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Originally Posted by cranky Even the Alfa Romeo Mito and The Audi A3 come with a single reverse light. It's a design decision, and some cars basically use one side for reverse and the other side for a rear fog lamp (which is now mandatory in most countries). And besides, with just one light to blow it's easier to spot trouble. Unless you're a reversing speed maniac, not many chances of a reversing-related accident. You should be moving very slowly in reverse. I learnt driving when there was no such thing as reverse lights and have no issues reversing in near-total darkness. The trick is to go very, very slowly. At all times, since visibility is severely impaired when you reverse. |
Alfa Romeo Mito and the Audi A3 coming with single reverse light does not justify others to use the same design. If a princess kills someone that makes her a murderer. She may still be a princess and she may still be beautiful but now a murderess nonetheless. By the same token, your Alfa Romeo and Audi A3, if they come with single reverse lights, are still flawed cars. Doesnt matter if they cost a fortune to own.
You say that the second slot is now being used to fit fog lamps. Why then cant they atleast do that on Indian cars. Yes we do have hill stations where it can get pretty foggy certain times of the year to warrant fog lights where available. Leaving one cluster with dummy assembly is simply unacceptable.
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As to the rear glass, some ladies prefer a glass that doesn't open fully at the rear. One is a bit less wind for their hair to get tangled in, and the other is a safety feature against very small children falling out of the car. It's also safer for dogs to stick their head out of a running car.
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As for ladies prefering the rear glass not opening fully, why cant they roll it down the length they want? Isn't it always good to know its there for you to do it if you ever wanted to? Kids jumping out of the window? Dogs sticking its head out??/ Are you kidding me? Dogs are not meant to travel in cars. Cars are for people. As for kids in the back, have thewindown rolled down half and buckle up your kids. If they are old enough to wind the windows down full, rest assured they are also old enough to know not to jump out the window of a moving vehicle.
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BTW what you call 'wrong side' for indicator stalk is actually my 'correct' side. I have always owned cars with the wiper on the right and it just seems better for me. In any case you should be indicating your intention to turn long before actually turning, so it's not an inconvenience. If you indicate while taking the turn or just before, you're a bad driver.
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In the grander scheme of things your likes and dislikes cultivated out of habit are insignificant. By convention, the stalks are designed so that indicator goes on the door side and washer and wiper on passenger side. There are ergonomic reasons for this design pattern.
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I agree with two ORVM on the car, though I never actually use the left one except to gauge my distance from the vehicle/obstacle next to me. Ditto with wipers - I've never actually seen a car where the driver's side wiper doesn't line up with the A-pillar. I'll take your word on the Logan, it is pretty dangerous.
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Yes, the Logan does have the Wiper blades lining up with the A pillar when in use, leaving a large unswept area right in the drivers field of vision.
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Just curious why you think the handbrake should be on driver's side? It should always be on the side away from the door so it can be quickly found. It is the emergency brake, and the driver's free hand should always have quick access to it. If it between the driver and the door your hand may get jammed looking for it.
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I didnt at all mean the hand brake to be next to the door. My grouse is about handbrakes that are placed to the left of the coin slot/cubby hole, where storage space is provided near the handbrake in the centre console. Like in the Honda City, where you have the handbrake towards the passenger side, but sitting right next to it towards the driver side is the storage space for knickknacks. I hope I have made this clear.
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You can differ and we can argue till the cows come home. Fact remains the same. It is not a design flaw but as designed. One can take this or go for other makes. Ford in this country is having it for a long time (IKON) and so is GM (OPTRA). And now VW. Let’s not confuse the issues here.
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If these cars had the opposite configuration on their LHD cars, then I would agree with you that it is the company's chosen design pattern. And they are well within their rights to do that. But lo and behold, inspect these same models sold in Europe and you will find same stalk patterns as on Indian cars! Which clearly goes to prove that they were initially designed to be fitted on LHD cars and the manufacturer never bothered with them during their LHD to RHD conversion process.
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Originally Posted by aaron.d Meili,
Most if not all the European cars including the likes of the Laura and Superb have their indicator and wiper stalks fitted as per the LHD setting. This is not really a flaw, just takes a little getting used to.
Secondly, the single reverse light again is a standard feature in European cars, well if you really want the normal settings you will have to skip the European brands. |
I am well aware of this. And that's exactly my point. That we should not promote manufacturers who couldnt be bothered about carrying out a proper conversion of LHD unit fit for the RHD market. Its a shame they get away with it thanks to consumers such as yourself who apparantly are huge car enthusiasts, but whose attention to detail leave a lot to be desired. Sorry if I come across as rude, that's not my intention.
Image Jap cars exported to Europe with the stalks in the 'wrong' place for LHD. Do you think the European consumers would put up with that shoddy conversion work.
I hope you get the point I am trying to drive home.