Idiosyncratic features to be savoured

[PixelpeepS3]

The tray underneath the drivers seat in my EP3 civic type R with the free branded pen - that was weird

[jayemdoubleu]

Indicator/Light stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel in my old Honda Del Sol and my old EG Civic. my Friend's Mk2 CRX was the same. I know most/all Hondas of that era were, but I never understood why.
It's a shame Honda changed it with their modern stuff. Once I retrained my brain, having it on the right felt much more natural. Left hand to steer and gear change, right hand to steer and indicate.

[Tomsk46]

Didn't the Isdera have a Periscope instead of a rear view? And also I;m fairly sure AMC Pacer has different size doors, something to do with access (or the ability to exit quickley so no one saw you in it...)

[PixelpeepS3]

Tomsk46 said:

AMC Pacer has different size doors, something to do with access (or the ability to exit quickley so no one saw you in it...)

that was the car in Wayne's world ? if so... i would love one. There are very few still in existence these days.

[W12JFD]

The fly off handbrake on the Ferrari 550 is perfectly placed on the drivers door sill - half of the time it remains in the up position, elegantly tripping you up as you exit.

[Tomsk46]

PixelpeepS3 said:

that was the car in Wayne's world ? if so... i would love one. There are very few still in existence these days.

Certainly was. Also featured in one of the later series of Wheeler Dealers, and IIRC they couldn't sell it...

[anonymous-user]

I was a small boy in 1972 and my late Dad bought one of the first Renault 5s. Bright-red, unapologetically cuboid, flush headlights and flush, integrated vertical rear-light clusters, integrated injection moulded bumpers (a first in Europe, at least), door-opening buttons instead of handles; plastic, bright interior colours; in a world still full of curvy, chrome 1960s cars, the red box on wheels looked like it had just landed from space - there was lots about it which made it emblematic of a lurid new decade and a whole world away from the recently-retired family Morris Minor ... However, the thing which has always stood out for me was the dash-mounted gear lever - something which always attracted comment (usually unfavourable) from any older person who borrowed or moved the car:

[Jakg]

jayemdoubleu said:

Indicator/Light stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel in my old Honda Del Sol and my old EG Civic. my Friend's Mk2 CRX was the same. I know most/all Hondas of that era were, but I never understood why.
It's a shame Honda changed it with their modern stuff. Once I retrained my brain, having it on the right felt much more natural. Left hand to steer and gear change, right hand to steer and indicate.

It's a Japanese thing, makes a lot more sense for an RHD car.

[jayemdoubleu]

Jakg said:

jayemdoubleu said:

Indicator/Light stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel in my old Honda Del Sol and my old EG Civic. my Friend's Mk2 CRX was the same. I know most/all Hondas of that era were, but I never understood why.
It's a shame Honda changed it with their modern stuff. Once I retrained my brain, having it on the right felt much more natural. Left hand to steer and gear change, right hand to steer and indicate.

It's a Japanese thing, makes a lot more sense for an RHD car.

That's exactly what I thought! I guess it was more common amongst Japanese manufacturers because their primary market was RHD?

[saaby93]

jayemdoubleu said:

Jakg said:

jayemdoubleu said:

Indicator/Light stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel in my old Honda Del Sol and my old EG Civic. my Friend's Mk2 CRX was the same. I know most/all Hondas of that era were, but I never understood why.
It's a shame Honda changed it with their modern stuff. Once I retrained my brain, having it on the right felt much more natural. Left hand to steer and gear change, right hand to steer and indicate.

It's a Japanese thing, makes a lot more sense for an RHD car.

That's exactly what I thought! I guess it was more common amongst Japanese manufacturers because their primary market was RHD?

Back in the day indicators were always on the right stalk in RHD British cars.
Since Japan is also RHD and manufacturing was largely set up with help by the Brits why wouldnt the indictaors be on the right? If you get a Jap import theyre still there
It's only since joining Euroland that indicators in the UK changed sides

[AW111]

JimbobVFR said:

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

Snap.
I have a 4wd Mitsubishi van. Mid engined awd 2-seater. For quick access the passenger seat hinges up with the engine cover, but anything more than checking the oil requires removing the drivers seat and another access panel.

My 1986 MR2 :
Pop up headlights.
Boot front & rear.
Wiper and light switches on a pod either side of the wheel.

[blongs]

Spare wheel in the engine bay....and forward tilt bonnet...the Volvo 340



I think the Fiat Panda Mk1 had the spare in the engine bay too.

[Jex]

Can't get second gear when the engine/gearbox is cold - many older Ferraris

[wildcat45]

sebhaque said:

I can confirm that they kept the no wash/wipe feature through to the TF. I had a rather sheddy 2004 TF and at first I just thought it was broken - until one day I was at a petrol station next to another TF and asked if his wipers went off when he washed his windscreen. He chuckled and said I was the third person to ask him that, and no, the cars don't automatically wash/wipe. I actually quite appreciated the feature, if I washed my windscreen at a standstill I only needed two wipes to clear the fluid away. At speed it may take a few more due to the streaks from the air resistance, but it was nice being able to control it. Particularly when the salt came out and sometimes I just needed a spray of water and a single wipe to clear the screen, rather than smearing the salt everywhere as is more common.

The fuel nozzle issue didn't transfer over though, although my car must have had a new (used?) cap at some point as I had two different MG-branded keys for it. One for the ignition and locks, another for the filler cap.

My 03 TF had these features.

There is a knack of filling up. After owning five over the last decade I have got it down to a fine art so I don't look too silly.

[Icehanger]

[/quote]

One of the VW Transporter variants has odd door mirrors; one being portrait and the other landscape.
[/quote]


LHD Golf IV had odd mirrors too.
[/quote]

Didn't the BMW M1 have the wing mirrors located at different points for an unimpeded view of the road during cornering or something?

My B8 Audi S4 didn't have a dipstick for checking the oil level, this had to be done by fulfilling certain criteria and going in through the MMI which was a ludicrous, stupid exercise resulting in technology for the sake of technology. The same supercharged V6 engine was offered elsewhere in the Audi range with a dipstick but Audi wouldn't sell me one "because it's not on the parts BOM for the S4". I never understood why they did this.

Edited by Orange Rocket on Tuesday 28th March 10:07

[/quote]

My Audi is the same, what's annoying is it still has a Dip Stick tube but Audi wont sell me a stick either

[feef]

With all the references to the 2CV, I'm surprised noone has mentioned the windscreen washer.
It's not a powered pump, but a manual, thumb-operated pump that masquerades as a button on the dash.

Want a more powerful squirt? Just have to push harder/faster

[Spannerski]

My 72 Chevy Impala had the fuel cap behind the reg plate.
I wish the seller had told me, took 10 mins to find it.

[designforlife]

How about the integral umbrella holder on the old Nissan Pulsar?

[Turbobanana]

saaby93 said:

jayemdoubleu said:

Jakg said:

jayemdoubleu said:

Indicator/Light stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel in my old Honda Del Sol and my old EG Civic. my Friend's Mk2 CRX was the same. I know most/all Hondas of that era were, but I never understood why.
It's a shame Honda changed it with their modern stuff. Once I retrained my brain, having it on the right felt much more natural. Left hand to steer and gear change, right hand to steer and indicate.

It's a Japanese thing, makes a lot more sense for an RHD car.

That's exactly what I thought! I guess it was more common amongst Japanese manufacturers because their primary market was RHD?

Back in the day indicators were always on the right stalk in RHD British cars.
Since Japan is also RHD and manufacturing was largely set up with help by the Brits why wouldnt the indictaors be on the right? If you get a Jap import theyre still there
It's only since joining Euroland that indicators in the UK changed sides

Hyundais had this while I was selling them (up to 2010), although they too were becoming Europeanised by then and started to change to the left.

Also had their fuel fillers on the left hand side, which was great at the pumps because you could drive up to the side nobody else went to.

Also re old Saabs: the ability to plug in a fuse to switch on DLRs - very modern.

[Mr225]

My Superb has an umbrella in the door, it wants to be a Roller when its older......

Sadly, I don't let anyone use it as I don't want to get it wet.