Strange handle found in courtesy car

[Hammerhead]

Got given a courtesy car this morning (VW Polo, engine - it has one, just). Seems to have an strange handle inside - not sure what it's for..



I even had to put the key in the door to unlock it and lock it!

All this manual work, I'm exhausted

[eybic]

I think that is to do with cleaning, when the window gets covered in saliva, turn the handle it is like a wiper blade and clears the window for you.

[Garlick]

Go on, admit it. It's fun to drive I bet.

[sebhaque]

I'm sure I heard somewhere that it's now cheaper to make electric windows as opposed to manuals. Mind you, windys save weight, hence why my VX has them. And I also have to turn the key to lock/unlock the doors individually.

[anonymous-user]

eybic said:

I think that is to do with cleaning, when the window gets covered in saliva

[Gad-Westy]

sebhaque said:

I'm sure I heard somewhere that it's now cheaper to make electric windows as opposed to manuals. Mind you, windys save weight, hence why my VX has them. And I also have to turn the key to lock/unlock the doors individually.

I believe it is generally cheaper to fit electric windows than keep fit windows. I think manufacturers hope they will coin money in because customers are happy to pay a little more for the upgrade to electric so manufacturer gets more money but it actually costs them less. This used to be the case with radio cassettes vs. CD players as well and doubtless many other things.

As for the weight thing, I think that may be an urban myth. On the S2 Elise, electric windows are lighter than the windy ones overall. I guess the same would be true for the VX (was there even an electric option? I have no idea). On the plus side I always felt safer in the knowledge that my Elise had as few electrics to go wrong as possible!

[BelperJim]

From Sniffpetrol via Twitter last Thursday:

"Sitting in the DACIA DUSTER. What the hell does this windy thing do?"

[HellDiver]

Could be worse, could be like a few of our older fleet cars, where there's only a hole in the door card where the handle used to be.

[Hammerhead]

Ahhhhh, so that's what it's for!

So do you VX/Elise drivers have a high incidence of RSI type strain injuries? Hope not

Fun? I wouldn't call it that, but it does have a nice 3 cyl snarl when thrashed driven gently back to the office.

[Balmoral Green]

Is it the 'David Lloyd' special edition, with the keep fit windows?

[mikefacel]

BelperJim said:

From Sniffpetrol via Twitter last Thursday:

"Sitting in the DACIA DUSTER. What the hell does this windy thing do?"

Crank/starter handle probably.

[Balmoral Green]

Salad spinner?

[sebhaque]

Hammerhead said:

Ahhhhh, so that's what it's for!

So do you VX/Elise drivers have a high incidence of RSI type strain injuries? Hope not

Fun? I wouldn't call it that, but it does have a nice 3 cyl snarl when thrashed driven gently back to the office.

Haha, my arms haven't dropped off yet, although windy windows make for a good game of seat swimming when rolling them back up again.

Always liked the fizzy sound of a 3cyl. I was given a Polo like yours (with elec windows though!) which had a 3cyl, sounded great. You could thrash it through first and second, and by the time you were in third you were only doing 45

[Huff]

Hammerhead said:

Got given a courtesy car this morning (VW Polo, engine - it has one, just). Seems to have an strange handle inside - not sure what it's for.
...
All this manual work, I'm exhausted

Can you tap the Polo on the ground to extend the cutter line, or do you have to change the spool yourself?

(...you'll appreciate Big Blue all the more when it returns...)

Edited by Huff on Monday 4th October 18:54

[jamiebae]

BelperJim said:

From Sniffpetrol via Twitter last Thursday:

"Sitting in the DACIA DUSTER. What the hell does this windy thing do?"

I was just about to say, someone follows Sniff Petrol on Twitter and is passing off Richard's joke as their own

[maniac0796]

HellDiver said:

Could be worse, could be like a few of our older fleet cars, where there's only a hole in the door card where the handle used to be.

Pair of mole grips = ghetto window winder handle