Features on cars that you no longer see but you miss
Discussion
Roof consoles with lots of switches, digital clock, warning lights etc. I remember an uncles Colt Sapporo with a very cool roof console and I liked the Mk2 Granada's array of warning lights over the interior mirror. Alfa 75 window switches 
An honourable mention to the current DS5. Very cool.
An honourable mention to the current DS5. Very cool.
Orange front indicator lenses. Easier to see from most angles and different weather conditions than an orange bulb in a clear lens.
Front indicators separate from the headlamp and preferably at the corner of the car, not hidden away in the inward edge of the headlamp.
Manual handbrakes. None of this electric nonsense.
A proper spare wheel. All very well having a spacesaver, but you still have a full size wheel to try and store once you've changed it. And a can of gunk isn't much good if the tyre is shredded or wheel buckled.
A temperature gauge, not just a light that comes on when it's too late.
Non colour coded door mirrors and bumpers. They do look odd now, but at least the car didn't have to go to a paintshop to get a new mirror.
Front indicators separate from the headlamp and preferably at the corner of the car, not hidden away in the inward edge of the headlamp.
Manual handbrakes. None of this electric nonsense.
A proper spare wheel. All very well having a spacesaver, but you still have a full size wheel to try and store once you've changed it. And a can of gunk isn't much good if the tyre is shredded or wheel buckled.
A temperature gauge, not just a light that comes on when it's too late.
Non colour coded door mirrors and bumpers. They do look odd now, but at least the car didn't have to go to a paintshop to get a new mirror.
AH33 said:
Whitean3 said:
light weight and simplicity- being able to manage simple maintenance tasks without having to go to a main dealer to change a light bulb for example!
Yep, you'd think it would be a 2 min job to change the headlight on.... oh, i dont know, a Vauxhall Corsa? Or at least you wouldn't need tools, surely?Nope!
EnglishTony said:
Vaud said:
No it isn't. It's making a balanced call for survival cell vs visibility by lots and lots of people with a lot of data, engineering experience and years of experience.
Use a better grade of steel and make thinner. It's what the customer wants OpulentBob said:
Screen squirters by a floor mounted foot pump (Ford).
Fuel caps hidden behind the rear reg plate (Merc).
Little lights in the key to find the keyhole with (Ford).
Opening quarterlights (Pretty much anything pre-1980).
so manual screen washers ? with regard to foot squirts ? choice between foot washer / foot dip / foot (loud) horn which would you go for ...Fuel caps hidden behind the rear reg plate (Merc).
Little lights in the key to find the keyhole with (Ford).
Opening quarterlights (Pretty much anything pre-1980).
the little lights to find the key hole reflects the 80s / 90s prevalance of key operated central locking surely , vis the 'active' RF or proximity solutions in current use ...
Gad-Westy said:
I feel like a right luddite typing this but I cannot stand touchscreens or touch sensitive buttons in cars. I can see their use for satnav but I hate having to adjust the radio or climate functions or anything else with them. Totally unergonomic and distracting. Radios should have rotary knobs. They were a great solution and still are.
<snip>
makes a lot of sense , even if the rotary control is a continuously variable pot to allow wheel controls as well for ICE <snip>
HVAC - dials far better as give some sort of feedback
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