Driver friendly features in old cars

[binhoker668]

Cup holders in a Citroen C2. Lots of ‘em. You can buy coffee and then go for a drive.

[Sloth in a bowl]

Mk1 Laguna, when you switched on the ignition then the engine temp display worked as an oil level display for about 5 seconds, simple but genius

That car was a lesson in driver ergonomics including the placement of the finger tip radio controls at 3 o'clock behind the steering wheel.

[Guest Hooli]

Mk2 goona did that too, it was about the only bit that worked.

[Des]

Split flat windscreen, cheap to repair, you could cut one out yourself kerbside, or feasible to carry a spare for longer journeys. The central glazing bar offers the perfect sturdy mounting point for a rear view mirror. Those modern curved screens act as a lens to give a warped and distorted view of the world which traumatises the mind.

[GLTease]

Volvo 480,Being able to close windows and sunroof when you locked your car by keeping the key turned until everything was closed. and one simple thing like having the ignition key barrel lit up so you could "see the hole" also the rear wiper came on if you went in reverse while having the front wipers on...

[rantingYoof]

I remember all of those features from owning mine!

 

The Omega closes the windows and sunroof after you've turned off the engine and got out the car, if you hold down the lock button on the fob.

 

My 2005 Volvo of much sensibility didn't do this.

 

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[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Ashtrays and cigarette lighters.

Smokers were so well card for in old cars, often even the children in the back.

The R16 even has a pipe rack! No, really!

 

 

Old Jags were the horn of plenty for the smoker. The very considerable range of smoking accessories naturally included a pipe holder along with a whole array of cigar related gubbins. The car themselves of course had 4 ashtrays and two full sized lighters. That's still one less than the Shadow though...

[Sir Snipes]

Volvo 480,Being able to close windows and sunroof when you locked your car by keeping the key turned until everything was closed. and one simple thing like having the ignition key barrel lit up so you could "see the hole" also the rear wiper came on if you went in reverse while having the front wipers on...

Which is great until it's frosty and you haven't bothered to defrost the rear window yet and the stuck wiper burns out the motor. That happened to a work "mate"s Vectra but he was a dick so it was funny.

[Guest Hooli]

My ex's '58 plate festa did the same. Great* when it was windy enough to keep the rear window dry but blow the rain onto the front of the car.

[pandamonium]

Lada Riva. 99% of jobs can be done with the toolkit that comes with the car, at the roadside if you so wish.

 

I once replaced a water pump at the side of the road after it KALAPST, and was on my way again.

[Fumbler]

Lada Riva. 99% of jobs can be done with the toolkit that comes with the car, at the roadside if you so wish.

 

I once replaced a water pump at the side of the road after it KALAPST, and was on my way again.

Lada, a car I'd love to buy, specifically for that, and the cheap spairs which are actually decent.

[stormee]

 That's still one less than the Shadow though...

And still one less than even the 100CD. Just imagine 3 people using these simultanously and smoking in one car!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

And still one less than even the 100CD. Just imagine 3 people using these simultanously and smoking in one car!

 

 

Oh the humiliation!

[robinmasters]

Wine bottle-sized door pockets.

[binhoker668]

Wine bottle-sized door pockets.

Ahhhh the AX love is strong with this one....

[Ghosty]

Mk1 Laguna, when you switched on the ignition then the engine temp display worked as an oil level display for about 5 seconds, simple but genius

That car was a lesson in driver ergonomics including the placement of the finger tip radio controls at 3 o'clock behind the steering wheel.

 

 

As I found out at Chumley, the 19 had that too (first?).

[martc]

Wine bottle-sized door pockets.

 

 

Ahhhh the AX love is strong with this one....

 

Apparantly, for export models, those pockets were for bottles of water, not wine, no definitely not wine, no way are we endorsing alcoholic drinks in a car, did I say they were for water not wine? For home models - shoulder shrug and a pfft.

[Ohdearme]

Loading up the boot of the 9-5 estate with tip fodder today, I noticed a little ring eyelet by the boot lock on the open tailgate, presumably for you to run a rope through in the incredibly unlikely event you'd bought anything that doesn't actually fit inside the capacious rear of the Saab and needed to rope the tailgate half open.

[GeordieInExile]

Oooh, that's a new one to me. Not that I expect to ever have to use it.

 

I did have to remove the parcel shelf the other day to get a giant CRT TV in mine. Seats remained up and there was loads of boot space left, but having to take the parcel shelf out did disappoint me.

[Guest Hooli]

You can't blame Saab because you got the wrong size tv.

[GeordieInExile]

Not me, a mate of mine. But you're right.

 

Carting that thing back to his saw me driving slower and more carefully than I have since I passed my test!

[twosmoke300]

Isnt the loop the emergency boot release ?

[Ohdearme]

Isnt the loop the emergency boot release ?

Nah, it’s completely hidden when the boot is shut, are you thinking of the fuel flap override?

 

I doubt even SAAB thought it necessary for an emergency boot release in an estate, only a massive twonk would think they were stuck in an estate car boot!

[dozeydustman]

Interior space. Despite cars getting much bigger on the exterior in the last 15-20 years for their 'class' of car, the insides seem a lot more cramped and claustrophobic now. 

 

Yes yes I know they have magical impact reduction and safety cage design, but why do so at the expense of comfort while driving the thing?

[captain_70s]

People seem to prefer to feel enclosed and coddled in their cars now, supposedly gives a feeling of safety. Personally I despite is and prefer my cars to feature massive glass area and be as safe in a roll-over or side-impact accident as a packet of crisps.

[Noel Tidybeard]

vectra B aircon in the glove box BUT it only ever blows cold unlike my current spaceship which blows hot if heater is set so

[New POD]

People seem to prefer to feel enclosed and coddled in their cars now, supposedly gives a feeling of safety. Personally I despite is and prefer my cars to feature massive glass area and be as safe in a roll-over or side-impact accident as a packet of crisps.

Meh.

[dozeydustman]

Can you still get cars with an umbrella twist/pull to release handbrake? I do like them. Memories of the Zephyr 6 my grandad taught me to drive in aged 10 in his garage's yard.

[lesapandre]

Mk1 Laguna, when you switched on the ignition then the engine temp display worked as an oil level display for about 5 seconds, simple but genius

That car was a lesson in driver ergonomics including the placement of the finger tip radio controls at 3 o'clock behind the steering wheel.

The Rover P4 has this feature I recall...except you press a button. Pretty cool on a 50's car.

[STUNO]

My fathers 1953 Velox had a remote opener for the boot. Quite a good idea and the oldest car I have known with that feature. So why was it placed on the panel under the rear RH seat squab ? yes the driver had to get into the rear seat to push the button.