What Design Flaw on Your Car Do You Find Charming?

In the Lancia Fulvia Coupe I used to have, I could never leave the headlights on accidentally even though it was built way before warning buzzers were invented for such things. This was because the cabin ergonomics were such that if I left the stalk in the “On” position, when I went to get out of the car my right knee would bump it and knock it back into the “Off” setting.

Thanks to FWD and torque-steer it was great at reversing itself round corners too.

My Alfa 156 is superbly engineered for the driver with the angled temp, gas and clock gauges only he can view, everything is within reach and easily operate.

Yet, no coffee cup holders anywhere. Not for the driver nor passengers… Seems this car is for driving enjoyment alone!

Great question!
The handbrake in my RHD Porsche 924 is situated between the drver’s seat and the door, whenever I let someone else drive the car, they are caught searching for the handbrake, but once you are used to it, it seems like a very good place to have it.
Similarly, many Ferrari’s had the handbrake in that location, with the exception that you could lower the lever, while the brake still remained engaged. Had that in my 550, and it confused many drivers!

Alfa 75 (Milano) – Electric window switches on the roof. Where else would you put them?

The ignition is situated just south of my stick. I [i]have[/i] to put the car in reverse gear to be able to turn it off. The front windscreen wipers are engaged by pulling the right side lever at the wheel [i]down[/i].

I drive a Saab 900 S.

My Morgan has a foot actuated, open oiling system for the front suspension. It would take oil out of the engine and pipe it to the suspension then drizzle it over the pillar.

Its always fun watching people try to open the door…the lever is on the inside, similar to the MGA.

Leo

I found it endearing that the ignition key to my ex-girlfriend’s VW Beetle would also unlock the front door to her house. One key was all she needed 🙂

Great topic, I’ll give you 2 examples from vehicles that are in my garage. On the MGA roadster, there are no exterior door handles to open the doors, they are opened via a cable pull inside the door that are pulled from the inside. Takes a while to get used to and it is one of the most common questions asked about the car, but adds to it’s charm. On my ’02 Jeep, the electric window buttons for all 4 windows are located in the center console. There are buttons on the doors where you would expect to find the window actuators, but they are actually to lock the doors. It took me forever to get used to that and whenever people ride in the Jeep, it’s funny to see them hunting for the window buttons. At first I hated it and it took me some time to remember where they were. I’m sure I’ll have a heck of a time getting used to another car that doesn’t have them there.

The refrigeration system of my 1966 FIAT 600 E. I know, it´s not nice to be stopping aside every 15 miles, but it sure helps the sightseen part of a trip!

I had a 1976 Alfetta GT. Loved that car. In the center of the dash was a warning light that said: “SLOW DOWN.” I couldn’t figure out what it was, so I traced the wiring and it led to an exhaust temperature sensor. Apparently the exhaust on those cars had a tendency to run hot, which would trigger the light. Kinda like a rotary, except with a legitimate design excuse.

I find it hugely endearing (and typically Italian, I might add) that Alfa Romeo chose NOT to design an exhaust that ran cooler, but rather to install a “SLOW DOWN” light. It became my mission in life to turn that damn light on every time I drove the car…

Alfa Romeo GTV6… psh, design flaws?! Okay, the design flaws that I [i]don’t[/i] find endearing are any of the ones that involve maintenance. Driveshaft work is not endearing, lack of adequate timing belt wrap (if the engine ever spins backwards you will most likely have to retime it), not endearing.

Endearing are the peculiar seating position and windshield angle, that have made many American cars feel claustrophobic to me. I’ve always been amused by the fact that if you can’t double clutch and rev match then you can’t drive the car. Weak grounds in the taillight circuit mean that when you put it in reverse the stereo cuts out.

does a 5th drum brake mounted to the drive shaft count as odd……..its even finned and also works better then the front brakes……