Driver unfriendly car features

[sierraman]

The moaning bastard in me says what’s convenient about that.

[Eddie Honda]

What’s the game with cars using the front fog lamps as indicators?

 

The game is they do the opposite in reverse.

 

Forwards, steering wheel left, left front fog lights up. Reverse, steering wheel left, right front fog lights up.

 

At least that was my observation of MiL's awful i10.

[jumpingjehovahs]

The game is they do the opposite in reverse.

 

Forwards, steering wheel left, left front fog lights up. Reverse, steering wheel left, right front fog lights up.

 

At least that was my observation of MiL's awful i10.

Interestingly*, when I shifted into reverse in my old SEAT Altea, it put both front fogs on. I never could work out why.

 

 

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[Daviemck2006]

Interestingly*, when I shifted into reverse in my old SEAT Altea, it put both front fogs on. I never could work out why.

 

 

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Must be a seat thing. My 2011 leon did that to. Or at least it did until a kamikaze deer killed itself on the front of the leon doing 60 mph which killed the leon too.

 

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[RoadworkUK]

What’s the game with cars using the front fog lamps as indicators?

 

Ah, "Cornerning lights". I don't understand them at all. I presume they're supposed to illuminate the kerb when you turn, but I can't figure out what they achieve in daylight.

 

The DRLs / Foglights / Cornering Lamps overlap continues to confound me. When LED DRLs were first popularised, they were fitted in place of front foglights, in the same position on the lower front bumper. You'll find a whole generation of Mercs with no provision for front foglights, because the high-intensity, unfocussed light emitted by DLRs does the same job vis-a-vis ensuring you can be seen by other motorists.

 

This being the case, if the two do effectively cast a similar light, how come running front fogs in clear daytime conditions was always very much frowned upon and a zealous copper with a warrant book to fill could tug you for it, but super-bright DRLs mounted in the same location are absolutely fine? And Cornering lights, which actually do use a front fog in clear, daylight conditions, are absolutely fine, too.

 

Even more worryingly, a lot of people seem to think that daytime running lights and sidelights are one and the same, the word "daytime" evidently being not sufficient a clue.

 

In my warranty days, I remember at least one Mercedes customer being angered that his nifty LED DLRS "don't work when the headlights are turned on". Couldn't fathom that Headlights (for when it's dark, such as at night) and DLRS (for when it's bright, such as in The Daytime) each have a specific job to fulfil.

[Guest Hooli]

DRLs and cornering lights are utter wank that serve no useful purpose.

 

If you really are too thick to turn your lights on when it'll help people see your car (ie dark or rain) then you shouldn't be driving.

[sierraman]

I’d be interested how many insurance claims arise as a result of those cornering lights being used and the other party saying ‘I never saw them indicate?’

[SierraMikeHotel]

 

 

What really annoys me is cars that have excessively bright DRLs (esp BMWs) then they turn off when the indicator goes off. Then they cancel , DRL clicks back on instantly and you get blinded.

That just looks wrong from a design point of view to me. You end up with a white light on one side of the car and an orange light on the other - it just looks like a bulb's gone. Then come back. Then gone again.

 

/FatherDougal

[Guest Hooli]

I’d be interested how many insurance claims arise as a result of those cornering lights being used and the other party saying ‘I never saw them indicate?’

 

What are indicators? It's a surprise to see anyone use them around here.

 

Mind you if they do they come on as late as cornering lights, as the steering is turned so useless anyway.

[hpi_matrix]

The rear view mirror in my current car. It’s massive, but for some reason it only covers the view out of the middle third of the rear window. It’s bizarre.

 

Have you tried adjusting it?

[martc]

What really annoys me is cars that have excessively bright DRLs (esp BMWs) then they turn off when the indicator goes off. Then they cancel , DRL clicks back on instantly and you get blinded.

 

This is so that we all know that BMW's are the most important cars on the road, and everyone else must cower in a ditch whilst they swan past. Audi owners/leasers may disagree with this statement.

[martc]

no it  doesn't 

 

Air con + heater  will demist  far quicker ,   remember the purpose of air Conditioning is to  dry it  the cooling is a useful side effect , and when you have a 'free' heat source to  re heat it ... 

 Well every car I have ever had (with a/c) mists the screen up considerably quicker when you switch the a/c off than if it wasn't on in the first place. It must be something to do with the a/c being on, drying the air and cooling the windscreen...

[Guest Hooli]

 Well every car I have ever had (with a/c) mists the screen up considerably quicker when you switch the a/c off than if it wasn't on in the first place. It must be something to do with the a/c being on, drying the air and cooling the windscreen...

 

Nope, it's been covered somewhere before.

 

The A/C doesn't cool the screen as you've chosen warm air. What happens when you turn the A/C off is the cold A/C matrix causes condensation (which is no longer removed as the A/C is off) in the heater intake so you get a sudden supply of wet air into the car. The answer is leave the A/C on, as per most climate control systems default to these days.

[Jazoli]

This thread should be renamed the luddite thread after reading some of the replies   

[pauldoubleyou]

Jap cars? Indicator stalk on the wrong side

 

 

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[Daviemck2006]

Jap cars? Indicator stalk on the wrong side

 

 

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As far as I am concerned jap cars would have the indicator on the correct side. Then you can use the indicators when you drive with your left hand on the gearleaver all the time like a lot of ppl do

 

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[Dan_ZTT]

As far as I am concerned jap cars would have the indicator on the correct side. Then you can use the indicators when you drive with your left hand on the gearleaver all the time like a lot of ppl do

 

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Yes indeed. There's a whole other thread about this somewhere, but in a RHD drive car the indicator stalk should be on the right, precisely so you can indicate and change gear at the same time.

[John F]

The dash binnacle switches on the Disco 300 TDi and Disco 2 are pretty much obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.

 

Great idea, Land Rover.

 

[Ohdearme]

DRLs and cornering lights are utter wank that serve no useful purpose.

 

If you really are too thick to turn your lights on when it'll help people see your car (ie dark or rain) then you shouldn't be driving.

Way back when, I had a ‘99 Mitsy Galant (VR-4 no less) that had front fogs and also separate cornering lights in the bumper.

 

This meant in fog, I had proper fogs that aimed forward and when cornering, I had an extra set of white lights that were aimed about 45 degrees from the front of the car and therefore worked a treat at illuminating whatever corner/kerb I was trying to navigate.

 

None of this half-assed turn on the fogs shite.

[Tamworthbay]

The dash binnacle switches on the Disco 300 TDi and Disco 2 are pretty much obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.

 

Great idea, Land Rover.

 

That’s a clever design feature to stop all the warning light dazzling you with their constant brightness.

[Snipes]

Saves having to use electrical tape to hide them.

[Guest Hooli]

The dash binnacle switches on the Disco 300 TDi and Disco 2 are pretty much obscured by the rim of the steering wheel.

 

Great idea, Land Rover.

 

 

200 was no better and had a Metro dash to look at.

[Ohdearme]

Fiat Barchetta boot release was only accessible with the door open and there was no way or doing it from being near the boot itself.

 

Fortunately for my mate I’d lent it to, she was with her feller at the time when she managed somehow to trap her finger in it with it half latched.

[FakeConcern]

This thread should be renamed the luddite thread after reading some of the replies   

Not all new technology is good technology!

 

Should I mention I was a Technology teacher, maybe I won't.

[dozeydustman]

Jap cars? Indicator stalk on the wrong side

 

 

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Nissan started putting the stalk on the left around 1987, Mazda early-mid 1990s and Toyota & Daihatsu around 1997, depending on model. Korean & Malaysian mid-late 2000s. Right stalk is the traditional side for indicators on a RHD car, and still the standard in Australasia. Most Pre-1980 British tat will have the indicator on the right for the home market, and on the left for LHD markets.

 

Only moved over to left for parts commonality with other European models.

[Felly Magic]

Leather bum perches in winder with no warmers, F'kin GM penny pinching bastards

[martc]

RHD/LHD chat - the radio volume knob being on the LHS is OK for LHD cars but a pain in the proverbial for RHD's. Honda Jazzes are the only cars I've seen where the volume knob is on the right for RHD and the left for LHD.

[Yoss]

Not sure what the obsession with leather is at all really. Not just on cars but buses and trains do it now as well to try and give an upmarket feel. You can get nice leather but most isn't, it's just a slippery grey stuff. I avoid the First buses round our way now and go for the Blue Stars (Go Ahead) who have nice blue velour. The leather is so slippery that you find yourself gradually slipping forward and constantly pushing yourself back up.

[FakeConcern]

RHD/LHD chat - the radio volume knob being on the LHS is OK for LHD cars but a pain in the proverbial for RHD's. Honda Jazzes are the only cars I've seen where the volume knob is on the right for RHD and the left for LHD.

Doesn't matter if the car has a remote volume on the steering wheel

[martc]

Doesn't matter if the car has a remote volume on the steering wheel

 Does matter it there isn't.