Idiosyncratic features to be savoured

Idiosyncratic features to be savoured

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Discussion

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,486 posts

204 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Look at the way this SAABs bonnet opens
smokin


trickywoo

11,704 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Surely that would make changing headlight bulbs or any work on the radiator much more difficult than a conventional opening.

wemorgan

3,578 posts

177 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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I quite liked the removable Audi A2 bonnet with service flap. A flawed system but enjoyably idiosyncratic.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Non self-cancelling indicators on many Citroens.

Lance Catamaran

24,942 posts

226 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Pop up headlights

motco

15,919 posts

245 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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280E said:
Non self-cancelling indicators on many Citroens.
...and the self-centring steering by servo on them too. Stop in traffic with any lock on, release the wheel and it straightens up while you're stationary. Then there's the brake 'button' instead of a pedal...

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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trickywoo said:
Surely that would make changing headlight bulbs or any work on the radiator much more difficult than a conventional opening.
No - it tips further forward than that, very easily, kinda like Merc's "service position". Bulbs and rad can easily be done from the side, even without doing that.

And then it removes with two bolts, without touching the adjustment. The work of seconds.

saaby93

32,038 posts

177 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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TooMany2cvs said:
trickywoo said:
Surely that would make changing headlight bulbs or any work on the radiator much more difficult than a conventional opening.
No - it tips further forward than that, very easily, kinda like Merc's "service position". Bulbs and rad can easily be done from the side, even without doing that.

And then it removes with two bolts, without touching the adjustment. The work of seconds.
it's an old idea
With this one you can sit on the wheels while tinkering with the engine



Saab and triumph shared an engine in the past

There's a more modern car that has this bonnet idea - cant remember which now.
Another good thing about it is if the bonnet catches fail you dont have the bonnet flip up against the windscreen in Clio fashion


Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 26th March 10:20

Rich1973

1,191 posts

176 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Jag X308 bonnet opens this way too.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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This thread has made me realise I don't own a car with a conventional engine compartment or bonnet. I have an Audi A2 with the above mentioned service flap and removable bonnet. My other car is a Mazda Bongo, this does have a normal opening bonnet at the front but it only contains a radiator, batteries and assorted pipe work, the actual bonnet is 2 opening sections of floor with the drivers and passenger seat attached. So my Bongo is a mid engined, rear wheel drive V6 petrol.

Working on an engine inside a vehicle feels quite idiosyncratic it has to be said



saaby93

32,038 posts

177 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Hugh Jarse said:
Look at the way this SAABs bonnet opens
smokin

Never mind the bonne,t doesnt that whole car fit under the banner idiosyncratic smile

AmitG

3,272 posts

159 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Rich1973 said:
Jag X308 bonnet opens this way too.
I seem to recall that the X308 bonnet is front hinged, but does not tilt forward in the way that the Saab's bonnet does.

AmitG

3,272 posts

159 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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For idiosyncratic features on current cars, I nominate the Citroen DS5 with its 3 (yes three) sunroofs, all independent with their own controls.

I love the way that on the early cars, Citroen decided that 3 sunroofs was important, but an external boot release button was not smile

P5BNij

15,767 posts

105 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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The Lamborghini Urraco has its fuel filler cap inside the engine bay, just in front of the near side suspension turret top, you can just see it on the left of the pic...



(A handful of early cars had external filler caps, why on earth they changed to putting it inside the car beggars belief!)

Lance Catamaran

24,942 posts

226 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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P5BNij said:
The Lamborghini Urraco has its fuel filler cap inside the engine bay, just in front of the near side suspension turret top, you can just see it on the left of the pic...



(A handful of early cars had external filler caps, why on earth they changed to putting it inside the car beggars belief!)
A fuel nozzle right next to a hot engine? What could possibly go wrong?

P5BNij

15,767 posts

105 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Lance Catamaran said:
P5BNij said:
The Lamborghini Urraco has its fuel filler cap inside the engine bay, just in front of the near side suspension turret top, you can just see it on the left of the pic...



(A handful of early cars had external filler caps, why on earth they changed to putting it inside the car beggars belief!)
A fuel nozzle right next to a hot engine? What could possibly go wrong?
A Lambo flambe! This chap has the right idea, right at the end of the clip...

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Lamborghini+Ur...

Another Italian idiosyncratic feature - the Espada has a large tap wheel under the dash to allow hot water into the car's heating system, if it goes tits up you just call a plumber..!

meehaja

607 posts

107 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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My be T25 transporter had a little flap that the rear number plate was mounted to that you could pull down to check and top up the oil without having to expose the whole engine. Handy in a camper where exposing the engine involved taking the bed out!

Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah

12,787 posts

99 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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None matching mirrors on the W124. The passenger one also being convex. Very simple, yet very effective.

saaby93

32,038 posts

177 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:


None matching mirrors on the W124. The passenger one also being convex. Very simple, yet very effective.
Can anyone find a current car that has headlight wipers?
SAAB 99




Edited by saaby93 on Sunday 26th March 11:24

mac96

3,715 posts

142 months

Sunday 26th March 2017
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Saab made a thing of this - the 96 opened in the same way.
I remember, because mine spent most of its life open.
And I can confirm that when the catch broke on a motorway, bonnet did not open suddenly and tear off the hinges like a rear hinged bonnet- it drifted gracefully up to about top of screen level and stayed there, completely obscuring the view. Happily on a day with not much traffic on the M6 in my case!

Engine access was good though- narrow car, and nicely curved wings to lean on!

Edited by mac96 on Sunday 26th March 11:37