilliant slider controls for them on a Cherry. I still don't know where the driver controls for the rears are on a top spec Renault 21. Then the Japanese designers took away the fun with door mounted controls for all (reassuring gesticulation towards SD1 and Roller drivers). Amazed that Cortina Ghia owners had to diy for a ciggie - surely the Granada set-up could have been an option? Same with Mk1 Cavaliers. Even mk1 Carlton owners had to tick an option to get them. I could go on... but won't.

 

The strangest and most interesting electric window switches I can think of were on the Peugeot 604.

 

The front window switches were on the top dashboard shelf, in the right hand bank of switches on either side of the rheostat. There is a further bank of three switches on the top shelf for things like heated rear window, hazard lights, rear fog lights IIRC. The rear electric window switches are somewhere else completely - on either end of another bank of six? switches under the radio. The electric window switches in the back were mounted low on the centre console. I can remember being too small to reach them and working them with my toe. Down was easier than up.

[bub2006]

Didn't ford sierras have electric rear window switches on the centre console low down in the rear? Early ones where on the door.

[Barry Cade]

Oh, the rear headrests on a Merc, which go down with a bang when you rush the button, great for dozing passengers..

[R9UKE]

The Citroen C5 Exclusive models shut any open windows and sunroof when the rain sensor triggers the auto wipers as it starts to rain.  I always thought mine just had one of those really bizarre electrical faults until I read it listed as a spec in the brochure!

[bub2006]

I think the vectra does that when a window is down and it rains. Must try it with a hosepipe.

[Pillock]

Rear smart wiper...

 

I think the Rover 800 hatchbacks did too.

That was just a massive short circuit in the fusebox due to half-arsed brummie build quality.

 

Also, the front seat reclines when you adjust the mirror, and the exhaust falls off when you turn on the interior light.

[Pillock]

Mk2 Astra 'leccy windows had a bank of four switches between the front seat belt buckles for everyone to use. None of this duplicate switches lark.

 

I know this because in my mum's GL, I was riding shotgun with my fingers resting on the top of the door frame when my gran in the back randomly stabbed at the switch and tried to lop my fingers off.

 

Hers only had front electrics but the blanks were there for rears, and the owners manual promised such luxury was possible.

[Tayne]

The Citroen C5 Exclusive models shut any open windows and sunroof when the rain sensor triggers the auto wipers as it starts to rain.  I always thought mine just had one of those really bizarre electrical faults until I read it listed as a spec in the brochure!

 

I'm going to have to find out of my car does that?

[doobietoo]

The Citroen C5 Exclusive models shut any open windows and sunroof when the rain sensor triggers the auto wipers as it starts to rain.  I always thought mine just had one of those really bizarre electrical faults until I read it listed as a spec in the brochure!

 

Now that is a stupid idea..... the bloke in front of you cleans his screen and everything closes bloody ridiculos

[steve_earwig]

I say, that sounds like a splendid idea/oh god, more to go wrong (delete as necessary)

[Richard]

Our povo spec C5 closes the windows when you switch the wipers on. There's no need for it, both windows have one-touch closing so it's simple enough to close them yourself if you're getting wet.