Really thoughtful design features

[Jader1973]

rigga said:

Being able to start the mini with the key removed, exit and lock the car whilst its defrosting on the drive.

My Holden Commodore has remote start - I can stand inside and start it. Great for cold days, hot days (a/c comes on) and scaring people in the street

[WestYorkie]

The little sunvisor on Vag cars also stops your rear view mirror getting dazzled when using the map lights.

[lauda]

CR6ZZ said:

lauda said:

CR6ZZ said:

For example, my Audi B6 S4 has a feature on the light switch that automatically turns off fog lights when you turn off your lights. As a consequence you must make a conscious decision to turn your fogs on each time you need them - they can't just be left on.

Every car I've ever owned does this, right back to my 1996 Honda Civic 1.4. I'm surprised anyone would design lighting controls that didn't work in this way.

Interesting. The S4 is the first car out of the many, many I have driven that has this feature. I must assume therefore, if it is indeed a common feature, that the dozens of drivers you see driving with their fogs on at inappropriate times are doing it just to be prats.

Well, yeah, they probably are since they're also doing it oblivious to the fact that the fog light indicator on their instrument binnacle is lit up like a Christmas tree.

[talksthetorque]

hornetrider said:

55palfers said:

Skoda Octavia from a few years back had a moulding in the door bin to accommodate a wine bottle - brilliant!

As did the Citroën AX 25 years ago.

• deleted as answered wrong post

Edited by talksthetorque on Sunday 21st December 09:43

[Triumph Man]

WestYorkie said:

The little sunvisor on Vag cars also stops your rear view mirror getting dazzled when using the map lights.

Always thought this was a good idea on my Passat - like somebody had thought about it.

On my BMW, I like the little knurled wheel you can turn to have cold air at the face vents when the air is hot onto feet and screen. Unfortunately, BMW did not forsee the invention of "The woman" and as such there is no knurled wheel for the passenger side vents. And being a woman, she is always cold (some of the time...)

I also like the heated door locks (yes kind of pointless on modern cars with remote locking) but on normal central locking, it's actually very useful. You pull the driver's door handle for a few seconds, and the lock heats.

[BGarside]

My old Mk. 1 Focus had the most thoughtful touches of any of my cars.

Internal boot release button on dash

Key lock for bonnet, behind Ford badge

Simple cupholder recesses next to gearlever, so no risk of coffee going all over dash/stereo.

Big-button stereo a piece of cake to operate on the move, and steering column controls for changing the volume or station. Small face-off panel easy to carry in a pocket.

Big door pockets to take books, Loads of CDs, squeegee, etc.

Just simple things but a really well-designed car interior for practicality, and way better than the Seat Leon / BMW e36 that have followed it.

[LordHaveMurci]

BGarside said:

My old Mk. 1 Focus had the most thoughtful touches of any of my cars.

Internal boot release button on dash

Key lock for bonnet, behind Ford badge

Both a PITA quite honestly!

I do like the adjustable intermittent wipers on my 996.

[Henry Fiddleton]

IIRC MR2 Mk11 have illuminated ignition barrels?

Absolute god send when its dark...

[TLandCruiser]

The reliability

[conkerman]

Skoda Superb.

Umbrella storage in door.

[Al U]

My S2000 has a feature on the stamping inside the fuel filler flap that the cap slides into when you are putting petrol in the car. It's a nice idea because it means you haven't got to have the cap resting on the bodywork. The flap is upside down in the picture but I'm sure you get the idea. Haven't seen it on other cars, although I know some like ford have capless filler necks.

[Tyre Tread]

Ther were lots on the XF Jag. Amongst them was the stereo muting when reverse was engaged, touch sensitive inerior lights, cooled seats as well as heated (most welcome on black leather) and keyless entry that would pop the boot open immediately if you shut your key in there (in a jacket pocket for example) and touch sensitive glove box opener. And many more I can't remember.

The current barge, A Skoda Superb estate has a few too. Luggage retaining system (rails and straps) with adjustable tie down hooks. Curry hooks in the book. puddle lights and rear footwell lights. A clock display in the rear. Parking ticket clip. Adjustable height and forward sliding centre arm rest. Mine has the hole for an umbrella th rear door but the umbrella is missing. They are a specific size and expensive to replace.

[Funk]

My E36 has the same holder molded into the filler flap for a the petrol cap. It also has a light under the bonnet that comes on when you have the bonnet open and the sidelights on - no mucking about holding torches.

[Tyre Tread]

Funk said:

... It also has a light under the bonnet that comes on when you have the bonnet open and the sidelights on - no mucking about holding torches.

My 1970 Rover P5B has these!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Tyre Tread said:

Funk said:

... It also has a light under the bonnet that comes on when you have the bonnet open and the sidelights on - no mucking about holding torches.

My 1970 Rover P5B has these!

My old Audi 80 had this, bulb had gone, thought it was a great idea (if it worked!)

[JimbobVFR]

My Audi A2 has a few thoughtful features, the already mentioned mini sun visor, the petrol cap has slots so it will clip on the top of the flat and the little slots in the C (the one behind the rear doors if that's right?) For the seat belt buckles to slot into, keeps them out the way when folding the rear seats down. The rear seats are also removable and when folded lock in the folded position with a handle, almost looks like a suit case so very easy to remove and store if needed.

[vtecyo]

ChemicalChaos said:

Passenger footwell "curry hook".

Absolute godsend every time I wish to carry a bag of lunch/beer bottles/delicate items without them rolling around in the footwells or boot

What's that on? Great idea.

EP3 has a fuel cap holder mechanism. Brilliant feature.

Edited by vtecyo on Friday 19th December 14:08

[BigBo]

Al U said:

My S2000 has a feature on the stamping inside the fuel filler flap that the cap slides into when you are putting petrol in the car. It's a nice idea because it means you haven't got to have the cap resting on the bodywork. The flap is upside down in the picture but I'm sure you get the idea. Haven't seen it on other cars, although I know some like ford have capless filler necks.

A 1992 Mitsubishi mirage has a fuel cap holder on the door so do many jap cars, used to love playing with the button-press retractable mirrors on my last mivec, would a feature not be the likes of turbos ,LSD's, MIVEC or VTEC surly most of what's been said are more little gimmicks rather then features?

[Funk]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Tyre Tread said:

Funk said:

... It also has a light under the bonnet that comes on when you have the bonnet open and the sidelights on - no mucking about holding torches.

My 1970 Rover P5B has these!

My old Audi 80 had this, bulb had gone, thought it was a great idea (if it worked!)

I'd guess they're features that fell foul of bean-counters who realised that by not spending £1 on a light and wiring, they'd save £250,000 a year in production costs and people would still buy them but have to hold a torch instead.

It's a shame as these sorts of thoughtful design features are the ones that make you appreciate good design and arguably lead you to find better value in the brand. It shows that someone, somewhere said, "You know what? If we put an 'x' there, it'd make the driver's life so much easier.

Now all we get is an assault of nannying digital beeps, boops and bongs. God I'd love a 'MUTE ALL' button for that stuff when I'm having to drive something newer.

[Al U]

Another one I have just remembered that was very cool from my early motoring days was on my saxo VTR. It had a pin pad immobiliser in front of the gear stick like this. It meant that even if you had the keys, the engine wouldn't fire unless you entered the correct pin code. Friends would ask me if they could drive it and I would say go ahead and give them the keys, was quite funny seeing the look on their faces when it wouldn't start. Quite a cool security feature I thought although I'm sure pro's could bypass it -