Why do French manufacturers not care?
Discussion
TwistingMyMelon said:
On the old anecdotes -
Ive driven lots of Volvo XC xxx's and could never get comfy - its like they design the seats for tall heavy people , of which im neither. I never gelled with any of the controls and as soon as you went near a corner - HOLD ON TIGHTS - ITS GONNA GET CHOPPY.
Ive driven one Renault in recent memory, maybe a new Cleo about 5 years ago, drove it up the road, hit 4k revs and got a little booast ---- a turbo on a petrol, seemed to go quite well, I quite liked it.
On the above Volvo are getting it wrong in my book
Neither of these two are any fun to drive. I think if you were buying either looking for that, you're barking up the wrong tree.Ive driven lots of Volvo XC xxx's and could never get comfy - its like they design the seats for tall heavy people , of which im neither. I never gelled with any of the controls and as soon as you went near a corner - HOLD ON TIGHTS - ITS GONNA GET CHOPPY.
Ive driven one Renault in recent memory, maybe a new Cleo about 5 years ago, drove it up the road, hit 4k revs and got a little booast ---- a turbo on a petrol, seemed to go quite well, I quite liked it.
On the above Volvo are getting it wrong in my book
Davie said:
nickfrog said:
The thing is if you rent a car abroad and drive it on unfamiliar roads the last thing you want is to not being able to use it properly so I can totally see why the audio thing was a stressful experience as it probably takes a couple of weeks to get used it and only after which you start appreciating it.
So you've managed to get to a different country, via an airport, hired a car from a local, navigated your way through non UK signage, driven it sitting on the opposite side, on the opposite of the road with all their unfamiliar traffic rules whilst listening to a non English speaking radio station... but adjusting said radio using unfamiliar controls is the last thing you want? I guess this is why people go to Spain and seek out a pub that sells Carling and steak and ale pie with chips. Most of the week's driving was spent in slow-moving traffic around Bordeaux/St-Emilion/Cap Ferret, so any stresses were easily 'drained'.
C70R said:
Far better than having buttons on the steering wheel, which aren't where you expect them to be when turning and easily pressed by mistake.
surveyor said:
We had a S60 hire car in Florida. The dash was a confusing mess. The touch screen is horrendous.
We changed it to a minivan which was superior in every way. I'd have happily have had a Renault.
Coming from a car without a touchscreen, it was my biggest worry when getting the Volvo (we picked a new one up unseen, without a test-drive, mid-lockdown).We changed it to a minivan which was superior in every way. I'd have happily have had a Renault.
The first week or so was irritating, but the physical controls (of which there are still quite a few) are very good and very well-judged, to the point that you're rarely using the screen to input on an average journey (we don't have Android/Apple).
Toltec said:
Toltec said:
C70R said:
Should spending less mean that I should just put up with a rubbish driving position?
Shouldn't a 'good enough' driving position be par for the course with all cars in 2022? Not least with one that would have cost £26k if I'd bought it new?
Most cars I have driven have driving positions you need to compromise with. Many are simply horrible in my experience, I suspect part of the reason you bought the Volvo was because the ergonomics worked for you. Shouldn't a 'good enough' driving position be par for the course with all cars in 2022? Not least with one that would have cost £26k if I'd bought it new?
So far, we've done a few 500+ mile slogs in that car, and it's been nothing but a pleasure.
My company van has the same audio controls given it's a Trafic but identifies as a Vivaro. Though I would agree the French seem a bit indifferent to the RHD options give the fuse box on said van is partially obscured by the glovebox / dashboard and thus, partially inaccessible unless you use an angle grinder. But the audio controls, I quite like them as they never move... and they're quite easy once you remember what each button does.
C70R said:
Should spending less mean that I should just put up with a rubbish driving position?
Shouldn't a 'good enough' driving position be par for the course with all cars in 2022? Not least with one that would have cost £26k if I'd bought it new?
Most cars I have driven have driving positions you need to compromise with. Many are simply horrible in my experience, I suspect part of the reason you bought the Volvo was because the ergonomics worked for you. Shouldn't a 'good enough' driving position be par for the course with all cars in 2022? Not least with one that would have cost £26k if I'd bought it new?
I drive what Renault likely considered a 'premium' car and it has one of those control stalks. Personally, I like it and have no issues using it whatsoever
I suspect many thousands of others don't either.
Compared to my daughter Focus, my previous Smax or the wifes Evoque (all with steering wheel mounted controls), its loads easier to use.
I suspect many thousands of others don't either.
Compared to my daughter Focus, my previous Smax or the wifes Evoque (all with steering wheel mounted controls), its loads easier to use.
So you didn't like the Renault kadjar, but why does that mean that French manufacturers don't care? French manufacturers are some of the most popular in Europe. I think the best selling car last year in Europe was the Clio.
We have a strange snob value in this country against French cars. For some reason we think German cars are best despite all the evidence about reliability saying otherwise.
Look up Faurecia it's a French automotive business mainly producing seats, dashboards and other parts. Owned by Peugeot I think. But they make interiors for some BMWs, mercedes and Audis! Yet here in blighty, we think the Germans have the best made interiors and the French are cheap rubbish.
We have a strange snob value in this country against French cars. For some reason we think German cars are best despite all the evidence about reliability saying otherwise.
Look up Faurecia it's a French automotive business mainly producing seats, dashboards and other parts. Owned by Peugeot I think. But they make interiors for some BMWs, mercedes and Audis! Yet here in blighty, we think the Germans have the best made interiors and the French are cheap rubbish.
C70R said:
The cherry on the cake - the button to enable cruise control is basically stuck, on its own, next to the handbrake. Just where you want it on the motorway.
Try switching between (adaptive) cruise control and speed limiter in the facelift XC40/V60/V90...Went from a button on the steering wheel to deep down into the infotainment screen.
The Peugeot 508 is a sharp looking car now. Better looking than most BMWs and a LWB version is sold in China, which the DS9 in Europe is based on, meaning something doesn't need a massive grille to sell there. It doesn't look like it comes from a company that doesn't care about design.
HelldogBE said:
C70R said:
The cherry on the cake - the button to enable cruise control is basically stuck, on its own, next to the handbrake. Just where you want it on the motorway.
Try switching between (adaptive) cruise control and speed limiter in the facelift XC40/V60/V90...Went from a button on the steering wheel to deep down into the infotainment screen.
When was the facelift? Our car is a 70 plate, and it takes two clicks of steering wheel buttons to switch between the two.
Gassing Station | French Bred | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff