Ford...impressed...
Discussion
So having spent a lifetime in german made/branded cars, my friend had been given a new Ford Fiesta to drive - which i also went in.
2 things really impressed me...
1) absolutely love the 'de-ice' windscreen button......thick layer of ice on the windscreen? Not an issue, start the car, press the magic button and within 30 seconds the screen is clear
2) no petrol cap - fantastic not having to faff about unscrewing a petrol cap...just stick the nozzle straight into the special input adaptor and that's it
Genuinely walked away wishing that the likes of Porsche and BMW would offer this (i've not seen it on their cars?)?..if I could retrofit onto my cars I would.
Great ideas from Ford and it does make a difference - so a well done to them...something I din't think I would ever find myself saying!!!
2 things really impressed me...
1) absolutely love the 'de-ice' windscreen button......thick layer of ice on the windscreen? Not an issue, start the car, press the magic button and within 30 seconds the screen is clear
2) no petrol cap - fantastic not having to faff about unscrewing a petrol cap...just stick the nozzle straight into the special input adaptor and that's it
Genuinely walked away wishing that the likes of Porsche and BMW would offer this (i've not seen it on their cars?)?..if I could retrofit onto my cars I would.
Great ideas from Ford and it does make a difference - so a well done to them...something I din't think I would ever find myself saying!!!
steve singh said:
1) absolutely love the 'de-ice' windscreen button......thick layer of ice on the windscreen? Not an issue, start the car, press the magic button and within 30 seconds the screen is clear
Quickclear windscreens - handy aren't they? I had one back on a Granada in 1986. . . . . . 
Yes it's true; there are undoubtedly some good ideas coming out of Ford at the moment. However, it's a bit hit-and-miss - I haven't been a fan of some of the recent 'driver aid' technologies (e.g. speed limit sign recognition & auto high beam) that have come on the new Focus. Granted, they're not Ford-specific, but there we go.
Just so that this post isn't overwhelmingly negative, for the record I have always been a massive fan of the Quickclear screen and still can't quite believe how long it's been around. Even if older examples are now starting to go slightly 'stripy', I love the fact you can still get into an Orion from the late '80s and get the screen clear faster than you can in some modern, top-of-the-range luxury cars!
Just so that this post isn't overwhelmingly negative, for the record I have always been a massive fan of the Quickclear screen and still can't quite believe how long it's been around. Even if older examples are now starting to go slightly 'stripy', I love the fact you can still get into an Orion from the late '80s and get the screen clear faster than you can in some modern, top-of-the-range luxury cars!
Chrisw666 said:
If only Ford could see fit to try adding a left foot rest and cruise control in lesser (I.e. not Mondeo size up or top spec) models and slightly less cheap looking dashboards they'd crack it.
I can't recall if there's a footrest or not, but the wife's 2011 Focus Zetec has cruise that works very well. It was also available in the Fiesta that she looked at, but that was a higher spec model.
k all in front either cuprabob said:
...and quite a lot of the German manufacturers don't build their cars in Germany.
Hence why i also used the word brand alongside made...after the debacle of porsche and the discussion of moving manufacturing plants to china i'm acutely aware of the flight to cheaper production centres that has occured over the past few decades in line with the ever increasing globalisation of product/proposition construction and delivery. Back to the point i hand - i never realised the windscreen technology being discussed was around i the 80s...i understand Ford hold the license to this...wonder if BMW will ever purchase a license fom them...
Edited by steve singh on Wednesday 5th December 22:53
Frances The Mute said:
Have you actually driven it?
Out of all of the things that are so bad about that car, I find it hard that you can be swayed so easily by these two features.
Maybe my finger just isn't on the pulse...
I've driven it and it's a ford so does what i expected...Out of all of the things that are so bad about that car, I find it hard that you can be swayed so easily by these two features.
Maybe my finger just isn't on the pulse...
...the point is not that i'm going to sell my 996 and m3 to buy one, more so i really liked these innovations (though i'm being educated this was around earlier and other manufacturers are utilising it) and was surprised that it was beng delivered by ford as opposed to mercedes (as an example)...in a way these so called lesser manufacturers can keep pushing the more prestige brands through this type of evolution...fingers crossed!
Eta: one thing a few cars are starting to do is light up the dashboard when it wants you to change gear - on the fiesta this was around 2k revs...got quite intrusive after a while...though perhaps people get used to it...
Edited by steve singh on Wednesday 5th December 23:00
I don't think anyone ever buys a Ford for the quick clear screen, yet everyone raves about how good they are (I had it in my old Focus Ebony). Ford should have licensed it out for use more than they did. But I hear the patent they have for it is expiring, so it'll probably be everywhere within a few years!*
- or you could use a bottle of lukewarm water which has the same effect in about the same time.
Baryonyx said:
I don't think anyone ever buys a Ford for the quick clear screen, yet everyone raves about how good they are (I had it in my old Focus Ebony). Ford should have licensed it out for use more than they did. But I hear the patent they have for it is expiring, so it'll probably be everywhere within a few years!*
No way - this was far less hassle then getting water, emptying this over the windscreen, repeat as you didn't have enough water, jump into the car to put the wipers on and then find in that time it's refreezed!!!- or you could use a bottle of lukewarm water which has the same effect in about the same time.
Plus when you're in a hotel it makes life a lot easier!
Ps apologies for any missing letters/typos - i blame the ipad!
Edited by steve singh on Wednesday 5th December 23:05
steve singh said:
2 things really impressed me...
1) absolutely love the 'de-ice' windscreen button......thick layer of ice on the windscreen? Not an issue, start the car, press the magic button and within 30 seconds the screen is clear
2) no petrol cap - fantastic not having to faff about unscrewing a petrol cap...just stick the nozzle straight into the special input adaptor and that's it
I keep getting one as a courtesy car and those features are indeed nice. They're completely intolerable to drive though.1) absolutely love the 'de-ice' windscreen button......thick layer of ice on the windscreen? Not an issue, start the car, press the magic button and within 30 seconds the screen is clear
2) no petrol cap - fantastic not having to faff about unscrewing a petrol cap...just stick the nozzle straight into the special input adaptor and that's it
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