I totally agree w #10 Backward Manual-AT Shift Control. Sadly, FR-S/BRZ have this problem.
Reference: Jalopnik
10.) Backwards Manumatic Shift Controls
It’s supposed to be pull back to go up a gear and push forward to go down, because that’s what it is in racecars! Do you need another reason? Everything else is wrong, particularly Porsche’s early wheel-mounted paddles.
Barely anyone gets this right. Read…Suggested By: Victorious Secret and magman007, Photo Credit: Daniel Boswald
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9.) Saab C900 Heater Controls
Saab C900 Heater Controls. Ok, so dial on the left makes sense. Center dial is OK, very swedish … Read…Reader James Mackintosh explains what’s wrong with these old Swedish controls.
Saab C900 Heater Controls. Ok, so dial on the left makes sense. Center dial is OK, very swedish in that 10% is cold and 90% is varying shades of hot (this is how it worked, too.) Dial on the right – oh, what? An 0. Some BIG right/left arrows. Small right-left arrows. A BIG down arrow. Oh hey, a SMALL down arrow. An up down arrow? And windshield?
Thanks Saab! Makes sense now!
Saab C900 Heater Controls. Ok, so dial on the left makes sense. Center dial is OK, very swedish … Read…Suggested By: James Mackintosh, Photo Credit: Saab
8.) BMW Window Circuit Breaker
At least Saab labeled their controls, on the ’80s BMW 6 series, the window circuit breaker button (why?) was unlabeled. Plenty of owners think their windows are broken, but it’s just that they unknowingly pressed this blank button.
BMW window circuit breaker. I used to regularly browse the e24 section of bimmerforums, and every… Read…Suggested By: lunchtray, Photo Credit: bimmerforums
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7.) Electronic Parking Brakes
What was wrong with a simple lever?
Subaru’s electronic parking brake. Kind of assbackwards. Read…Suggested By: McPherson, Photo Credit: Subaru
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6.) Silent, Non-Locking Turn Signals
silent non-locking turn signals in 2012 Edge (and probably others). Read…There’s a reason why turn signals should feel strong, and make a loud clicking noise, as owen-magnetic explains.
I was test driving an Edge just before Christmas on 28th st in grand rapids (busiest MI road outside metro Detroit) in a snow storm, at night. And I’m trying to turn right and I hit the turn signal to change lanes and nothing happens. So I have to look at the stalk and I’m wiggling it up and down muttering and trying to figure out how to use the turn signal. At night, in a snowstorm, on a busy road, just before Xmas. Finally I realize it’s been blinking the whole time and I change lanes, but it doesn’t stop blinking. The stalk is in the center position but the blinker is still on. So I give the stalk a flick and it starts blinking in the other direction. Now I’m enraged. On a busy street. In a snow storm. Just before Christmas. All because of somebody decided to fix something that wasn’t broken to begin with.
silent non-locking turn signals in 2012 Edge (and probably others). Read…Suggested By: owen-magnetic, Photo Credit: Ford
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5.) Every Other Stalk-Operated Function
The stalks behind the steering wheel make sense for the windshield wipers, the turn signals, and possibly the high beams or the gear lever if you’re an OG. Carmakers love shoving the cruise control switches at the end of these for some reason. Others put the horn there, and Chevy even put infotainment controls on a stalk.
Every automotive companies decision on where to place cruise control. Read…Suggested By: JayBe_III, EssExTee, Maxzillian, and The Scrambler, Photo Credit: Smart-Stuff
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4.) Navigation Menus That Only Work When Stopped
Want to re-route your destination while on the move? Plenty of car simply won’t let you. It’s supposed to keep you safe, but you end up just pulling out your phone to pull up Google Maps instead.
Navigation menu’s that require you to be fully stopped and in Park so you can change you… Read…Suggested By: Viperfan1, Photo Credit: Jaguar
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3.) TVR Door Opening Button
Looking for the door handle on a TVR? No, it’s not on the edge of the door. No it’s not really anywhere near the edge of the door at all, it’s hidden under the wing mirror.
The TVR door opening button on the bottom of the wing mirror. Read…Suggested By: Ian17, Photo Credit: Joe Szilvagyi
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2.) Porsche 911 HVAC
Over the years, the early Porsche 911 (1964-1989) developed into what is (perhaps) the most HVAC … Read…If the above graphic doesn’t explain the heating and ventilation system of a late ’80s Porsche, reader ejp is here to explain.
Over the years, the early Porsche 911 (1964-1989) developed into what is (perhaps) the most bizarre HVAC system ever devised. The earliest cars were simple – a heat exchanger box over the exhaust headers driven by the alternator fan provided heat into the cabin. As buyers demanded a heating system that provided consistent heat and didn’t blow air faster as engine revs raised, the system was “refined” and thus became more and more complicated over the years. Additional blower fans were added. Different vents were added, each with their own function (heat/fresh air/AC). An “autoheat” system was developed. Different versions of air conditioning were added (none of them ever actually worked).
It all culminated into a ridiculous Rube Goldberg machine that never quite works right (unless I want to make my car very hot; that always seems to work). Every time I want to change where the heat is blowing, I have to think about which mostly unmarked lever to push (hint, it’s the bottom red one).
Over the years, the early Porsche 911 (1964-1989) developed into what is (perhaps) the most HVAC … Read…Suggested By: ejp and burglar, Photo Credit: imcarthur/Rennlist
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1.) Citroen’s Button Brake
See that little mushroom next to the gas in this old Citroen? Yeah, that’s the brake pedal. How hard you press it determines how much it slows the car down. Sounds natural, right?
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