Idiosyncratic features to be savoured
Discussion
Twoshoe said:
Another Citroen oddity - the rear window switches in the BX were mounted on the rear end of the console that ran between the front seats.
This is the same in the Citroen DS5. The switches are mounted vertically, when they were designed to be mounted horiztonal. Therefore to lower the window which would normally be a push-down action is a push-in action on the DS5, and to raise which of course normally would be a pull-up action is a pull backwards/slightly down action. Typical Citroen. Other DS5 quirks;
- It has two parcel shelfs with only the rear section raising, as the proportions don't allow for a full-length shelf to raise with the tailgate.
- It has three sunroofs, of which the front pair are split left/right for each front occupant and each can have their own electric blind adjusted individually from the other blind/sunroofs. Can't think of any other car with this feature, except maybe the i3.
- The rear edge of the bonnet has a concex arch (if you're stood at the front of the car looking back), opposite to the curvature of the windscreen.
- The A pillars/blending into the edges of the roof don't reach as far as the back of the car - the rear of the car above the shoulder line is all glazing.
- The rearmost side windows were manufacturers from some fancy type of resin due to the curvature required in the design, at the time it was state-of-the-art/first car to use the new technology, the tech won some high awards in the resin/materials industry. I think it's possibly the same stuff that Peugeot then used on the double-bubble RCZ roof.
A few more oddities:
Citroen DSuper 5 had a standard pattern 5-speed change but transposed to the side of the steering column.
Citroen GS had the radio-cassette where most cars have the handbrake.
Cortina Mk III had a really useful fresh-air vent in the top edge of the instrument binnacle blowing fresh air through the steering wheel into your face.
Skoda Estelle had the front 'bonnet' open sideways, but the wrong side for RHD.
VW Beetle had no de-mist fan- luckily the screen was very close for wiping.
Those cars with electric passenger mirrors and manual driver's weren't like that for our RHD convenience but for their own LHD market where the driver got the electric mirror.
Citroen DSuper 5 had a standard pattern 5-speed change but transposed to the side of the steering column.
Citroen GS had the radio-cassette where most cars have the handbrake.
Cortina Mk III had a really useful fresh-air vent in the top edge of the instrument binnacle blowing fresh air through the steering wheel into your face.
Skoda Estelle had the front 'bonnet' open sideways, but the wrong side for RHD.
VW Beetle had no de-mist fan- luckily the screen was very close for wiping.
Those cars with electric passenger mirrors and manual driver's weren't like that for our RHD convenience but for their own LHD market where the driver got the electric mirror.
FDVictor said:
Those cars with electric passenger mirrors and manual driver's weren't like that for our RHD convenience but for their own LHD market where the driver got the electric mirror.
No, they were electric-passenger in the home market, too - so that the driver can adjust both.FDVictor said:
Cortina Mk III had a really useful fresh-air vent in the top edge of the instrument binnacle blowing fresh air through the steering wheel into your face.
werent the a number of cars where the centre vents were unmolested fresh air so you could breath cool fresh air while your feet were being toastedTwoshoe said:
saaby93 said:
AndySheff said:
Sad Weevil said:
Riley Pathfinder gear lever:
Cool ! Even has a toilet roll holder on the door.66mpg said:
Twoshoe said:
saaby93 said:
AndySheff said:
Sad Weevil said:
Riley Pathfinder gear lever:
Cool ! Even has a toilet roll holder on the door._(01)_-IN1-.jpg)
The security code you could enter on my M535 E28 BMW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8dZvrpHQY
You could pick any number each and every time you turned the car off.
If you forgot the code you decided upon, from what I remember, you could simply pull a fuse or disconnect the battery for a while to reset.
Not really that secure, but kind of cool for 1985.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8dZvrpHQY
You could pick any number each and every time you turned the car off.
If you forgot the code you decided upon, from what I remember, you could simply pull a fuse or disconnect the battery for a while to reset.
Not really that secure, but kind of cool for 1985.
Evilex said:
It's nice to find someone that "understands". Thank you.
From what I've seen of the underside, it is some sort of space-frame. Certainly not a monocoque. There's enough room under the (flat) floor for another 2 66l fuel tanks! Presumably that's where the gubbins for the bi-fuel versions goes..
The criminal community also discovered that the space under the floor in a Multipla is a handy place to stash drugs and firearms! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_ce...From what I've seen of the underside, it is some sort of space-frame. Certainly not a monocoque. There's enough room under the (flat) floor for another 2 66l fuel tanks! Presumably that's where the gubbins for the bi-fuel versions goes..
Edited by j555 on Friday 31st March 08:01
Digby said:
The security code you could enter on my M535 E28 BMW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8dZvrpHQY
You could pick any number each and every time you turned the car off.
If you forgot the code you decided upon, from what I remember, you could simply pull a fuse or disconnect the battery for a while to reset.
Not really that secure, but kind of cool for 1985.
Common through most of the 90s on PSA stuff - but the code was stored in the ECU, so no easy way around a lost code. You could also set a temporary "service code" for the garage.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8dZvrpHQY
You could pick any number each and every time you turned the car off.
If you forgot the code you decided upon, from what I remember, you could simply pull a fuse or disconnect the battery for a while to reset.
Not really that secure, but kind of cool for 1985.
Better than a chip transponder immobiliser. Now, for websites, we call it two-factor authentication...
Opening quarterlight windows.
OK - most cars had them once, but they do give an aura...and perhaps a sign of more smokers being around back then.
On the MR2 there's a button to lock both doors - thus saving you leaning slightly to the left and easily reaching the passenger door. Ditto the electric window isolator switch - another button that sees little or no use whatsoever, but at least someone went to the trouble to design and implement it.
The first model Honda Jazz had the radio on/off/volume control on the right hand side of the unit - very convenient for the driver and negates the need for fiddly buttons on the steering wheel. Simple but very effective.
OK - most cars had them once, but they do give an aura...and perhaps a sign of more smokers being around back then.
On the MR2 there's a button to lock both doors - thus saving you leaning slightly to the left and easily reaching the passenger door. Ditto the electric window isolator switch - another button that sees little or no use whatsoever, but at least someone went to the trouble to design and implement it.
The first model Honda Jazz had the radio on/off/volume control on the right hand side of the unit - very convenient for the driver and negates the need for fiddly buttons on the steering wheel. Simple but very effective.
I loved the dash on my MR2 Mk1. Flip up switches on either side of the wheel for the wipers and lights, but full-beam was still on the indicator stalk. Confused the hell out of me the first time I tried to drive it at night 
Other nice little features I've had over the years...
Again in the MR2, there was a button behind the barrel to release the ignition key. Had to explain this to every garage it went to and would still get sheepish phonecalls from mechanics who couldn't get the key out.There was also a little courtesy light over the ignition barrel IIRC. My later JDM one also had a green Supercharger light on the dash, as if the frantic whining behind your head wasn't enough!
Single spoke steering wheel in my Citroen AX. You could get a good couple of inches' lateral movement without too much trouble.
Left-handed wipers and fresh-air vent in an E39 5 series. I also miss the 'lock and close all windows' functionality when using the remote key. Fresh-air dash vent was always very welcome, although having the cabin temperature sensor behind the cup-holder always turned the air-con to max cold if you put a coffee in there
Jap-spec Mk4 Supra had cloth front seats and leather rear seats...
The 'dash dim' function on new-age Imprezas has already been mentioned. My main annoyance is the standard radio stays dim, so if you have you lights on during the day you can't tell what radio station you're on!
Suicide rear doors on the Mazda RX8. I actually really like these, but there was always the potential for body damage if somebody tried to shut a front door first.
Other nice little features I've had over the years...
Again in the MR2, there was a button behind the barrel to release the ignition key. Had to explain this to every garage it went to and would still get sheepish phonecalls from mechanics who couldn't get the key out.There was also a little courtesy light over the ignition barrel IIRC. My later JDM one also had a green Supercharger light on the dash, as if the frantic whining behind your head wasn't enough!
Single spoke steering wheel in my Citroen AX. You could get a good couple of inches' lateral movement without too much trouble.
Left-handed wipers and fresh-air vent in an E39 5 series. I also miss the 'lock and close all windows' functionality when using the remote key. Fresh-air dash vent was always very welcome, although having the cabin temperature sensor behind the cup-holder always turned the air-con to max cold if you put a coffee in there
Jap-spec Mk4 Supra had cloth front seats and leather rear seats...
The 'dash dim' function on new-age Imprezas has already been mentioned. My main annoyance is the standard radio stays dim, so if you have you lights on during the day you can't tell what radio station you're on!
Suicide rear doors on the Mazda RX8. I actually really like these, but there was always the potential for body damage if somebody tried to shut a front door first.
seiben said:
Again in the MR2, there was a button behind the barrel to release the ignition key. Had to explain this to every garage it went to and would still get sheepish phonecalls from mechanics who couldn't get the key out.
Seen that alot on similar era Japanese cars, I've never understood the thinking behind it.
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