Tight-ass manufacturer short cuts and cost saves

[Deetee]

On 5/13/2022 at 2:23 PM, grogee said:

I like the three-bolt French wheel combo, because triangles. 

Did the AX ever get a peasant spec three-bolt wheel or was the party over by then?

As far as I know, PSA still kept the three stud hub until the end of 106/saxo production circa 2003.  It was only used on the small cars that weren't specced with PAS- all PAS equipped cars had four studs.  Can only assume the power steering system produced so much torque that a fourth wheelnut was required to prevent the wheels being snapped clean off upon steering

[busmansholiday]

My Ibiza estate clearly uses the saloon exhaust system, otherwise why would it finish two foot from the back of the car and piss off my MoT tester each year 

[MJK 24]

Rear chassis legs on a Mk2 Scirocco are Mk1 Golf convertible with an extension tagged on.

Reassuring when you see that rear end collision looking in your mirrors…

[christian6984]

On 5/13/2022 at 12:04 AM, Metal Guru said:

I had a very early Orion 1.6GL in bright red (sunburst?). Bought new in March 84 ran it for 170 000 miles until Sept 91.

I was trading up from a Fiesta and thought it looked a lot nicer than an Escort.

From what the DVLA tax check seems to suggest this one's tax ran out in October 97, but someone appears to have painted it black (A989OHG). The Metro did up to December 1996 which wasn't too bad given their reputation for rusting and it was a year earlier being a 1983

 

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, christian6984 said:

From what the DVLA tax check seems to suggest this one's tax ran out in October 97, but someone appears to have painted it black (A989OHG). The Metro did up to December 1996 which wasn't too bad given their reputation for rusting and it was a year earlier being a 1983

 

I doubt if mine lasted until 97. I got rid in 91, it wasn’t in the best shape then.

[ProgRocker]

Does the Polski-Fiat 125p / FSO 1300 & 1500 count? I learnt that they used the chassis from the older Fiat 1300 saloon, rather than the 125.

[bunglebus]

1949-53 Kaiser Traveller/Frazer Vagabond. A very early attempt at hatchbacking, and four doors - but only three open. The left hand rear is fixed in place despite having an exterior handle. The window is also fixed in place, as the spare wheel is attached inside this panel! It was cheaper not to make a new stamping for the rear quarter

[RoverFolkUs]

Something that's just sprung to mind, despite how annoying it is I've just got used to it over the last few years. 

The MK2 Focus handbrake positioning... It's situated perfectly for LHD but not RHD. You have to lean over, which was hard to get used to at first. 

Really annoys me when manufacturers don't make adaptations properly for RHD cars, no consideration for where things are placed, or the wipers not clearing the driver's view properly because they sweep differently for LHD. A real bugbear...

 

Its not impossible, for example the Citroen Xsara Picasso, despite being from a LHD market, they actually moved the handbrake lever closer to the right hand side to make it more convenient. Thanks Citroen! A bit of design that actually makes sense

[Richard_FM]

I remember one of my Uncles once mentioning he borrowed an early Mk1 Fiesta which only had one sun visor fitted, Ford also did this with the Mk2 Escort Popular.

Other penny pinching included all round drum brakes, cross ply tyres, black rubber matting & vinyl seats & stickers for badges.

Around the same time Vauxhall had an oversupply of HC Viva 2 door saloon bodyshells so they came up with a poverty spec special edition so shift them at a discount price.

This worked & I think it might have become a regular feature in the range.

Renault used 3 stud wheels on the 18 until the mid life facelift.

My Dad was not pleased when he got a low spec Vauxhall Omega as a company car, with some penny pinching like manual rear windows, steel wheels, and the keys had blanked off remote control buttons.