Driver friendly features in old cars

[pompei]

After the driver unfriendly features, how about things you don't see which you miss?

 

I'll start with foot operated dip/beam switch as found on early Minis

 

Double sunvisors as in Saab 9-5 where you could turn one to stop glare from the side window and behind it was a second visor for the front screen. Genius.

 

Side hinged opening rear windows in two door cars.

 

Toggle switches on the dashboard.

[danthecapriman]

Bench seats. In fact, seats that are soft and comfortable. Moderns seem to be fitted with church pews!

 

And column shift, that’s died a death nowadays. Does anything still have it?

[reb]

I like the fact that you can fold the passenger seat in old volvos down completely flat and tuck it away under the dash, perfect for epic tip runs.

 

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[dozeydustman]

Visibility. Most modern cars have such huge A/B/C/D pillars and small glass area that you can't see what's around you with ease. In some cars the interior rear view mirror is about as much use as a back pocket on a sock as the rear window is so small. Granted the huge pillars do help in keeping the occupants safe in the event of a naccident.

 

 

And column shift, that’s died a death nowadays. Does anything still have it?

 

 

I think some American and home-market Japanese stuff still has these on autos, last UK market car I knew had a column shifter was the Espace Mk 3 or Toyota Previa Mk2 but only with the auto in terms of regular cars, maybe Rolls-Royces still have their column selector?

 

I do like a manual column shift, but they are a pain in the arse when the links wear. Nearest thing we get now is the dash mounted shifter.

[Talbot]

Opening quarterlights.

Fresh air ventilation vents. (for warm feet and fresh air to breathe).

[Lanciaman]

Opening quarterlights.Fresh air ventilation vents. (for warm feet and fresh air to breathe).

Defo. They were great way to get ventilation.

[Guest Hooli]

Bench seats. In fact, seats that are soft and comfortable. Moderns seem to be fitted with church pews!

 

And column shift, that’s died a death nowadays. Does anything still have it?

Properly comfy seats are seemingly impossible to get in modern cars so this and visibility answer this thread for me.

[PiperCub]

Visibility. Most modern cars have such huge A/B/C/D pillars and small glass area that you can't see what's around you with ease. In some cars the interior rear view mirror is about as much use as a back pocket on a sock as the rear window is so small. Granted the huge pillars do help in keeping the occupants safe in the event of an accident.

 

Fuck yes, I loathe the tank-driver feel you get in many modern cars. Does wonders when you are looking for bikers (as a biker myself!). 

[mercrocker]

Starting handle.   Not just for flat batteries - GR8 for tappets and dizzy set up. 

 

Alright, I know, points and OHV but there have been a couple of modern-ish things I have done drive belts on where it would have been handy.

[fordperv]

Manual steering that gives you feel, im not a big fan of power steering

[mercrocker]

Simplicity.  I miss simplicity.   The Cowley has rear lights designed to shed illumination into the boot space.  Honestly, its not crap design or cost-cutting!  It really is a feature - says so in the brochure.   Also - non-automatic interior lamp.   Do you want to see inside in the dark?  Turn the light on then.  You won't forget to turn it off because you can still see.   I can still remember my Uncle flattening an admittedly-time-served Hillman Minx battery by leaving a front door open all afternoon on a picnic.   He was used to a Morris 8, you see.....damned moderns even then.

[RayMK]

Tyres and suspension that absorb shock.  Simple, durable designs and systems that can even be be fixed, armed with not much more than standard tools and a Haynes Manual rather than a dealer who has a Cray computer.

[Tamworthbay]

Another vote for visibility, the A pillar in the V70 is half the width of the one in my wife’s Fiat 500, being an Ovlov I can’t imagine it’s exactly weak either. Overall it’s like driving in a greenhouse compared to a modern.

[cort1977]

Column shifters still available on big American stuff, friend's Suburban has it. 

[Cardinal Wolseley]

A proper spare wheel, not space saver nonsense or those silly cans of goo.

[twosmoke300]

Simplicity. I miss simplicity. The Cowley has rear lights designed to shed illumination into the boot space. Honestly, its not crap design or cost-cutting! It really is a feature - says so in the brochure. Also - non-automatic interior lamp. Do you want to see inside in the dark? Turn the light on then. You won't forget to turn it off because you can still see. I can still remember my Uncle flattening an admittedly-time-served Hillman Minx battery by leaving a front door open all afternoon on a picnic. He was used to a Morris 8, you see.....damned moderns even then.

Mx5 uses the number plate lights to illuminate the boot

[SierraMikeHotel]

 

 

Double sunvisors as in Saab 9-5 where you could turn one to stop glare from the side window and behind it was a second visor for the front screen. Genius.

I've only ever seen those on my 9-5, were they on anything else?

 

They are a great idea though!

[MikeR]

the wheel nut spider  which also fitted the Volvo rear suspension bolts and nuts  and the wheel nuts  .....  one spanner for all ..

 

none of this 14/15  /17mm  shite

[320touring]

A general air of well being and contentment, often supplimented by the admiration and appreciation of those around you.

 

I'd much rather give someone a fleeting flashback ("my dad had one of those") rather than a memory of road rage..

[Des]

Top of my list, something resembling an engine looking out at you when opening the bonnet, round headlamps, orange indicators with at least a nod toward fit for purpose, hubcaps, metal bumpers to protect vulnerable bodywork rather than deleting vulnerable bodywork and substituting cheap plastics that are a challenge to repair, asbestos, brass radiators, monkey metal housings / manifolds, two tone horn to gain the attention of pedestrians for sexist / racist / general verbal abuse, and could I have running boards also.

[Guest Hooli]

Oh yes gingercators that weren't inside the headlights so you could see the damn things.

[Captain Furious]

Modern mercs have column shift.

[bezzabsa]

A dash with SEPERATE dials!!!

 

hate it when summat dies on a newer car and you have to swap the whole bloody thing!!!

Love my old Dolly with Smiths gauges....also swapped a Dolly dash into a mini...bit of trimming by the end vents and it looked pukka...most things wired straight into the original mini terminals too!!

[Guest]

Bulbs you could change without the use of tools and a box of plasters.. and glass headlight lenses.

[bigstraight6]

Mechanical simplicity, the ability to diagnose and fix a fault when one of my old clunkers fails to proceed. This is something that eludes me completely when one of our moderns has an issue...

[Noel Tidybeard]

iirc mk 3 tinacorners had the rear lights shine into boot thing

[Toledo71]

After the driver unfriendly features, how about things you don't see which you miss?

 

I'll start with foot operated dip/beam switch as found on early Minis

 

Double sunvisors as in Saab 9-5 where you could turn one to stop glare from the side window and behind it was a second visor for the front screen. Genius.

 

Side hinged opening rear windows in two door cars.

 

Toggle switches on the dashboard.

 

The double sun visors are among the many, many things I miss about my 9-5s.  They also had the best cupholder ever.  And the best seats.

[SierraMikeHotel]

I liked the wing mirrors - not door mirrors - on my P6. They'd look stupid on modern cars, mind you, but they are more in your line-of-sight than door mirrors. And you can still see the left one even if your passenger's fidgeting.

[Tamworthbay]

General mechanical simplicity and access - not single cylinder or anything stupid but an engine that you work on without plugging in a laptop and access where you don’t need to move to Chernobyl for twenty years in order to have appendages that will in the stupidly small spaces.

[New POD]

Mx5 uses the number plate lights to illuminate the boot

mine doesn't.