Really stupid design features
Discussion
Countering the thoughtful design features thread, what have you come across in your car where you thought, "That's ridiculous, I can't believe someone thought that was acceptable..."
A couple to start; Ford Puma's boot lid - designed with the sole purpose of filling the boot with rainwater when opening in the rain.
My 123d had a handbrake you couldn't actually operate with the centre armrest down as it required your forearm to bend in the middle like a reverse elbow to reach it.
I also recently drove the latest 3-series (F-something) and the design of the door bin on the driver's side seemed to be done in such a way as to dig into your right lower leg in the most painful way possible. One of the most uncomfortable cars I've ever driven which was a shame as the rest of it was pretty good.
A couple to start; Ford Puma's boot lid - designed with the sole purpose of filling the boot with rainwater when opening in the rain.
My 123d had a handbrake you couldn't actually operate with the centre armrest down as it required your forearm to bend in the middle like a reverse elbow to reach it.
I also recently drove the latest 3-series (F-something) and the design of the door bin on the driver's side seemed to be done in such a way as to dig into your right lower leg in the most painful way possible. One of the most uncomfortable cars I've ever driven which was a shame as the rest of it was pretty good.
24lemons said:
The inside door handle on my 120d is too far forward which means that when I open it there is nothing to grab hold of to stop it swinging open. The problem is made worse by the fact that I have to sit quite far back due to my long legs.
3-door? Mine was the same. Surprisingly long doors.Wasn't the "thoughtful features" thread in response to a "stupid features" thread?
Now we have another stupid features thread in response to that one. Threadception?
Anyway. No steering wheel audio controls "because racecar". Yes, it's a much more involved driving experience having to remove my hands from the wheel, glance away from the road and feel for the volume control knob instead.
Ridiculous.
Now we have another stupid features thread in response to that one. Threadception?
Anyway. No steering wheel audio controls "because racecar". Yes, it's a much more involved driving experience having to remove my hands from the wheel, glance away from the road and feel for the volume control knob instead.
Ridiculous.
24lemons said:
Funk said:
3-door? Mine was the same. Surprisingly long doors.
yeah 3 door. The long doors also make it more awkward if you are parked close to another car as they wont open as wide. Ive stabbed myself with the corner of the window so many times trying to squeeze in and out!Sensibleboy said:
The 1 series doesn't have any boot handle so the only way of controlling the fall of the tailgate is to hold the wiper arm.
Technically it does have a boot handle (the badge flips) but I agree, it's nigh-on impossible to use that the slow the descent of the tailgate when closing.Is it just BMW that suck at design then....?
That reminds me one particularly stupid design feature. The power tailgate.
Normally - pop boot, swing it open, grab offending item, swing it shut. Job done. Takes a mere moment.
Power tailgate. Press the button, then immediately stand back as it rises, ever...so... slowly...
Grab item. Press button to close. Wait...for...it...to...close...
And if you're unlucky, it thinks it's going to trap someone, stops, and opens again. Right up there with the electronic handbrake of a shining example of technology over-complicating and ruining the most simple of tasks.
Normally - pop boot, swing it open, grab offending item, swing it shut. Job done. Takes a mere moment.
Power tailgate. Press the button, then immediately stand back as it rises, ever...so... slowly...
Grab item. Press button to close. Wait...for...it...to...close...
And if you're unlucky, it thinks it's going to trap someone, stops, and opens again. Right up there with the electronic handbrake of a shining example of technology over-complicating and ruining the most simple of tasks.
RenesisEvo said:
That reminds me one particularly stupid design feature. The power tailgate.
Power tailgate. Press the button, then immediately stand back as it rises, ever...so... slowly...
Grab item. Press button to close. Wait...for...it...to...close...
Why would you do that? When I use mine it's opening as i'm walking towards it, fully open by the time I reach it, chuck stuff in and i'm in the drivers seat as it's closing, a real bonus in the rain.Power tailgate. Press the button, then immediately stand back as it rises, ever...so... slowly...
Grab item. Press button to close. Wait...for...it...to...close...
With central locking do you walk towards your car then stand there in the rain, then find your key and then press the button?
Rain sensing wipers replace the intermittent setting on my Nissan Note. They're crap, esp. in the weak drizzle that is common this time of year. They have a sensitivity setting that doesn't help much either. So I either have the wipers going full time or I have to flick them every five seconds. I hate them and would rather have an intermittent setting with speed control.
Funk said:
Technically it does have a boot handle (the badge flips) but I agree, it's nigh-on impossible to use that the slow the descent of the tailgate when closing.
Is it just BMW that suck at design then....?
The boot release button on the key fob is also made almost completely redundant by the lack of an external handle. Press the button, the boot clicks open, but the only way to open it is to use the boot badge/handle, or grab the wiper.Is it just BMW that suck at design then....?
As a design engineer for me it's more the bodges or reworks (the engineering term) that manufacturers try and most of the time do get away with to use up part stock before a design change comes in or even worse a vehicle lifecycle solution.
My golf mk5, the plastic tweeter covers that also cover the door mirror fixings. If you look closely you could see that probably due to a window seal design change the edge of the part had been badly hand trimmed to clear the new seal.
A friends brand new circa £35k bmw 1 series, when putting my seatbelt on I noticed the strips of felt tape that had been applied to the belt latch to stop it making noise when it knocks against the seat.
My golf mk5, the plastic tweeter covers that also cover the door mirror fixings. If you look closely you could see that probably due to a window seal design change the edge of the part had been badly hand trimmed to clear the new seal.
A friends brand new circa £35k bmw 1 series, when putting my seatbelt on I noticed the strips of felt tape that had been applied to the belt latch to stop it making noise when it knocks against the seat.
The most stupid design is wishbone bushes on the polo new style, the rear wishbone bush is mounted into a ally housing, the utter part of the bush is plastic which makes it awkward to push in without breaking the plastic. That's not the worst thing though as that housing then bolts into the sub frame, the arm then fits inside the bush and slots in between the housing and subframe to secure the wishbone.
Now what do they use to secure the wishbone in yes a steel bolt which isn't bad if the housing wasn't made of ally which of course seizes solid and you cant put much heat into it as at a certain temp the ally will just melt. So they snap off on the older model then you got to drill the s out.
Also on newer a4/a6 etc the wishbone arms of which are 4 each side, the ball joint go into a ally hub with a steel bolt to secure them yes again it seizes up.
Got so many tails of retarded vag desgins I could fill a book with it, would never own a car created by them.
Now what do they use to secure the wishbone in yes a steel bolt which isn't bad if the housing wasn't made of ally which of course seizes solid and you cant put much heat into it as at a certain temp the ally will just melt. So they snap off on the older model then you got to drill the s out.
Also on newer a4/a6 etc the wishbone arms of which are 4 each side, the ball joint go into a ally hub with a steel bolt to secure them yes again it seizes up.
Got so many tails of retarded vag desgins I could fill a book with it, would never own a car created by them.
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