Annoying but unimportant features on cars

[RobM77]

otolith said:

One of my cars does the three flashes thing. The other two don't. It's the one I drive most. I often find myself trying to do it on the other cars, which is irritating.

I've never understood the three flashes mode that so many cars come with; surely it's encouraging bad driving?

[300bhp/ton]

Gary C said:

piped noise

I don't get the hatred for this. Is there general lack of understanding on what it is and how it works?

[Pica-Pica]

RobM77 said:

otolith said:

One of my cars does the three flashes thing. The other two don't. It's the one I drive most. I often find myself trying to do it on the other cars, which is irritating.

I've never understood the three flashes mode that so many cars come with; surely it's encouraging bad driving?

Many cars do the three flashes. Skoda does it, but BMW can be adjusted for longer.
Bad driving? That is down to the driver. If you need longer than three flashes, either go past the click, or hold the lever up - it only requires a slight effort on just one finger.

If I am indicating for the car behind only, 3 flashes is probably enough. If I am indicating for the car in front, I use more. If I am passing a convoy of trucks on a two-later, I leave my indicator going until I am at the ‘leader’. I believe some truck drivers have poor ability to judge speed and nearness of approaching cars that are overtaking.

[RobM77]

Pica-Pica said:

RobM77 said:

otolith said:

One of my cars does the three flashes thing. The other two don't. It's the one I drive most. I often find myself trying to do it on the other cars, which is irritating.

I've never understood the three flashes mode that so many cars come with; surely it's encouraging bad driving?

Many cars do the three flashes. Skoda does it, but BMW can be adjusted for longer.
Bad driving? That is down to the driver. If you need longer than three flashes, either go past the click, or hold the lever up - it only requires a slight effort on just one finger.

Exactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

[300bhp/ton]

RobM77 said:

Pica-Pica said:

RobM77 said:

otolith said:

One of my cars does the three flashes thing. The other two don't. It's the one I drive most. I often find myself trying to do it on the other cars, which is irritating.

I've never understood the three flashes mode that so many cars come with; surely it's encouraging bad driving?

Many cars do the three flashes. Skoda does it, but BMW can be adjusted for longer.
Bad driving? That is down to the driver. If you need longer than three flashes, either go past the click, or hold the lever up - it only requires a slight effort on just one finger.

Exactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

I'm not defending it. But suspect the Use Case is along the lines of, you don't need to hold the stick in position for momentary activation, thus allowing both hands fully on the wheel. And unlike switching the indicator on fully, removes the risk of it being left on by accident.

[scottygib553]

The Park Assist on my Golf sometimes freaks out in traffic if a car approaches from behind or else doesn't disengage once I have pulled away from a parking space. A single dash button solves this but still......give me a break, Golf!

[MGJ2]

Volkswagen:
acc with a sensor that does not work in the rain.
acc in general
front assist
lane departure warning

I hate my T-roc....

[Tom_Spotley_When]

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Overtaking a slow moving car on a relatively empty dual carriageway. No-one behind, but a quick courtesy click to overtake, click to move back in.

Job done.

[scottygib553]

MGJ2 said:

Volkswagen:
acc with a sensor that does not work in the rain.
acc in general
front assist
lane departure warning

I hate my T-roc....

I like the ACC on my Golf. I wonder if the extra height (even if it is only a few CMs) of the T-Roc causes problems.

[Munter]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Overtaking a slow moving car on a relatively empty dual carriageway. No-one behind, but a quick courtesy click to overtake, click to move back in.

Job done.

The way I was taught there are supposed to be 2 flashes before you start to move lane, so the other drivers have time to register you really are indicating. Leaving you with the time of one flash to get all the way into the other lane. Which isn't enough. You'd look like you'd cancelled the indication, then done the move.

(I suspect this topic is a whole separate thread in itself)

[RicksAlfas]

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

I believe you can turn it off in I-Drive if you don't like it.
Think it's called one touch signal or similar.

[RobM77]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Overtaking a slow moving car on a relatively empty dual carriageway. No-one behind, but a quick courtesy click to overtake, click to move back in.

Job done.

Empty apart from the motorbike hanging in your blind spot that you haven't seen?.. Being in the wrong doesn't mean they deserve to headbutt tarmac at 70mph. Truth is, nobody's observation is perfect, which is why signalling exists in the first place; it's a safety net in case you screw up in your observation that the road is "relatively empty" - we've all done it.

As stated above; two flashes whilst people around you work out what's about to happen leaves one flash for the manoeuvre, which isn't enough.

[otolith]

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Typically, before the exit of a small-ish roundabout.

[RobM77]

otolith said:

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Typically, before the exit of a small-ish roundabout.

Good point - that's definitely an application. I don't think the situations are common enough to warrant such a feature though? Certainly not when balanced against the idiots who think three flashes is sufficient in other circumstances.

[Tom_Spotley_When]

RobM77 said:

Tom_Spotley_When said:

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Overtaking a slow moving car on a relatively empty dual carriageway. No-one behind, but a quick courtesy click to overtake, click to move back in.

Job done.

Empty apart from the motorbike hanging in your blind spot that you haven't seen?.. Being in the wrong doesn't mean they deserve to headbutt tarmac at 70mph. Truth is, nobody's observation is perfect, which is why signalling exists in the first place; it's a safety net in case you screw up in your observation that the road is "relatively empty" - we've all done it.

As stated above; two flashes whilst people around you work out what's about to happen leaves one flash for the manoeuvre, which isn't enough.

The 30,000 miles I did in my BMW with the three flash thing left motorcyclists the length and breadth of the land terrified; fighting for their lives each time I dared to not indicate 4 times when overtaking someone.

I suspect it's one of those things that is only really thought about by people who overthink driving.

[otolith]

RobM77 said:

otolith said:

RobM77 said:

xactly my point. What's the point of the three flashes mode? Indicators should be switched on before a manoeuvre, with sufficient warning for others to know what you're aiming to do next, and then left on during the manoeuvre. Almost always that means more than three flashes, so what's the point of three flashes? I can't think of any sequence that can be safely completed within the time three flashes gives you.

Typically, before the exit of a small-ish roundabout.

Good point - that's definitely an application. I don't think the situations are common enough to warrant such a feature though? Certainly not when balanced against the idiots who think three flashes is sufficient in other circumstances.

No, I would not spec it out of choice. It's just something that you get used to the car doing, and then have to forget again when you drive one that doesn't do it.

[Rawwr]

Given that most people only put their indicator on as they're making their manoeuvre, the idea of seeing three flashes seems like a relative luxury.

[JuanGandini]

Start/Stop in my Octavia vRS DSG. In traffic it cuts the engine when I've not even reached a standstill. Very annoying if I'm crawling along and then see a gap I want to go for as it causes a delay before I'm on my way.

Also the stupid driving modes. I don't need eco mode, and even sport mode doesn't have a pronounced difference to 'normal' unless I also select sport gearbox mode to improve the throttle response. The modes on my old M135i were much more distinct and effective in changing the driving experience.

[ian_uk1975]

Scrolling indicators.

Serve absolutely no purpose, except making them cripplingly expensive to fix when the ECU controlling them goes bang.

PS. Also totally agree about the 3-flashes thing that most cars do when nudging the indicator stalk. I typically use 5-7 flashes for most lane-change manoeuvres.

[mrbarnett]

Alfahol Addict said:

'Eco'-button and 'city steering'. Both seen in low powered Fiat city cars with light steering, e.g. Panda and 500. I don't want even lower power and lighter steering, more the opposite in fact. That being said, I still love them.

Edited by Alfahol Addict on Friday 15th March 09:47

The Panda 100HP replaced this with a Sport button that weighted the steering and removed 90% of the throttle travel. Without the Sport mode engaged, the steering is about as light as I've ever experienced; I imagine the steering when using the City mode on cooking models could be blown around in the breeze!