Automotive technology you miss.

[Volkshook]

Sorry, I only made it 7 pages or so in. But it's 0230, I have to be up in 4 hours, and I had thoughts I wanted to share in response to these early posts.

#1 Floor mounted high beam switches. It's just common sense! You shouldn't need to take your damn hands off the wheel on a dark country road to turn your high beams on/off or flash another car for deer/cops ahead!

You must be kidding...? Hard to do when doing the 3 pedal tango, added a switch in dash for easy on/off. Nowadays, the switch is in the stalk in steering column.

Oh, man. I don't have a left hand (it's congenital; never did have one), so any hand control on the driver's left is a pain in the ass (but guess where the turn signal, wiper controls, headlight switch, dimmer switch, cabin light, and parking brake release are all located on a '93 Ranger...yeah, okay, that one I didn't think through when I bought it). Go ahead; try rolling down your window with your right hand next time. Worst positioned window crank I've ever used. Actually, one of the things I used to brag about with my Bug, though, was the dimmer switch being on the floor. Three-pedal tango is easy compared to reaching around what passes for a steering wheel these days. Besides, when do you ever have to operate the clutch and dimmer switch simultaneously? Also, with my Bug, I could reach through the steering wheel, but thanks to the explosive device they stick in there now, it's more like a giant M&M you grip the edges of to steer, so I have to reach around. Happily, an advantage of my '93: no airbag to accidentally go off and break the only arm I've got.

Manual transmissions.

This exact thing was one of the non-negotiable features I need, which led to my finding myself in a '93 Ranger. I don't care how reliable automatic transmissions are or ever will be. My left foot gets bored in an automatic, and starts stomping the floor, looking for a clutch every time I let my guard down. And if I'm lucky, it doesn't find a pedal. No, I'm too used to a stick, even if you ignore my control-freak issues. Besides, automatic transmissions just feel lazy to me. Too much modern automotive design seems intended to divorce the driver's senses from the road, which takes the fun out of driving.

Front door window vent, AKA Wind Wings

Right there with you!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Dang VW guys... surprised you didn't say silly luggage compartment where the engine should be and splined rear brake drums.

 

[91stranger]

One thing I always hated about VW and Mercedes were those stupid wheel lug bolts.. Stupidest way to mount a tire ever! Not so bad with smaller 16" bug wheels but when you got a really wide 18-19" wheel then it sucks compared to a regular wheel stud. Damn german tech...

 

[Ranger850]

My first vehicle was an '83 Ranger. Horn was no problem as a stalk horn, just give it a push towards the stalk with the palm of your left hand. (unless you don't have one...). Didn't seem weird at the time, but now it just seem silly to have a horn NOT on the steering wheel, but I also had a Maverick (72) AND IT HAD THE HEADLIHGT DIMMER ON THE FLOOR., (whoops, caps lock got hit) That's what I miss.

 

[sgtsandman]

One thing I always hated about VW and Mercedes were those stupid wheel lug bolts.. Stupidest way to mount a tire ever! Not so bad with smaller 16" bug wheels but when you got a really wide 18-19" wheel then it sucks compared to a regular wheel stud. Damn german tech...

Hyundai did that with at least one of their car models. I forget which model bit when I was working the rear brakes on an ex’s car, it had lug bolts.

 

[Dirtman]

They are cheaper to make plain and simple. Volkswagen saved 3 cents a peice not having a seperate stud and nut.

The VW techs usually have a set of special studs they put on after they take the wheel off so when they go to reinstall the wheel there is something there to slide the wheel onto. Then they remove the studs one by one to install the bolts.

So VW made even more money selling tools to use their stupid wheel bolts.

Add to that if you snap a wheel bolt VW makes EVEN MORE money since you cant just bang it out with a punch and hammer like a normal wheel stud. Most people have to take a trip to the dealer to get the stupid thing out.

 

[91stranger]

Damn V-dubs....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

One thing I always hated about VW and Mercedes were those stupid wheel lug bolts.. Stupidest way to mount a tire ever! Not so bad with smaller 16" bug wheels but when you got a really wide 18-19" wheel then it sucks compared to a regular wheel stud. Damn german tech...

Pish, my tractors use them.

You think a little bug tire is bad... try a 4.5’ foot tall tire full of liquid ballast and a 100# cast iron weight.

 

[G8orFord]

Ya'll do know they sell stud kits to fix the VW bolt problem, right?

My daughter's Jetta has the bolts, but it's not that big of an issue since the wheel is hub centric.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ya'll do know they sell stud kits to fix the VW bolt problem, right?

I have a lot of problems, thankfully a VW isn’t one of them.

 

[8thTon]

I have no problems with VWs either - I forbid any of my family from ever buying one, or at least I told them I'd never work on the thing!

 

[Snoranger]

I want a VW Thing...

Without a VW engine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I want a VW Thing...
View attachment 34359

Without a VW engine.

A real one would be fun:

 

[G8orFord]

On a separate note, can somebody please fix the thread title. My OCD is in overload.
@Jim Oaks

 

[Everlearn]

Used to roll around in the bed of the old man’s 62 Ford pickup, along with 20-30 Miller Hi-life bottles. Had to dodge empties as he sailed them into the bed...always had a pint of Wild Turkey 101 tucked in the seat and a half case of Hi-life in a Coleman cooler on the floor. Dozen or so empty Salem menthol 100s packs crumpled across the dashboard, ashtray full of ash n butts. Ah.....the good ‘ole days!