Horse wrote:Actually, from the 'safety' perspective, there are other things I don't like about it.
Examples include:
Location of hazards switch: low on centre console - not easy and quick to reach. My Astra's is top centre on the dash.
Reversing light: very low (below bumper), very poor spread of light, particularly since it's angled 'left'.
No lights on door interior when open, only reflectors (previous old shape Leon had them)
Small, 'teardrop shaped', mirrors, presumably smaller for aerodynamics (and so fuel consumption), narrow with poor view of rear corners of car, and dfficult to use a standard ice scraper
TripleS wrote:Horse wrote:Actually, from the 'safety' perspective, there are other things I don't like about it.
Reversing light: very low (below bumper), very poor spread of light, particularly since it's angled 'left'.
I blame this on 'stylists' ruling the roost, rather than having practical people running the show.
Horse wrote:I'm sure a mate had a car where on side they didn't fit a bulb to one fog light even though there were a pair of positions (possibly also not the socket either). Might not sound much, but make 40,000 cars at 25p per bulb, and that's money in their pocket or a cheaper car for us.
Horse wrote:TripleS wrote:Horse wrote:Actually, from the 'safety' perspective, there are other things I don't like about it.
Reversing light: very low (below bumper), very poor spread of light, particularly since it's angled 'left'.
I blame this on 'stylists' ruling the roost, rather than having practical people running the show.
I don't, I blame accountants. But ultimately the blame then lies with us wanting a good deal.
Have a single reversing light and a single fog means that for different (LHD/RHD) markets they simply swap the lens colour and wiring.
Having a matched pair of each - which I'd prefer - would mean having twice as much kit fitted.
I'm sure a mate had a car where on side they didn't fit a bulb to one fog light even though there were a pair of positions (possibly also not the socket either). Might not sound much, but make 40,000 cars at 25p per bulb, and that's money in their pocket or a cheaper car for us.
TripleS wrote: Aye, a car that's 25 p cheaper, maybe....
Horse wrote:Actually, from the 'safety' perspective, there are other things I don't like about it.
Examples include:
Location of hazards switch: low on centre console - not easy and quick to reach. My Astra's is top centre on the dash.
Reversing light: very low (below bumper), very poor spread of light, particularly since it's angled 'left'.
No lights on door interior when open, only reflectors (previous old shape Leon had them)
Small, 'teardrop shaped', mirrors, presumably smaller for aerodynamics (and so fuel consumption), narrow with poor view of rear corners of car, and dfficult to use a standard ice scraper
Porker wrote:as far as I know patents are only valid for a decade or so
fungus wrote:It is my understanding that Ford have a patent on the heated windscreen, and that's why you don't see them on many cars.
Nigel ADI
IAM trainee observer
Horse wrote:TripleS wrote: Aye, a car that's 25 p cheaper, maybe....
It doesn't stop there.
Part of the car - and probably most other 'consumer' things too - design process is getting rid of anything unnecessary to save money.
eg:
"Total world Wii sales close in on Xbox 360 tally . . . Nintendo's Wii is nearing the Xbox 360's cumulative sales total . . . New figures put the Wii at 10.10m units sold to date worldwide, just behind the 360's 10.32m"
So save just 1p on something where you're shifting 10 million units, and it soon adds up!
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