I get the opportunity to drive about 150 new vehicles every year, and as much as they continue to improve over time, there are some little details in many of them that bug me. Nothing to write home about, nothing to make me want to shoot down a vehicle or a manufacturer, just minor nitpickings that I thought I’d share with you to kill some time.
You know, those oh-so-important, First World problems.
Single-setting heated seats
Many manufacturers offer heated seats with three to five heat levels, which is marvelous. I can even live with “hi” and “lo” settings. However, a few mainstream models still only offer a single seat heat setting which, in most cases, ends up being uncomfortable; I’m constantly turning them off and on again. I want at least two temperature levels, please.
Guilty: Kia Forte , Toyota Corolla and others.
Turn signal stalk twist switch for activating windshield wipers
Not a big deal, but I prefer the right-side stalk that can be nudged up and down as opposed to a twist switch at the end of the left-side, turn signal stalk. Turning on the wipers means you must take your hand off the steering wheel to operate them, a more distractive move than simply flicking a stalk with a fingertip.
Guilty: Dodge Charger , Mercedes-Benz B 250 and others.
Temperature control buttons
Ditch the buttons for adjusting fan speed and temperature. Rotary knobs have always been, and still are, the quickest and least distractive way to adjust the HVAC or climate control system. I particularly hate having to leave my finger on a button for several seconds while the slow-witted system drops or raises the temperature setting one degree a second.
Guilty: Porsche Cayenne , Lexus ES 350 and others.
No front centre armrest
My right elbow deserves one in every vehicle. Enough said.
Guilty: Chevrolet Spark , Nissan Juke and others.
No trunk inside pull handle
Winter’s here, and cars can get dirty pretty quickly. I don’t necessarily feel the need to get my hands dirty, too. Is it really that much trouble to install a plastic pull handle on the inside of the trunklid, allowing me to close it while keeping my hands clean? Even if it adds 5$ to the price of the car, but costs 0.25 cents to produce, just do it.
Guilty: Chrysler 200 , Mitsubishi Lancer and others.
You know, those oh-so-important, First World problems.
Single-setting heated seats
Many manufacturers offer heated seats with three to five heat levels, which is marvelous. I can even live with “hi” and “lo” settings. However, a few mainstream models still only offer a single seat heat setting which, in most cases, ends up being uncomfortable; I’m constantly turning them off and on again. I want at least two temperature levels, please.
Guilty: Kia Forte , Toyota Corolla and others.
Turn signal stalk twist switch for activating windshield wipers
Not a big deal, but I prefer the right-side stalk that can be nudged up and down as opposed to a twist switch at the end of the left-side, turn signal stalk. Turning on the wipers means you must take your hand off the steering wheel to operate them, a more distractive move than simply flicking a stalk with a fingertip.
Guilty: Dodge Charger , Mercedes-Benz B 250 and others.
Temperature control buttons
Ditch the buttons for adjusting fan speed and temperature. Rotary knobs have always been, and still are, the quickest and least distractive way to adjust the HVAC or climate control system. I particularly hate having to leave my finger on a button for several seconds while the slow-witted system drops or raises the temperature setting one degree a second.
Guilty: Porsche Cayenne , Lexus ES 350 and others.
No front centre armrest
My right elbow deserves one in every vehicle. Enough said.
Guilty: Chevrolet Spark , Nissan Juke and others.
No trunk inside pull handle
Winter’s here, and cars can get dirty pretty quickly. I don’t necessarily feel the need to get my hands dirty, too. Is it really that much trouble to install a plastic pull handle on the inside of the trunklid, allowing me to close it while keeping my hands clean? Even if it adds 5$ to the price of the car, but costs 0.25 cents to produce, just do it.
Guilty: Chrysler 200 , Mitsubishi Lancer and others.
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| Photo: Ford |