Idiosyncratic features to be savoured
Discussion
rodericb said:
66mpg said:
Another Alfasud oddity: two bonnet release systems. Because Alfasuds had two bulkheads in the engine bay: the regular one that separated engine bay from passenger cabin and a supplementary bulkhead about a foot further forward that separated the engine from the battery, heater and brake servo and the catch was mounted on the
Is extra bulkhead. If the cable breaks you would be unable to reach the catch with tools from outside to open it. The Alfa solution was a second link: a piece of nylon line terminated in the glovebox with a ring to put your finger in. This was your get out of jail card to regain access to the engine bay to fix the cable.
Alfettas had that emergency fishing line with rubber hoop thing too.Is extra bulkhead. If the cable breaks you would be unable to reach the catch with tools from outside to open it. The Alfa solution was a second link: a piece of nylon line terminated in the glovebox with a ring to put your finger in. This was your get out of jail card to regain access to the engine bay to fix the cable.
feef said:
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
Manual screenwash used to be common.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
Dyanes had it on a floor-mount squidger. Ami 8s were posh - it was electric, but it was "one-shot", rather than continuous.
Mound Dawg said:
Alfa 75, ooh, where to start...
Handbrake lever like a suitcase handle.
Window switches up by the rear view mirror.
But the best one-
Rear mounted gearbox and clutch, De Dion rear axle and limited slip diff that give monumental traction and let you to blast out of corners like a Group B Quattro.
yeah and to add to that.... you couldn't operate the stereo when the car was in first third of fifth gear Handbrake lever like a suitcase handle.
Window switches up by the rear view mirror.
But the best one-
Rear mounted gearbox and clutch, De Dion rear axle and limited slip diff that give monumental traction and let you to blast out of corners like a Group B Quattro.
mac96 said:
Alfa must have bought a very big reel of fishing line- the fuel filler flap in the 156 Sportwagon had the same emergency opening mechanism for when the cable from the drivers seat broke(bound to happen some time!)
And the boot release for the 75. doesn't have the dashboard briefcase though, that was the 90. The glovebox is a slide out drawer on the 75... More stupidity. 
Jimmy Recard said:
He's worried that the integrated umbrella will excite anyone who uses it
I drive a Skoda. I am not in imminent danger of exciting anyone, ever. 
If my passengers ever found out about the retractable rain shelter in the door, I am not sure I would want to be responsible for the resultant exhilaration. And that's before they discover the Twin Boot..........
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Most LHD VAG stuff from the 80s-00s have unequal size mirrors.
It just didnt translate to all the RHD variants most PH'ers are used to.
It just didnt translate to all the RHD variants most PH'ers are used to.
I believe it was the same on the Lupo. This was to allow the blind spot mirror on the driver side.
Speedometer on the Fabia Vrs
10mph increments up to 90mph and 20mph increments after.
Edited by Greza on Tuesday 28th March 22:34
Vauxhalls Quick release clutch FW drive cars only.1980 -1993 Astras, Corsa, Novas and Cavaliers
Disconnect clutch cable.
Remove a plug from the end of the gearbox, undo a cirlcip and insert a small bolt.
Remove a plate from under the car to undo the clutch bolts.
Pull on the bolt and the gearbox input shaft slid out and the clutch fell out, you can then change the thrust bearing as well and remove the release arm.
All without having to remove the gearbox or undo driveshafts.
When working on Police cars they could go thru a clutch in under 5,000 miles. We got so good at them that one person could do one in 20 - 30 mins.
Vauxhall changed this circa 1993 when the Cav mk5 came along. Said it was to do with smoother engine running. You had to remove the engine and gearbox to do the clutch if I remember !!!
Disconnect clutch cable.
Remove a plug from the end of the gearbox, undo a cirlcip and insert a small bolt.
Remove a plate from under the car to undo the clutch bolts.
Pull on the bolt and the gearbox input shaft slid out and the clutch fell out, you can then change the thrust bearing as well and remove the release arm.
All without having to remove the gearbox or undo driveshafts.
When working on Police cars they could go thru a clutch in under 5,000 miles. We got so good at them that one person could do one in 20 - 30 mins.
Vauxhall changed this circa 1993 when the Cav mk5 came along. Said it was to do with smoother engine running. You had to remove the engine and gearbox to do the clutch if I remember !!!
Mr225 said:
My mate had a Seat Malaga, on a 'G' plate as I recall. Quirky is the word I would use to describe it. It had many odd things about it, like the spare wheel under the bonnet but the thing that always stood out was the dashboard. It was as if the Seat designers looked at every possible switch and stalk, couldn't decide which one to use, so used one of everything. It looked like an Early Learning Centre 'my first car' effort. Rocker switch for the indicators and a slider for the wipers, if I recall correctly..........
The Malaga was a booted version of the Fiat Strada. Not to be confused with the Fiat Regatta, Fiat's own booted version of the Strada... which was a separate design as the Fiat / Seat partnership had been broken up by this time.Anyway, it means that the Malaga had a Fiat Strada dash... the only thing worse than a Strada dash is a Strada dash made from cheaper materials by Spaniards.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff