Shite design decisions

[robinmasters]

Aston Martin Lagonda: the electric bonnet release button is next to the button for the heated rear window.

 

If you do happen to press the wrong button, it still leads to comparatively better visibility out of the rear window.

[SiC]

The Mazda locks its doors as soon as the engine starts and will not allow them to be opened until you turn the engine off again.... this may be aftermarket along with the alarm remote locking or a Japanese only thing as neither of my other two did this.

I've looked at loads (mk1, mk2, mk2.5 and mk3) and owned a mk1 and mk3 mx5, none of them have done that or have the ability to do that. That would be far too advanced for their electrical systems!

[PhilA]

Automatic headlights on Renaults! Not because they don't work - they do, but when they switch on Automatically, the pull-to-flash stalk becomes electronic. So a fast double-flash is impossible.

 

A Renault stalk doesn't have a pull-to-flash and push-away for main beam. With lights on, it becomes a clicky switch. But lights off, that is disabled and becomes a momentary switch. If that makes any sense?

Also, when it's not broken, it does actully return the lights to dipped if you switch the lights off. Every time you put the lights on you get dip beam, regardless of where it was left.

 

Which leads to a gripe.. using plastic to make things that really need to be made from metal. Good for 2 years until the plastic weakens and breaks off, rendering whatever it's meant to operate inoperable. Headlight switch? Momentary pull to flash, regardless of position if the guts break.

 

Fully electronic systems that know about but don't inform the driver that they have a light bulb burned out. the ECU in my friend's BMW knew that the bulb in the rear ash tray had burned but wouldn't let him know he had a brake light blown. Silly.

 

--Phil

[SiC]

Fully electronic systems that know about but don't inform the driver that they have a light bulb burned out. the ECU in my friend's BMW knew that the bulb in the rear ash tray had burned but wouldn't let him know he had a brake light blown. Silly.

 

--Phil

That's probably not a design decision, but more BMW marketing deciding that is a £5bn optional extra - like everything on BMWs.

[Lacquer Peel]

Rev counters that are scaled in 'rpm x 100' rather than 'rpm x 1000' so the driver is presented with 2 dials both marked '0,10,20,30.....'. Bonus points for doing this in an instrument panel that is yards away from the driver (Fiat Idea, I'm looking at you).

 

It's not so bad when there are only 5 increments.

[HH-R]

Most cars I've had have done the Rover 400 pull to flash/main beam thing, the Nissan and some Renaults do it too. In a way it's daft, but it means you can switch off the main beam quicker than stretching to reach the pushed away stalk.

[xtriple]

I've looked at loads (mk1, mk2, mk2.5 and mk3) and owned a mk1 and mk3 mx5, none of them have done that or have the ability to do that. That would be far too advanced for their electrical systems!

So I have a 'special' car? Whoopee! Now, how do I do away with it 'cos it's a pain in the fucking arse!

[Timewaster]

Brand new Transit vans.

If you open the rear doors 90° the rear lights are completely obscured and on a dark night at the roadside the van becomes invisible from behind. GENIUS!

[Rocket88]

Just discovered why the remote boot release on my Omega didn't work. You have to have the ignition turned off, AND the key out of the ignition to activate it................

[Timewaster]

Plus 1000 on the stupid - open the window or door, water drips straight down on your leg / seat cushion / door pocket / electric window switches etc.

 

This seems to happen on pretty much every car without a gutter.

[Timewaster]

Any car where you need the key to open the boot.

Especially small vans.

 

Fiesta vans I'm looking at you.

Old place I worked had 6 used for multi drop deliveries. All the boot locks and ignition barrels knackered at 18 months old and god only knows how many unnecessary switch off and start ups.

Indestructible Escort vans were fine.

[inconsistant]

I vaguely recall a friend telling me he had a Ducati/MotoGuzzi once where you needed a screwdriver to get to the built in tool kit.

[twosmoke300]

This...

IMG_20160107_154129.jpg

 

Spark plug tool won't go vertical and remove the plugs - unless you remove the top plastic cover, then the wiper arms and then a big metal mounting plate for the above.

Can't remember, but you may have to remove the wiper motor too??

Or just use a 3/8 sparlk plug socket and extension on the correct length?

[twosmoke300]

I vaguely recall a friend telling me he had a Ducati/MotoGuzzi once where you needed a screwdriver to get to the built in tool kit.

Honda cbr600 was like this but an allen key was needed to remove the seat to get to the tool kit . Luckily honda had an allen key clipped inside one of the plastic panels

[rainagain]

Honda cbr600 was like this but an allen key was needed to remove the seat to get to the tool kit . Luckily honda had an allen key clipped inside one of the plastic panels

it's kinda like this:

 

http://imgur.com/gallery/4NPtxDk

[TataBobu]

The Mazda locks its doors as soon as the engine starts and will not allow them to be opened until you turn the engine off again.... this may be aftermarket along with the alarm remote locking or a Japanese only thing as neither of my other two did this.

 

My Daewoo does the same thing, but starting the engine with the driver's door opened, waiting for it to lock and only after that closing the door, unlocks the driver's door. The other three remain locked, though.