Why didnt they think of that? Annoying design flaws

neglectarino

Hey,

Have you found any design flaws with your car that make you wonder why they didn't find it in testing?

Eg, I drive an e60 525 and found you can't leave the passenger window open when you use the windscreen washer. Water streams into the car! Absolute head wrecker.

My last car was a 3 door Honda civic and the front seat folded forward but didn't slide automatically. So any time you wanted to let anyone in the back, you had to wrestle the seat forward.

MetzgerMeister

BMW probably thought that the people who buy their cars would be intelligent enough to know that they should close the windows before using the washer

It happens on every car, not just BMWs!

Forest Master

I had a 2000 XK8 a few years ago - the cup holder was the most useless thing ever. It was a flip-down at the front of the arm rest, made for 2 cups, except anything you put in there would fall out or rock back n' forth with any sort of motion or turn whatsoever. And the centre of gravity was way too low, allowing stuff to simply topple out of it. Here it is:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii37/pickupsticks/P1010774.jpg
Those little "push in" stablilisers at the front of would barely even reach your average coffee cup or can, let alone stop it from moving.

neglectarino

Fair point... Was washing tree sap off the windscreen and never thought of it. Didn't happen in the trusty ol' Honda!

Victor Meldrew

My Mazda6 does not let you close the windows or roof when the engine is just turned off.

also the child lock switch is in the door (which creeps out the occasional passenger when the kid seats are out, and you cant open the rear windows ONLY from the drivers door panels (so you can't open the rear window without letting a 4 year old play with it.)

However, compared to the indicators on a Vectra....

Voodoomelon

Something I hadn't noticed until it was pointed out to me a few years back is all BMWs still have their windscreen wipers configured for left hand drive. The sweep of the blades goes right infront of your face on rhd models.

mondeo

I think that rubbery paint e46 BMW's have on the centre console and dash trims is a ridiculous design, It scratches too easily,

Wing mirrors on my mothers Peugeot 207 make the car impossible to reverse park into a space. They should be further back on the doors and not practicaly half way down them. Stupid bloody design!

Voodoomelon

It does, there's 5 in each wheel.

Fiskar

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Something I hadn't noticed until it was pointed out to me a few years back is all BMWs still have their windscreen wipers configured for left hand drive. The sweep of the blades goes right infront of your face on rhd models.

Same on Peugeots!

S40, somehow they have alarms for every safety item but none to tell you that the side lights are left on, every other light setting switches off when the key is removed. Other than that, a lovely car

alexmcred

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Something I hadn't noticed until it was pointed out to me a few years back is all BMWs still have their windscreen wipers configured for left hand drive. The sweep of the blades goes right infront of your face on rhd models.

How do you mean?

Mr Benevolent

Opel forgot to put an engine in my car. Bastards.

qz

LIGHTNING wrote: »

My 156 doesnt seems to have any cupholders of any shape or form :mad:

That pisses me off to no end :mad:

Voodoomelon

alexmcred wrote: »

How do you mean?

Essentially, when the wipers have completed 50% of the sweep and are vertical, both of them are infront of your face being the driver.

On a left hand drive car, this would be happening over to your right.

mickdw

LIGHTNING wrote: »

My 156 doesnt seems to have any cupholders of any shape or form :mad:

166 was the same and not a flat surface anywhere either to even leave a cup

mike65

In my A6 with 097 (autobox) transmission you can't take the key out of the ignition until its in Park and therefore you can't move from Park without the engine running so if for some reason you wanted to move the car by hand without the key or simply can't start the engine you are stuck!

and no cup holders.

Guy:Incognito

mickdw wrote: »

166 was the same and not a flat surface anywhere either to even leave a cup

Thats probably a good thing. My Xantia doesnt have a cup holder, it does has quite a flat dash though. I opened a can (of coke) while sitting at lights then sat it on the dash to pick something off the floor. I forgot it was there when I looked back up just as the lights were going green.........

Anan1

There's a little switch on the top of my steering column that turns on the parking lights. It's not illuminated, and it doesn't light up either a warning light or the instruments - just the parking lights. Once turned on, it will stay on until somebody turns it off. It's basically a flat battery switch.

mooman

LIGHTNING wrote: »

My 156 doesnt seems to have any cupholders of any shape or form :mad:

Exactly what I opened the thread to say. I noticed on the new Alfas the cup-holder is under the armrest too so you have to push up the armrest to keep anything in it. Those guys have serious cup issues.

The tax man

Anan1 wrote: »

There's a little switch on the top of my steering column that turns on the parking lights. It's not illuminated, and it doesn't light up either a warning light or the instruments - just the parking lights. Once turned on, it will stay on until somebody turns it off. It's basically a flat battery switch.

+1
I've nearly fallen foul of that switch a few times now. Newly acquired Forester and I'm still in button pressing\switch flicking mode.:D

Mr.Boots

A 98 Subaru Wrx i had years ago......Masive swith, and i mean masive just to dim the instruments.

My defender p1sses water on my head when i get in the door if the roof is wet.
Also in the defender...a warning buzzer goes off if i leave the wiper stalk in the on position when i switch the engine off....but no warning buzzer for light on or anyhting practical like that.

rabbitinlights

Small thing but on the E39 5 Series the interior ambient temperature sensor is exactly where you put your hot or cold drinks completely throwing off the sensor.

S.

Oral Surgeon

mike65 wrote: »

In my A6 with 097 (autobox) transmission you can't take the key out of the ignition until its in Park and therefore you can't move from Park without the engine running so if for some reason you wanted to move the car by hand without the key or simply can't start the engine you are stuck!

and no cup holders.

I thought all autos were like this...?

Oral Surgeon

Forest Master wrote: »

I had a 2000 XK8 a few years ago - the cup holder was the most useless thing ever. It was a flip-down at the front of the arm rest, made for 2 cups, except anything you put in there would fall out or rock back n' forth with any sort of motion or turn whatsoever. And the centre of gravity was way too low, allowing stuff to simply topple out of it. Here it is:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii37/pickupsticks/P1010774.jpg
Those little "push in" stablilisers at the front of would barely even reach your average coffee cup or can, let alone stop it from moving.

Wow that is crap- it's not even attached to your car- useless

Oral Surgeon

I previously had an e46 BMW. If you opened all windows with the remote key by holding the open button- both front windows and both rear tilt windows would open but holding the lock button down would only close both fronts... You'd need to put the key in the ignition to do the rears...

An old boss of mine had the recent mondeo 5 door liftback version. The dip between the back window and the boot lid (all one piece) held a puddle of rain water, if you opened the boot, if would flood the boot every time. He needed to lift the boot lid very slowly to allow it to drain....

Voodoomelon

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Small thing but on the E39 5 Series the interior ambient temperature sensor is exactly where you put your hot or cold drinks completely throwing off the sensor.

S.

Yup, same in the E38s. I never use the auto function though, typically means having the fans at a very loud speed.

JerCotter7

Oral Surgeon wrote: »

I previously had an e46 BMW. If you opened all windows with the remote key by holding the open button- both front windows and both rear tilt windows would open but holding the lock button down would only close both fronts... You'd need to put the key in the ignition to do the rears...

An old boss of mine had the recent mondeo 5 door liftback version. The dip between the back window and the boot lid (all one piece) held a puddle of rain water, if you opened the boot, if would flood the boot every time. He needed to lift the boot lid very slowly to allow it to drain....

You can close the windows holding the key in the lock position on the door. Also opening the windows with by holding the key in the open position on the door lock only opens the front windows. I found that weird. It's like they mixed them up.

Needler

mike65 wrote: »

(autobox) transmission

Well there's the mother of all design flaws, fixing something that don't need fixing unless you're missing an arm and a leg

*grabs coat*

savagecabbages

On 2 Audi A6's and an A4 which my father owned, theres a drain under where the battery/wipermotor etc. is located. This clogs with leaves and a pool of water forms in front of the bulkhead. Makes for very damp air coming out of the vents, impossible to clear the windscreen during winter. I'd nearly go as far as to say it 'mists' the windscreen!!! Leave it blocked long enough and the water leaks in the lower vents...

Not a huge job to unblock it or anything once you cop onto what the actual problem is, but its a very annoying design flaw which has been repeated in consecutive generation cars. Boo Audi:mad::mad:

neglectarino

Another thing that bugs me is when it is damn near impossible to get your hand in the engine bay to change a front light bulb. You'd need the dexterity of a chinese gymnast to get close to being able to change a bulb in my wife's car.

stealthyspeeder

Victor Meldrew wrote: »

My Mazda6 does not let you close the windows or roof when the engine is just turned off.

also the child lock switch is in the door (which creeps out the occasional passenger when the kid seats are out, and you cant open the rear windows ONLY from the drivers door panels (so you can't open the rear window without letting a 4 year old play with it.)

However, compared to the indicators on a Vectra....

When you turn the engine off and get out of your car with the windows down, hold the lock button on your key fob....... ta da!!

Pdfile

Voodoomelon wrote: »

It does, there's 5 in each wheel.

best post ive seen in years !

theteal

its ill advised to open my boot for a good while after its rained as it all runs down and splashes everything inside. . .one of the most popular cars in our little wet country. . .good work, Ford!

pippip

In my Audi a4 the handbrake is difficult to use as the armrest is in the way, took a lot of getting used to, anyone who steps into the car finds it near impossible.

Also the cupholder cant hold anything other than a can, just tips it out once i move.

Pdfile

any honda owners ever get condensation or water build up behind the rear plastic panels in the older hatch models ??

i pulled the plastic off a EF shuttle of a mate of mines one day to find 4-5 liters... Yes liters slushing around.


the lights also had water in them, yet the seals where good and the entire car was water tight ??


that mistery will never be solved as the car got scrapped

jenizzle

The cupholders in the RX8 are totally useless. You can't use them while driving, as you'll knock anything in it with your elbow when changing gear. The sunroof will automatically open fully at the push of a button, but you have to keep your finger on the button to close it.

In the MX5, it was nigh-on-impossible to turn the full beams on or off without turning the indicator on at the same time.

Zubeneschamali

Not really a design flaw, but a small disappointment. My Mini has gas struts for the bonnet. Our last big car was a Multipla, and it had gas struts.

The S-Max cost more new than either, and has no struts, just the old "lift the bonnet and prop it up with a stick metal rod" system.

Every time I open the bonnet, this irritates me.

Blarney92

Dropped my drunk friend home saturday night and he thought it'd be hilarious to lock me into my car. He took the keys from ignition, slammed the door and locked me in.

Couldn't open the doors/windows from inside or work the horn. Stuck inside the car flashing the lights till he unlocked it. Admittedly the good people at seat probably ever envisioned such a situation arising but still!!

neglectarino

neglectarino wrote: »

Hey,

Have you found any design flaws with your car that make you wonder why they didn't find it in testing? ..........

In the W124 Merc I had, which was manual you couldn't really use all gears with the armrest down, awful set up.

Jesh1

The volume controls for the radio should always be nearest the steering wheel, Really bad ergonomics to have to stretch across to reach the control on the passenger side. Becoming less on an issue with multifunction steering wheels. I can forgive left hand drive designed cars for this set up, but i could not understand it on my sis's corolla.

Melion

No cup holders in my e46 318

MetzgerMeister

jenizzle wrote: »

The cupholders in the RX8 are totally useless. You can't use them while driving, as you'll knock anything in it with your elbow when changing gear. The sunroof will automatically open fully at the push of a button, but you have to keep your finger on the button to close it.

Also, it's impossible to rest your arm if you use the cupholders!

The button for the sunroof in my 6MPS has to be held down to slide it back and tilt it. Even my old MG had an auto-open function. I wonder is there something I'm missing??

The bonnet could also have done with gas struts. It's unreal heavy compared to the RX8 bonnet!

cadaliac

savagecabbages wrote: »

On 2 Audi A6's and an A4 which my father owned, theres a drain under where the battery/wipermotor etc. is located. This clogs with leaves and a pool of water forms in front of the bulkhead. Makes for very damp air coming out of the vents, impossible to clear the windscreen during winter. I'd nearly go as far as to say it 'mists' the windscreen!!! Leave it blocked long enough and the water leaks in the lower vents...

Not a huge job to unblock it or anything once you cop onto what the actual problem is, but its a very annoying design flaw which has been repeated in consecutive generation cars. Boo Audi:mad::mad:

Yeah, very same in the B5.5 Passats. In fact if the problem wasn't addressed in time, water ingress to the passenger foot well used to do serious damage to the electrical systems in the car.

All Peugeot right hand drive 406's had crap foot well heating. When I enquired I got the response from a Peugeot service manager that the primary would blow into the passenger foot well as it is primarily a left hand drive car....
WTF? Why would you even have a difference between the amount of air blown into the driver and passenger foot wells. Jesus.

Mc Love

The cup holders in the focus are in a stupid position!

Stevie Dakota

Testament to how resolved the Focus is that I am really struggling here, sure the cupholders in the centre console are small but I don't use them much. The front right of the bonnet flaps a bit at speed, small but annoying.

Mc Love

What year is that SD? I didnt notice the bonnet flappin.

Stevie Dakota

Mc Love wrote: »

What year is that SD? I didnt notice the bonnet flappin.

2008 facelift....don't they all do that?

Zubeneschamali

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

2008 facelift....don't they all do that?

Maybe it only happens above Warp 5 :pac:

"She canna take much more, Captain!"

b318isp

Voodoomelon wrote: »

all BMWs still have their windscreen wipers configured for left hand drive.

Not all. Mine is set up for RHD.

harry21

savagecabbages wrote: »

On 2 Audi A6's and an A4 which my father owned, theres a drain under where the battery/wipermotor etc. is located. This clogs with leaves and a pool of water forms in front of the bulkhead. Makes for very damp air coming out of the vents, impossible to clear the windscreen during winter. I'd nearly go as far as to say it 'mists' the windscreen!!! Leave it blocked long enough and the water leaks in the lower vents...

Not a huge job to unblock it or anything once you cop onto what the actual problem is, but its a very annoying design flaw which has been repeated in consecutive generation cars. Boo Audi:mad::mad:

This happens in loads of cars!!! You would think that between all of them they would fix it!!!:(

CrowdedHouse

On the BMW E90 3 series you can't see the LED for the auto wipers(which has to be switched on every start) It's on the wiper stalk and is hidden when the steering wheel is in the normal straight position.

harry21

I could be wrong on this one, but on the Scoda Octavia (07) even if all four doors are unlocked, the boot still can't be opened. I think you need to press the boot unlock button on the fob to open it.

Really annoying when the key is in the ignition and you have to go back to get it!:mad: