In the spirit of the other thread - 'Biggest car design bloopers'; Are there any really good design pieces in a car that you think '.. Wow that's really good, why can't all cars have that...?'
I nominate the heated front screen as seen on upscale Fords. Why they don't fit these to Volvos (Ford owned of course) - it must get frosty in Sweden?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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The windscreen washers fitted to the Citroen BX & Peugeot 405, The washers have a plastic tube with the squirty jets attached to the wiper blade, & they cover the whole swept area of the blades & they never need adjusting either.
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Yes I remember them on the odd occasion I drove a 405. No badly aimed jets and properly washed screen - great.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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You just have to remember to shut the drivers window or you get wet! lol
Not a problem on mine because the windows is never open because the aircon is always on.
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Quite right - air con is a blessing.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Even more so when it was standard fit back in 1994!
Nice one Peugeot
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That's why i want to keep it in, in the Big Brothers Garage thread!!!
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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DS 19 and its later versions
Suspension with ride height adjustment.
Just a button for the brakes.
Swiveling headlights.
Single spoke steering wheel.
High level indicators.
Boot lid that did not obscure the view through the back window.
Slippery shape.
I am sure there are more but all in one vehicle
Disk brakes must rate high on the all time list.
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Cruise control
Auto wipers
Parking sensors
Auto gearboxes
CD player
Reach and rake steering adjust
Electric windows
ABS
Traction control
Servo assisted brakes
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Cornering Brake Control
Emergency Brake Assist
Air bags
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The Citroen/Peugeot/Renault Keypad imobiliser system.
If this was still fitted today it would make stealing the car keys totaly useless, Unless you know the code, the car wont start.
Unless its still set to the factory default of 1111 or you change it to the next guessed code of 1234.
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A new developement that I like are the repeat direction indicators in the rear view mirrors on Mercedes,nicely in the line of sight,and far more visible than the normal low mounted ones just behind the front wheel arches.
ndbw
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Untill you have to pay to replace one!
A women in a Merc ripped one of those off against the side of are works van, She tried to claim of us, But seeing as the van was parked up & nobody was inside, that ploy didnt work! lol
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Cant believe it would be very much dearer than their standard electically operated and heated mirror,but nI suppose we are talking Merc. prices
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Even more if its a folding mirror too.
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The door mirrors fitted to the 405, Hit them with another cars mirrors & watch what happens!
There whole mirror, plastic included shatters in pieces, while you just polish the scratch out of your own.
If you ever try removing a 405 mirror, get help, its a 2 person lift, they are that heavy!
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80s and early 90s fiats had folding door mirrors. Marvellous invention, they were light but would just fold out of the way if someone whacked the mirror. Definitely designed for the italians!
Transverse engine in the original mini that made the car so compact.
Hydraulic suspension in citroens so you could lower the whole car for ease of geriatric dog access.
Folding rear seats so you can fill the car full of junk you don't need from flat pack emporiums. Shouldn't they be called Ikea seats??? Always worked the best in a slab sided hatchback so you could fit ridiculous items like washing machines in all their packaging and still close the hatch properly.
Alfa Romeo's hidden rear door handles.
Fuel cap button release within the car so you don't have to mess around with keys in fiddly locking caps. Ditto boot release.
teabelly
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Hydraulic suspension in citroens so you could lower the whole car for ease of geriatric dog access.
Better still, hydraulic Citroens so that you can lift the suspension and park on that bit of scrap land at the train station usually reserved for off road vehicles.
Lift the suspension up and your Citroen is like a beacon in a crowded car park.
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Having once sat from ten o'clock on a freezing November night till the AA finally picked me up and dumped my then 106 at a main dealer at 1.00am (fags ran out around midnight) because of a faulty keypad immobiliser they are not on my all time list of favourite features. Turned out to be a dirty connection.
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That'll be the new Vectra then?
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That'll be the new Vectra then?
Yep ;o)
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Ford Orion: radio aerial built into rear window heater.
Worked perfectly, didn't get in the way of a roof box and didn't corrode and fall off every few years.
Also vandal-proof.
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Ford Orion: radio aerial built into rear window heater. Worked perfectly, didn't get in the way of a roof box and didn't corrode and fall off every few years. Also vandal-proof.
Ditto Ford Escort '86 - '90. However in the Escort (or rather my Dad's) the connections worked loose as the hatch is opened and closed.
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Leaving out things like wheels, engines, tyres etc....
Whoever decided to cross the small saloon and estate car and come up with the hatchback supermini deserves a place in motoring history.
Which was the first hatchback supermini?
Renault 5? No - there was the boxy Renault 6 before that.
Simca 1100, which had a back profile every bit as awkward as the latest Renault Megane?
Or was it the Countryman version of the Austin A40, which looked just like the saloon but had a 2-piece tailgate?
cheers, SS
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IIRC Renault 16 was first popular car with hatch back design.
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Honda Jazz back seats that fold in two different ways - brilliant.
More generally - fuel injection. Notice how most cars start first time now - it wasn't always so. One saving grace of BL cars was the SU carburettor: with a manual choke they did at least start....
And spare a final thought for the front quarter-light, long before air conditioning was common in cars. My first ever car - an Austin A50 - had them, and the breeze on one's face was perfect in hot weather, and they would demist the screen quite effectively in winter. Happy days!
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Rechargeable torch in the glovebox. Always there when you need it, say to read a tyre pressure guage in the dark. Always charged.
I'm staggered that BMW have stopped supplying it - only the socket is there now, so you have to buy it as an accessory. If I'd known, I'd have "lost" the torch out of the old one the day before changing.
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The passenger seat on the smart which is a few inches further back than the driver's to allow better visibility at junctions.
Intermittent wipers and auto wipe when using the washer jets, now progressed to an additional wipe after a few seconds to remove any drips! So much technology for such a simple operation.
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That reminds me: In the early 90s I had a 1990 Cavalier. (It was old-school non-turbo 1.7D. It was the dirtiest, noiseiest, slowest, most smelly car I have EVER driven, and to this day it clouds my judgement of diesel cars).
Sorry - I digress. It had a couple of neat, invisisble features that at the time were a novelty but were incredibly useful. After switching off the ignition, the windows would still work until the door was opened. Similarly, the stereo would work without the ignition on, but would still switch off with the ignition in the normal way.
I've noticed that many other manufacturers now incorporate the window feature, although to this day I've never driver another car with the same stereo switching. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, however...
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>>After switching off the ignition, the windows would still work
>>until the door was opened. Similarly, the stereo would work
>>without the ignition on, but would still switch off with the
>>ignition in the normal way.
>>I've noticed that many other manufacturers now incorporate the
>>window feature, although to this day I've never driver another
>>car with the same stereo switching. I'm sure someone will
>>correct me if I'm wrong, however...
The stereo in my 525i does exactly that, but only since I had an aftermarket stereo installed. Never seen one that's done it as standard though.
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After switching off the ignition, thewindows would still work until the door was opened. Similarly, the stereo would work without the ignition on, but would still switch off with the ignition in the normal way. I've noticed that many other manufacturers now incorporate the window feature, although to this day I've never driver another car with the same stereo switching. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, however...
Skoda Octavia stereo can be switched on without keys in, will switch off when keys removed. And if you leave radio on (having switched on without keys in), it will turn itself off after two hours!
Octavia also does the window thing as described above.
Generally one touch windows are very helpful
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Skoda Octavia stereo can be switched on without keys in, will switch off when keys removed. And if you leave radio on (having switched on without keys in), it will turn itself off after two hours!
Vauxhall stereo\'s have done this for quite some time now. It will also turn itself off after one hour if accidentally left on.
Octavia also does the window thing as described above.
If I leave the windows open (for ventalation in summer) and it comes onto rain - providing I\'ve locked the doors, the windows close themselves.
If I accidentally unlock the doors after locking and putting the plip in my pocket the C/L will re-lock itelf and arm the alarm 30 seconds later. Note, it won\'t relock itself if the keys are left in the car or any door is opened within those 30 seconds of unlocking.
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Everything about the new Micra - it's simply beautiful.
Conveniently located bonnet and petrol door release just under steering wheel.
Cute little bubbles on top of headlights to assist parking.
The shortest bonnet in the world to sneak into tiny spaces.
A wealth of exciting cubbyholes and cupholders and a 'multi functional glovebox.'
V. simple and conveniently located controls.
The tiniest turning circle in the world.
Sliding rear seats to increase boot space/ rear leg room.
Friendly lighting system to help us girlies get to our door safely.
At last a TALL supermini for TALL people to avoid a craned neck.
There's more but I would be here forever..........
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If only they hadn't made it look SO ugly... ;)
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Cheeky beggar. It's stunning, you just can't appreciate good looks when you see them. :)
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Cheeky beggar. It's stunning, you just can't appreciate good looks when you see them. :)
See Bazza,
I keep telling you your alfa is "fugly"
:-)
JaB
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'multi functional glovebox.'
You can put gloves in it, you can put CD's in it, you can put sweets in it, etc etc.
Sorry:-)
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BMW 5 series E39 (and probably others now)
two little orange lights just in front of rear view mirror that throws a gentle glow over the gear lever area of the car when headlights are on. Not too bright to be a nuisance and not too dim so that you can't see what is down there.
well worth buying the car just for that.
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Had that feature on the 1981 Aston Martin V8 Vantage I had for a weekend.
But it was done with more class on the Astion though ;)
To stay on topic:
Bonnet on the Volvo 440, had two open positions, the further one being totally vertical and making access to the engine bay extremely easy.
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Look, this is about best design features. Don't go slating my car you nasty, nasty men.
Saying that, that's why I put 'multi functional glovebox' in inverted commas. That is what it said in the brochure and yes, I thought it was a bit daft. But even still, it's got one, and you can also put er...make up in it. And it can dance the tango. See, so many functions. Hah. :)
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Look, this is about best design features. Don't go slating my car you nasty, nasty men.
You're the girl that wants to arm restle aren't you?
;-)
JaB
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Is that a challenge? I'll take you down ha ha ha ha haaaa.....
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'multi functional glovebox.' You can put gloves in it, you can put CD's in it, you can put sweets in it, etc etc.
The Yaris has two lids on the glovebox. Convential lid plus a small upper lid to a useful cubby hole. Very useful for keeping the urgent items from the rest of the misc.
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I once read that very high Spec Roots Imps had a built in dipstick wiper. Presumably no more searching for that oily rag, or oily finger prints.
Coin holders. Seem to be unfavourable amongst designers now i think. Our BX had them and MK2 Polos are supposed to (but my MK3 doesn't) No more awkward stretching when looking for that illusive £1 coin in your pocket at toll roads. Have they gone because motoring is so expensive, notes are better?
Roberson
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Coin holders. Seem to be unfavourable amongst designers now i think. Our BX had them and MK2 Polos are supposed to (but my MK3 doesn't) No more awkward stretching when looking for that illusive £1 coin in your pocket at toll roads. Have they gone because motoring is so expensive, notes are better? Roberson
No, it's because a scrote will quite happily smash your window for a couple of pound coins.
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speed beepers. Those gadgets that you set a speed on and they beep when you go over it. Great for keeping your licence. I know you can set the cruise control but that is only good for long stretches at the same speed. Speed beepers are better for in town where you are stopping and slowing down all the time but don't want to go above the limit when you do get a clear stretch of road.
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The Audi A2 service hatch - no excuse not to check the oil level now it's such a doddle. The removable bonnet also makes engine bay inspections very easy.
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The perspex tips on the sidelights of the P6 Rover. You know where each corner of the car is, they also illuminate at night.
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...The perspex tips on the sidelights of the P6 Rover
You mean effectively like on the new Micra? ;-)
(lubbin will be along in a minute)
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Parking ticket display clip on volvo windscreens, saves you clearing off adhesive stuff or having the ticket fall on the floor when you shut the door.
Sigma
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Volvo 760 (and probably newer Volvos as well?)
The windscreen washer jets are set up so that each pair covers both passenger and driver's side. This means that even if two out of the four jets are frozen up, you still get some water on both sides. So simple but brilliant. I've never seen this on any other car.
Also the wash wipe function is two-part, you pull the lever back half way and it gives you just water. Then pull it back a bit more and the programmed 6 wipes of the blades kicks in. This means if you've got a really filthy screen or you suspect the washers may be frozen up, you can tell before you put the wipers on.
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SAAB, *two* sunvisors so you can cover the side windows and screen for when the sun is just in that corner spot.
SAAB, the night switch feature, all thats illuminated is the speedo.
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Ford Taurus (US) in 1983 had them. V good.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Laguna
Radio. Can be turned on and off without any ignition switch, but if left on it bleeps after 15 mins and turns off, but also operates as normal with ignition, as do any interior lights left on, computer turns them all off after 15 mins if engine not running.
Filler cap, on a little cord so it does not get lost, plus a hook to hang it on the fuel flap while you fill up.
Wipers that switch to a slower speed when you stop, and revert back when you move off.
PUG 405, interior lights come on when you unlock the car with the plip, great in dark car parks to check no miscreant in your car.
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Filler cap on the Rover 75. On opening the flap and removal the cap, the cap has a little plug (tank end of the cap) which slots neatly into a cap holder on the flap.
Also the 'follow you home' headlights on a ten second delay before switching off when you lock it at night.
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Filler cap on the Rover 75. On opening the flap and removal the cap, the cap has a little plug (tank end of the cap) which slots neatly into a cap holder on the flap. Also the 'follow you home' headlights on a ten second delay before switching off when you lock it at night.
Both copied from BMW, I'm afraid..
[ducks and runs for cover!]
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>> Filler cap on the Rover 75. On opening the >> flap and removal the cap, the cap has a little plug >> (tank end of the cap) which slots neatly into a cap >> holder on the flap. >> >> Also the 'follow you home' headlights on a ten second delay >> before switching off when you lock it at night. >> >> >> Both copied from BMW, I'm afraid.. [ducks and runs for cover!]
Who of course copied it from FIAT......
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I once read that very high Spec Roots Imps had a built in dipstick wiper. Presumably no more searching for that oily rag, or oily finger prints. Coin holders. Seem to be unfavourable amongst designers now i think. Our BX had them and MK2 Polos are supposed to (but my MK3 doesn't) No more awkward stretching when looking for that illusive £1 coin in your pocket at toll roads. Have they gone because motoring is so expensive, notes are better? Roberson
The drivers side glove box in a C5 has slots that hold £1's that don't rattle!
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And no-one's nominated the curry hook in the Almera!
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Alfa 156
No particular feature, just the drop-dead gorgeous looks.
:o)
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Although it grieves me to say so...
Rover 200 (last incarnation) had an automatic rear windscreen wipe, when reverse selected, if the front wipers were working. Really useful when reverse parking.
Wonder if I'm right when I remember the Mark 3 astra being the first volume built car to have the radio LCD display as a separate part of the dash to improve its scrote proofing.
And how about the usage of gas struts on bonnets rather than having to find the hole for the nasty stay. Remember this first on peugeot 406.
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Although it grieves me to say so... Rover 200 (last incarnation) had an automatic rear windscreen wipe, when reverse selected, if the front wipers were working. Really useful when reverse parking.
Psst... Paul, mention it from the Alfa 147 instead and it won't sound so sad... ;)
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And how about the usage of gas struts on bonnets rather than having to find the hole for the nasty stay. Remember this first on peugeot 406.
Ahem.... sorry but Alfa got there 1st with that one as well
JaB
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>> And how about the usage of gas struts on bonnets rather >> than having to find the hole for the nasty stay. Remember >> this first on peugeot 406. Ahem.... sorry but Alfa got there 1st with that one as well JaB
Of course, the ones on the Alfa are terribly unreliable ;)
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on the beetle, its filler cap flap thingy has a piece of rubber that flaps down to protect the paintwork from the fuel nozzle,
and its has a good place your sunglasses where the drivers grabhandle would be, all nicely designed with fur inside so your goggles dont get scratched!
heated seats are the best thing in the world ever when you start work at 4am in the freezing winter!
the mini gets a heated front screen though, can't wait for that!
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on the beetle, its filler cap flap thingy has a piece of rubber that flaps down to protect the paintwork from the fuel nozzle,
Er... well I'm afraid to say that my Alfa GTV had one of those as well.
And it predates the 'New' beatle by a good number of years.
JaB
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yes well being young and a girl i wouldnt know about things like that!
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Variable speed wipers AND variable washers.
My 1600E came with only a manual washer control. I.E. you pushed the knob to manually pump the washer fluid.
I added an electric washer bottle and a variable controls I finished up with:
Twin washers bottles, standard or variable speed wipers AND OR variable (automatic) interval washers. While still having manual pump washers.
It was a simple add on unit I think called Vari wipe.
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yes well being young and a girl i wouldnt know about things like that!
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well now you do and you can astound your friends at dinner parties and the like ;)
Jab
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Er... well I'm afraid to say that my Alfa GTV had one of those as well.
As do many truly ancient 911s!
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The only thing Vauxhall did well was the design of the interior for Astra Mk3, especially the remote display for the radio. Much copied but not really bettered.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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The engine & gearbox & drive.
Since then, everything else has been mere tinkering.
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But thats the whole point.
What little feature, which small little gadget have you seen on a car that you think should be on all cars - not just becuase it's a luxury item, but because its simple and useful and also not available in most vehicles of any make.
So disregarding leather seats and all the other fripperies - I still think its the heated front screen.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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power sockets in the rear of the Landcruiser, including a normal household 3 pin socket - brilliant for the laptop and the like.
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There's one of those on the Micra too!! Great for storing handbags, curry, small children...
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I should point out that Lubbin was replying to Mare's nomination of the Curry Hook as fitted to the Almera.
No emails to the NSPCC claiming that Lubbin is storing curried children in power sockets please.
No Dosh - Backroom Moderator
mailto:moderators@honestjohn.co.uk
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Electric indicators.
Remember having to wind the window down and wave your arm?
Invisible at night.
And a life-saver on a motorbike where hand signals mean either releasing the throttle and losing access to the front brake (right) or losing access to the clutch (no gear changes) and the rear brake (left).
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I think you will find that there are very few design features that a manufacturer can claim are truly theirs. Several people have mentioned filler caps that fit onto a slot on the flap. Well I had a Volvo 240 years ago that had that. Rear wiper that turns on when it's wet? Our 1985 Ford Granada had that. The Vauxhall's lights that shine around corners were copied from the Citroen DS. Lately I heard Citroen are introducing next year on the C3 a device that turns the engine off automatically when you are idling in a traffic queue. But again it's not new! I had an 1981 Polo that had that! It was irritating as well. The engine would turn off and retart when you moved the gear stick out of neutral.
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I had a Volvo 240 years ago that hadthat.
And they still let you drive at your age?
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>>Remember having to wind the window down and wave your arm?
I remember periodically having to give the door pillar a good thump to get the indicator arm to drop.
>>And a life-saver on a motorbike where hand signals mean either releasing the throttle and losing access to the front brake (right) or losing access to the clutch (no gear changes) and the rear brake (left).
Ummm, isn't the rear brake by your foot and therefore not affected by having to indicate ? Or did you have quite a different approach to indicating ?
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The tyre valve dust cap remover thats hidden behind the fuel filler cap on all Vauxhalls. Stops your pinkies from getting black when checking your tyre pressures.
homepage.ntlworld.com/gary.vance/car/tool.jpg
Well, someone did mention it was Friday.
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ah i think i have slightly better than that even, on the beetle the dust caps can be left on while you top up with air and check the pressure! im guessing that have some sort of mini valve in the end that enables you to do it, really is something so easy and useful all cars should have it. i will probably swap them over when i get the mini!
new beetle also has something im pretty sure no other car gets, the flower vase!!!!
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I really like the TVR idea of putting rear indicators in the back window. Last night, this design idea made it easy peasy for me to see that the TVR two cars in front was likely to brake, coz I saw his left hand indicator flashing 'through' the car in front. Sure enough, he did, late and hard, but I'd already dropped back and didn't even have to touch my own brakes.
The car between us however must have been in a dream world, because they panic braked at the last moment despite getting the same potential warning. (I say potential, because to me, turning on an indicator means just that: It has been turned on, and nothing else. It doesn't mean that it's necessarily going to be followed up with an action!)
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I really like the TVR idea of putting rear indicators in the back window.
I like the idea enen better that the DS19 Citroen had them outside the back window at the roof line.
But that was a few decades (4?) ago.
Good to see the basic idea being revived.
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