Weird car facts...

[Liquid Knight]

One of the yellow 2CV's used in he Bond film "For your eyes only" was stipped to a rolling chassis shot with an AK-47 and reasembled because they couldn't get realistic effects due to the inconsistanty of the metal quality and thickness. So one shot the car was driven past a camera the next car had bad guys shooting at it and the next shot of the 2CV was the riddled shell and the close ups were done on a firing range as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJp1X3qiog

[sebhaque]

Sorry for another part-sharing one, but the MG ZS was often touted as a sporty car with no Rover badges anywhere on it. Which was true, at face value, until one studied the tail lights. Which were proudly marked ROVER just above the brake lights.

New Meganes use a key card to start the car. If the card is removed from its housing during driving, the car will not shut off unless you hold the start/stop button for 5 seconds. As my housemate discovered upon after driving my car, she gave the keys to me and went inside. Only noticed the car was still running when I went for a smoke an hour later!

VX220 wipers also don't go into their up position (what you'd use if you were changing a blade or washing the car) unless the front clam is open.

BMW 1 series start-stop functions stop working if you take your seatbelt off or open a door. Really frustrating in a traffic jam when you take your belt off to put on/remove a jacket, or reach something in the back seat. When the traffic moves you pump the clutch and stare helplessly at the moving traffic until you realise what you're supposed to do.

Friend's Audi A3 requires you to lift the armrest in order to utilise the handbrake.

[va1o]

60 said:

va1o said:

That sounds like a Ford, I've never seen a VW-Group car that starts at 10mph

I'll check but I'm pretty sure its a vw corrado :lol:

Actually I take back what I said, it appears your right, the Corrado does start at 10mph

[Kiltox]

sebhaque said:

New Meganes use a key card to start the car. If the card is removed from its housing during driving, the car will not shut off unless you hold the start/stop button for 5 seconds. As my housemate discovered upon after driving my car, she gave the keys to me and went inside. Only noticed the car was still running when I went for a smoke an hour later!

If you drive without it in the car after doing this it starts beeping saying "CARD NOT PRESENT" - I don't know if it cuts power after you get so far away though.

[JoelRP]

From the bonnet backwards, the dodge charger estate and Chrysler 300C estate are exactly the same car.

[LoudV8]

BigBen said:

chris333 said:

The automatic gearbox in the R129-series Mercedes SL has two reverse gears.

Likewise in the W140 series S-Class. I don't think it will change between them like it will the forward gears, it is a one or the other selection depending on the setting on the S / W switch on the shifter. Then again I have not proved this by experiment, will try tomorrow and report back.......

So does the Jaguar XJR X308, probably the XKR as well.

[Waugh-terfall]

JoelRP said:

From the bonnet backwards, the dodge charger estate and Chrysler 300C estate are exactly the same car.

You mean a Magnum?

According to the sales girl at the VW Main Dealer I visited today, the Fox is the 3rd best in the UK for holding it's value.

[XitUp]

JoelRP said:

From the bonnet backwards, the dodge charger estate and Chrysler 300C estate are exactly the same car.

Not weird. Or interesting.

Part/platform sharing = bore off.

[BigBen]

LoudV8 said:

BigBen said:

chris333 said:

The automatic gearbox in the R129-series Mercedes SL has two reverse gears.

Likewise in the W140 series S-Class. I don't think it will change between them like it will the forward gears, it is a one or the other selection depending on the setting on the S / W switch on the shifter. Then again I have not proved this by experiment, will try tomorrow and report back.......

So does the Jaguar XJR X308, probably the XKR as well.

I had a first stab at a reverse gearchange which ended predictably with heavy braking and nearly mounting a kerb. Will try next time I am somewhere with more space....

[Skinnnnnyboy]

Is it me or does the Subaru Hatchback 2011 Spec C rear lights, look exactly the same as the Maserati Grantourismo? Or is it just me?

[LukeSi]

Skinnnnnyboy said:

Is it me or does the Subaru Hatchback 2011 Spec C rear lights, look exactly the same as the Maserati Granturismo? Or is it just me?

The Litchfield? Thats probably because they are. Maserati style rear lights are an option with the litchfield cars.

[Skinnnnnyboy]

LukeSi said:

The Litchfield? Thats probably because they are. Maserati style rear lights are an option with the litchfield cars.

Ahh I thought they were the same

[busta]

LoudV8 said:

BigBen said:

chris333 said:

The automatic gearbox in the R129-series Mercedes SL has two reverse gears.

Likewise in the W140 series S-Class. I don't think it will change between them like it will the forward gears, it is a one or the other selection depending on the setting on the S / W switch on the shifter. Then again I have not proved this by experiment, will try tomorrow and report back.......

So does the Jaguar XJR X308, probably the XKR as well.

I wish my W124 did, reversing at 20mph at 4,000rpm for a few hundred yards is frustrating.

[Lets Torque]

NERD ALERT

On the Discovery 3 & 4 Land Rover had that kink in the back window put on the right side to aid parking for LHD variants , (where there biggest market is) , but for RHD they just left the back window the same as LHD , so the kink is no help to us becuase it is directly behind us.

Pictures:

The Discovery 3




The Discovery 4



I told you i was a nerd!

Edited by Lets Torque on Thursday 31st March 20:45

[LukeSi]

Well isn't that because Americans can't park?

[davidspooner]

busta said:

oniznorb said:

some VAG group cars have non-linear speedometers. The scale above 80mph is different to the scale below.

As do lots of peugeots and fords

It's because those derv Polos can accelerate much faster when they go over 80mph and Polo drivers like consistent speedometer movement

[KennyGT]

oniznorb said:

some VAG group cars have non-linear speedometers. The scale above 80mph is different to the scale below.

I was wondering about this on the VWs at work, why do they suddenly go up in 20mph, even tho the distance is the same between points when the speed goes up in 10mph speeds?

[va1o]

I find it a bit strange for a company with such an obsessive attention to detail.

[busta]

KennyGT said:

oniznorb said:

some VAG group cars have non-linear speedometers. The scale above 80mph is different to the scale below.

I was wondering about this on the VWs at work, why do they suddenly go up in 20mph, even tho the distance is the same between points when the speed goes up in 10mph speeds?

Because 99% of the time, 99% of drivers never use the bit of the dial past 80mph. If the whole thing was the same scale, the half of the dial would be 80mph+ and the 'normal' speeds would be harder to read just for the sake of the 1% of people who spend 1% of the time doing over 100.

[pixelpimp]

Sorry, this stuff is seriously dweeby.

Jensen Intersceptor doors are the same as the Fiat 125 Samantha (Vignale)


http://www.dragtimes.com/1974-Jensen-Interceptor-P...

Maserati Biturbo and Ghibli all use Fiat 128 MK2 Saloon indicators and headlights.

As does the Ferrari 288 GTO Evo.



Maserati 3200 interior door handles are Alfa 145.
Maserati 3200 ash tray is Fiat Barchetta.

Lamborghini Miura rear lights are from a Fiat 850 Spider

(pic by kenjonbro)

Fiat 124 Spyder door handles are the same as Ferrari 400.



And finally because I've bored myself:

Harrier LR9 rear lights are Alfa 164.
(pic Peter Ward)


Apologies.