Little touches that you appreciate.

[sebhaque]

Not talking about some lass copping a feel.

What are some little details in a car that make you think the manufacturer has put some thought behind the design? Here are my experiences:

Standard radios, for example, with auxiliary/USB inputs are a nice addition. A lot of people use USB sticks or iPods etc to play music in their car, and it's nice for a manufacturer to add it to the standard spec list.

The "reverse wipe" function, where if you have the wipers activated and select reverse, the rear wiper automatically fires off a few times to clear the rear screen is nice.

One from TG, the dashboard buttons in a Range Rover. Made nice and chunky so you can press the correct one while wearing gloves.

Ever seen a 1 series with badly aligned (non-HID) headlights? Whenever you activate the headlights, they calibrate themselves - that is, they sweep all the way down, and back up to the correct level. Self-levelling headlights, if you would. Looks quite smart and it's great for seeing not only what's in front, but the road directly ahead of you (so you can avoid potholes etc).

Guessing a few PHers will have interesting anecdotes to share.

[greeneggsnsam]

I was always a fan of the volume buttons being on the steering wheel. Rev counter needles that light up are also brilliant despite having no real purpose.

[lordlee]

The one touch indicators on my Audi cab were a boon. One touch between motorway lanes meant a cheeky three flashes. Small but great detail.

[poing]

Bluetooth being built in. The other half has it in her car and I can stream music from my iphone to it but if someone calls it instantly pauses the music and lets me take the call with just 1 finger press on the stalk control. It also works with the Spotify app and still lets me change track etc with the controls on the stalk and the icing on the cake is that you turn the car off to go into a shop, get back in the car and it starts off exactly where it left off.

Why can't all tech just work that easily and smoothly!

Got to say another thing I like is climate control, just set the temp and leave everything on auto and let it sort itself out. Works perfectly.

[George H]

In the Aston I love the little lights in the door handles, really little touch, but really useful. I also really like how the capheads holding the handles on the inside of the door are exposed.

The backwards rev counter is a nice touch too.

[andy43]

My OH has a New Beetle. Little touches?
Like starting first time, a boot that opens on the press of a button, a fuel filler flap that flaps only when required, and a sunroof that lets in sun without the rain, all those would be things an owner of a modern automobile could appreciate. One would imagine.
Oh.
Wait.
It has a small plastic vessel in the dash for biros and flowers.

[wackojacko]

Not being able to turn off the TC or stability management program at all unless you wire a switch in or completely by pass the ABS TC and SMP with a Tech 2 ...... GM were thinking Safety first, Nice touch.

[sebhaque]

Good stuff guys, keep sharing.

George H said:

In the Aston I love the little lights in the door handles, really little touch, but really useful. I also really like how the capheads holding the handles on the inside of the door are exposed.

The backwards rev counter is a nice touch too.

Are the lights under the door handles? I've not seen an Aston with them! My 1er has the same, little lights under the handle, very nice little touch and they also look gorgeous.

ETA: Good to see an ME getting a good wedge

Edited by sebhaque on Wednesday 21st December 01:22

[George H]

sebhaque said:

Are the lights under the door handles? I've not seen an Aston with them! My 1er has the same, little lights under the handle, very nice little touch and they also look gorgeous.

ETA: Good to see an ME getting a good wedge

The 2 little lines on it are the lights, have to push on them to open the door.

More of a design engineer now than ME but thanks

[adsvx220]

On some TVR's the speedo and rev counter flick round and makes starting the car into a start sequence type thing quite a good touch to show your mates.

And when I changed from an old mini to an astra it was nice to have a car that opened on a freezing morning and actually start.

[Classic Grad 98]

Damped interior drop handles (the ones on the head linings)
Stereo which decreases volume when you engage reverse (and the rear wiper thing alredy mentioned)
Extra 12v sockets in the rear/ boot area (for the cooler/laptop charger)
Foot rests

[sebhaque]

George H said:

pic
The 2 little lines on it are the lights, have to push on them to open the door.

More of a design engineer now than ME but thanks

Nice little touch, thanks for sharing! I am hankering after an AMV8 myself, no doubt George will be here in the morning to tell me it's a bad idea and to go for a CSL!

Design - the antichrist to me, a supportability engineer! You don't work in aerospace, do you?

[Acheron]

Cupholders that pop out. Seriously, how hard is it to make this;



Instead, most manufacturers deem this to be a cupholder fit for purpose;

[George H]

sebhaque said:

Nice little touch, thanks for sharing! I am hankering after an AMV8 myself, no doubt George will be here in the morning to tell me it's a bad idea and to go for a CSL!

Design - the antichrist to me, a supportability engineer! You don't work in aerospace, do you?

Yep I work on the JSF airframe, and also do some ME work on Pratt and Whitney blades and blisks.

Definitely an AMV8 over a CSL any day!

[carlove]

Acheron said:

Cupholders that pop out. Seriously, how hard is it to make this;



Instead, most manufacturers deem this to be a cupholder fit for purpose;

Definitely agree, the cup-holders in my old 9-5 were amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4lbV5eGuJ8

Edited by carlove on Monday 23 May 23:23

[Fartgalen]

I like radio auto-volume. Where the volume increases a little as the speed of the car increases.

[sebhaque]

George H said:

Yep I work on the JSF airframe, and also do some ME work on Pratt and Whitney blades and blisks.

Definitely an AMV8 over a CSL any day!

You have mail

[Mr E]

I think this thread is not for me...

[wackojacko]

George H said:

Definitely an AMV8 over a CSL any day!

Aesthetics - AMV8 just about wins over the CSL

Driving pleasure - CSL all day long !

Test Drive a CSL you'll be hooked.

[steve_bmw]

I like the red led's in the headlining that illuminate the interior on my z4 and the way that the stereo gets louder the the faster you go.