Dead features in cars that need to make a comeback

[EyesWeldedShut]

Picnic table/smol desk set into the back of the front seats.

[Rusty Pelican]

Headlight bulb changes that dont require you being a contortionist or having to remove the whole front of the car do achieve said bulb change 

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, crad said:

ashtrays

You can get one the fits into a cup holder for £1.99 in Home Bargains  or ( if buying a new car), tick the option for “Smokers Pack” and pay £57.95 plus VAT and get one that fits into a cup holder.

[warren t claim]

How about a return to using British terms for car features?

Although my current car is a diesel I still say it has a petrol filler flap, not a fuel door.

The MG6 has a reversing camera, not a back up camera. A back up camera is something a wedding photographer takes with him on a job.

[HarmonicCheeseburger]

Found a video of what some modern Audi's and Mercs feel like inside 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/829358695614174

[Volksy]

It's probably been said, but switches. 

These screens that are prolific now are, in my opinion, an absolute menace. I know they are marketed as being trendy and modern, but they are just a cost cutting measure. Rather than design and type approve some hardware, one screen will fit all. The Cupra Born I had with my last job had a pretty horrid operating system, with lots of stuff you generally need buried two or three menus in. Mind you VAG even managed to f*uk up switches, with the same two window switches operating all four windows. Their 'touch sensitive' steering wheel controls either had you fruitlessly prodding at them to try and coax some response, or the slightest accidental brush with your wrist would turn the stereo up and disengage the cruise control....

[St.Jude]

The little sun visor for above the rear view mirror.

[Metal Guru]

50 minutes ago, St.Jude said:

The little sun visor for above the rear view mirror.

My car (20 years old) has one. It’s useless. Much better to have dark tint / blacked out there instead.

[St.Jude]

7 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

My car (20 years old) has one. It’s useless. Much better to have dark tint / blacked out there instead.

I remember my dads Renault 25 having it, and thinking it was great.

So many cars I’ve been in since could do with it, but don’t have it. The sun visors don’t reach out enough to cover it.

[Volksy]

1 hour ago, St.Jude said:

The little sun visor for above the rear view mirror.

My 34 year old S Class has one too, yes, its pretty useless!

[MiniMinorMk3]

Basic no frills cars like an old Mini, Beetle, 2CV, Fiat 126, Lada, that are full of useless electrical stuff that does not help get you from A to B. A new electric MINI costs over £30,000 and weighs over 1,600kg, yet it still only gets you from A to B. It won't cook your dinner or walk the dog.

[St.Jude]

Just now, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Basic no frills cars like an old Mini, Beetle, 2CV, Fiat 126, Lada, that are full of useless electrical stuff that does not help get you from A to B. A new electric MINI costs over £30,000 and weighs over 1,600kg, yet it still only gets you from A to B, it won't cook your dinner or walk the dog.

Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo do this.

Just enough electricals to make it reliable, but nothing to leave you stranded.

[MiniMinorMk3]

18 minutes ago, St.Jude said:

Peugeot 107/Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo do this.

Just enough electricals to make it reliable, but nothing to leave you stranded.

Those cars are now a distant memory as they stopped making C1s and Aygos in 2022.

You could argue that the Ami is a basic no frills car, but is it a useful car with it minimal top speed and short range?

[Marina door handles]

On 29/08/2024 at 09:50, St.Jude said:

The little sun visor for above the rear view mirror.

Speaking of sun visors, have we had the dual Saab style sun visors yet? This set up let you cover the windscreen and side window at the same time, a really good solution to low sun driving.

[Metal Guru]

42 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Speaking of sun visors, have we had the dual Saab style sun visors yet? This set up let you cover the windscreen and side window at the same time, a really good solution to low sun driving.

Why don’t cars have tinted but see through blinds like aircraft do. Sometimes if driving directly  into a low sun it’s really difficult to make the blind work effectively.

[Saabnut]

41 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Why don’t cars have tinted but see through blinds like aircraft do. Sometimes if driving directly  into a low sun it’s really difficult to make the blind work effectively.

Because tinted but see through would have to be acrylic, perpex or similar. The Cobra has them. In an accident they would take the top of your head off like a boiled egg being made ready for soldiers!

[Yoss]

On 25/08/2024 at 20:09, grogee said:

I notice nobody's suggested bringing back manual windows. 

Electric windows are ace and easy to fix as long as you don't buy VAG shite. 

@Cluffy and I have worked on a power doors feature for a certain British luxury car manufacturer. Be afraid. 

Am I the only one sitting here thinking most of the things mentioned are still part of my everyday driving experience. 

 

On the subject of windows, not just manual windows, but well engineered manual windows that are a pleasure to use. My Triumphs windows are only two turns top to bottom and are operated by a big metal arm with a quadrant of teeth at one end so there is a nice solid stop feel at both ends. And the handles are in the right place too. 

The Škodas are six and a half turns and the usual cable operated so they are adequate but not great. At least the handle is in the right place. 

But some windy windows are so appalling I feel they have been deliberately designed to make you want to upgrade to electric windows (the rear ones in my old ZT-T being a case in point).

Yet my Triumph windows are just as quick and are a pleasure to use. I wouldn't want electric windows even if they were available. 

 

[Marina door handles]

4 hours ago, Yoss said:

Am I the only one sitting here thinking most of the things mentioned are still part of my everyday driving experience. 

 

On the subject of windows, not just manual windows, but well engineered manual windows that are a pleasure to use. My Triumphs windows are only two turns top to bottom and are operated by a big metal arm with a quadrant of teeth at one end so there is a nice solid stop feel at both ends. And the handles are in the right place too. 

The Škodas are six and a half turns and the usual cable operated so they are adequate but not great. At least the handle is in the right place. 

But some windy windows are so appalling I feel they have been deliberately designed to make you want to upgrade to electric windows (the rear ones in my old ZT-T being a case in point).

Yet my Triumph windows are just as quick and are a pleasure to use. I wouldn't want electric windows even if they were available. 

 

Another benefit of keep fit windows is on a hot day you can open them before the ignition key has got any were near the barrel. I found this very handy when I was a boy, getting in the back of my Dad's car and just whizzing that window down, no need to wait! 

[IronStar]

19 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Another benefit of keep fit windows is on a hot day you can open them before the ignition key has got any were near the barrel. I found this very handy when I was a boy, getting in the back of my Dad's car and just whizzing that window down, no need to wait! 

With newish cars you can open them before getting anywhere near the car - press and hold unlock on the fob to roll down all the windows 

[Marina door handles]

22 minutes ago, IronStar said:

With newish cars you can open them before getting anywhere near the car - press and hold unlock on the fob to roll down all the windows 

What! Sounds like witchcraft to me! 

Actually that reminds me back in the mid Noughties at Saab we had a customer who had a Northern Irish spec 9000, you could start the engine with the key fob....... Which you probably did whilst hiding behind a wall with a finger from your free hand in your ear just in case!  

 

[MiniMinorMk3]

15 hours ago, Marina door handles said:

Another benefit of keep fit windows is on a hot day you can open them before the ignition key has got any were near the barrel. I found this very handy when I was a boy, getting in the back of my Dad's car and just whizzing that window down, no need to wait! 

I stick the key in the slot and start the engine before closing the door on a hot day.

[Metal Guru]

1 hour ago, MiniMinorMk3 said:

I stick the key in the slot and start the engine before closing the door on a hot day.

Game changer! None of us has ever done that!

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Proper Enamel car badges. In fact, ornate Enamel badges in general. 

Some of these were works of art! 🤓

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Dickie seats in the boot of a large estate (typically a Volvo 940) that transform a five-seater into a seven seater.

My aunt had this in her 940 when I was a kid and my cousin Robert and I loved it as we’d get a backwards view of the road through the boot screen.  In fact, if all of my cousins and my brother were about we’d fight over who got to sit in them…

[Richard_FM]

10 hours ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

Dickie seats in the boot of a large estate (typically a Volvo 940) that transform a five-seater into a seven seater.

My aunt had this in her 940 when I was a kid and my cousin Robert and I loved it as we’d get a backwards view of the road through the boot screen.  In fact, if all of my cousins and my brother were about we’d fight over who got to sit in them…

I remember the Mum of one of my friends had a Mercedes with seats in the boot, which me & my friend would usually sit in.

[High Jetter]

5 minutes ago, Richard_FM said:

I remember the Mum of one of my friends had a Mercedes with seats in the boot, which me & my friend would usually sit in.

Tell me you stuck your tongue out and waggled your ears at following cars? 😀

[Leyland Worldmaster]

Twin rear fog lamps. Some surprisingly high end* cars lack this feature.

[Metal Guru]

11 hours ago, Leyland Worldmaster said:

Twin rear fog lamps. Some surprisingly high end* cars lack this feature.

Great, so you can get twice as much glare from the dickheads that misuse them. Handy though when you’re followed by someone who has full beam on but doesn’t know what that blue light on the dash means.

[Leyland Worldmaster]

28 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Great, so you can get twice as much glare from the dickheads that misuse them. Handy though when you’re followed by someone who has full beam on but doesn’t know what that blue light on the dash means.

Actually, I was thinking more about when going abroad!

But yes, you make a very good point all the same! 

[Yoss]

2 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Great, so you can get twice as much glare from the dickheads that misuse them. Handy though when you’re followed by someone who has full beam on but doesn’t know what that blue light on the dash means.

My Triumph has its reversing light on a manual switch for that reason.