Any worse ergonomics fail than the GM hazard switches from the 1980s?

[dub01]

I have a worse one, the switch surround from mid 90's fords broke constantly.

Not only that, the lock button could be really sensitive. That made it easy to lock the keys in the vehicle with the engine running. We had a delivery driver that did that repeatedly.

[Woodski]

I never understood this (70s Ford Maverick):



What if the passenger is too cold or too hot? Only the driver is able to operate the HVAC?

you must be trolling.

[Egz]

Back when airbags were still relatively new tech for most companies and made for huge, otherwise unfunctional steering wheel hubs. The horn buttons were often like tiny little Chiclets set on the wheel spokes. Trying to hit your horn in a panic situation (like someone swerving in your lane) was always a pointless exercise in mashing your hand into the airbag with no effect.

I used to wonder if I'd knock myself out with my own fist trying to hit the horn in a wreck while the airbag deployed.

I went from a 66 Mustang with a center horn to a 92 Dodge with the buttons, got all lost in that for a while. When I got a Focus, I was back to the center horn, but when it came time to need it, I started looking for buttons.



I'm glad the horn has found its rightful place back on the center of the steeting wheel.

[turkey_club]

I never understood this (70s Ford Maverick):



What if the passenger is too cold or too hot? Only the driver is able to operate the HVAC?

lol duh....only the driver should operate the HVAC!

[clutchrider]

I use them occasionally on the highway on my way home from work. The lane to merge onto 95N from 91S can be somewhat of a blind curve and I approach cautiously. With the sun positioning and people that are literally stopped in the line of cars while the other lanes continue on at 50-60+, it necessitates the use to let the people behind you, or those who may want to come over last minute that your not only slowing down, but stopping due to a backup of traffic.

I won't keep them on though once the guy behind me gets it and slows down as well. Other than that I don't use them.

I had an '84 Escort that had the hazard button on the top of the steering column so you have to either reach around or through the wheel to activate it. Also had the horn on the stalk which I found by accident.

[Tokyosmash]

When I was a kid, our neighbor had a Maserati Merak. I always thought it would suck to be the passenger and not be able to change the radio station

Who would want to listen to the radio in one of those? The Merak V6 sounds incredible.

[1985Jetta]

I never understood this (70s Ford Maverick):



What if the passenger is too cold or too hot? Only the driver is able to operate the HVAC?

We have 2 Mavericks and a Gran Torino. The hazard switch isn't that hard to operate IMO. The HVAC is on the left side of the column in all 3. Just ask the driver to change the temp.

[choochoo]

Not only that, the lock button could be really sensitive. That made it easy to lock the keys in the vehicle with the engine running. We had a delivery driver that did that repeatedly.

That's not an ergonomic fail though....

Try not to turn on your hazards 2-3X per trip when using the touch screen on the MFT. To make things worse, it's touch sensitive.

that's awesome

Well why not put a central locking button in the center of the car? The switch doesn't do just one door so why put it on the door if the scope of what it operates is all the doors?

not sure if serious.... because you want to have buttons that you use often within the reach of the driver. That's what good ergonomics is, right?
Another gripe about the E90 ergonomics. I always find the window switches quite a long reach.

[ATL_Av8r]

Another gripe about the E90 ergonomics. I always find the window switches quite a long reach.

At least they're finally on the door. The E30/36/46 had the worst window switch setup ever

[Bakounine]

Back when airbags were still relatively new tech for most companies and made for huge, otherwise unfunctional steering wheel hubs. The horn buttons were often like tiny little Chiclets set on the wheel spokes. Trying to hit your horn in a panic situation (like someone swerving in your lane) was always a pointless exercise in mashing your hand into the airbag with no effect.

I used to wonder if I'd knock myself out with my own fist trying to hit the horn in a wreck while the airbag deployed.

THIS

My old Grand Voyager and Cherokee were like that. Infurating when you actually need to use the horn.

I also have that GM hazard switch in my Sierra. I must admit it did take me some time to figure it out. Especially how to turn it off.

[Lucian1988]

i vote everything seen below:

[addicted2vw]

I never understood this (70s Ford Maverick):



What if the passenger is too cold or too hot? Only the driver is able to operate the HVAC?

The Citroen C4 Picasso we rented in Ireland recently had a similar setup. Climate controls were on the driver's side between the steering wheel and the door.

[200HP4dr]

Our Classic Mini has the horn in the same location... very strange and unintuitive!

My Triumph had it too. I found it was quicker to actuate than the button as my fingers were always very close to the stalk.

Eh, I liked it.

Chris

[Spell Check Desk]

i vote everything seen below:

That is giving me a headache.

[jettagli1991]

Well why not put a central locking button in the center of the car? The switch doesn't do just one door so why put it on the door if the scope of what it operates is all the doors?

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

[200HP4dr]

THIS

My old Grand Voyager and Cherokee were like that. Infurating when you actually need to use the horn.

I also have that GM hazard switch in my Sierra. I must admit it did take me some time to figure it out. Especially how to turn it off.

Yeah, but at least the buttons on the Chrysler were nice and big and right where your thumbs go.

Chris

[1985Jetta]

I hate the redesigned headlight switch in our 1986 Cutlass Supreme. It looks out of place to me.




I wish the put the switches in our 1965 Skylark 4-door sedan elsewhere. Not our car pictured.

[the flying grape!]

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

I must admit I was frustrated at first with my E60 when I couldn't for the life of me find the door lock button. It just wasn't where the button is on just about every other car. Then I found it and gave myself the forehead smack.

Now that I know where it is, it makes sense to have just the one button in a central location, and it's not hard at all to reach.

[the flying grape!]

pic snip...

In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

My old Mercury Lynx had the horn on the stalk. It's fine if you are expecting or planning to honk the horn, but in an emergency situation, you're going to slam your hand into the wheel. And the result is the sound of your hand hitting the steering wheel.

[Old Windy]

Oh the memories of ripping that switch out one to many times when my ex accidentaly had it on. Also the Super Bettle one had a tendecy to fall into the dash when you push it to turn it off.

[Aonarch]

i vote everything seen below:

IMO this is the worst INTERIOR of all time. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

[Old Windy]

i vote everything seen below:

The beauties of french design.

[VWVan]

i vote everything seen below:

My god.

[AKADriver]

Because it's the driver who would normally use the switch. And it's been on the door forever, why change it? And why make the button tiny and hard to find? I was driving a Fiesta and went to unlock the doors to let someone in, and it took me a while to find the switch that wasn't located where it should have been.

My Mk3 Golf had its central locking button in the center of the dash. It's not a "all cars have always done it this way" thing. Central locking buttons are often placed on the door because it's a door-related function, but there's plenty of precedent for lock buttons in the dash or center console (along with window switches placed likewise).

[Jettavr666]

Ugh. This thread is a perfect example of the mkIV/B5 interiors raising the bar for plebeian transportation. My first 5 cars had this switch and I never had a problem with it. As a matter of fact, I still miss the old GM cruise controls too.

Exactly.

When you consider that even mercedes didnt have an interior of the same tactile quality at the time it seriously raised the bar for all other makers.

[gonzo08452]

IMO, this was the worst part of my old a$$ Olds Cutlass Cierra


I kept breaking the door key

[choochoo]

My Mk3 Golf had its central locking button in the center of the dash. It's not a "all cars have always done it this way" thing. Central locking buttons are often placed on the door because it's a door-related function, but there's plenty of precedent for lock buttons in the dash or center console (along with window switches placed likewise).

I don't have a problem with the central locking button on the central console, besides it being a small button. but a lack of one on the doors seems like a glaring omission IMO.

[retro_rocket]

My first car was an 80's J-body. It had that horrible switch

I have a worse one, the switch surround from mid 90's fords broke constantly.

And my second car was a '96 Probe, and this exact piece broke apart and fell into the passenger door panel Also the backlighting in these switches started to die after a while, which meant fumbling around in the dark to try to lock the doors or put the window down.

[Tokyosmash]

i vote everything seen below:

Citroen?

[WD-40]

IMO, this was the worst part of my old a$$ Olds Cutlass Cierra


I kept breaking the door key

What?? Those keys were awesome! Especially the all-metal ones, without the plastic ends. They were short, simple, and easy to tell apart.



At one point, I had three sets of them on my key ring in my pocket. To this day, they were some of the smallest car keys I ever carried - not the giant remote-control monstrosities that "modern" car keys are.

[Arachnotron]

My 2002 Z28 has that switch.

[1985Jetta]

What?? Those keys were awesome! Especially the all-metal ones, without the plastic ends. They were short, simple, and easy to tell apart.

This.

[koston.]

VW T4 and Mk3 drivers who have the hazard switch on top of the column.

Ergonomically, yeah its a pain to hit when in motion. But the feel of the button, and that it lights up in a huge hazard implying way? TOTALLY AWESOME.

[IdontOwnAVW]

Bitching about the lock button on an E90 makes me laugh. There wasn't even a lock button on a 2004-2005 GTO.

[WhistlerYOW]

I submit this:



In the late 70's, Ford decided that having the horn button(s) on the steering wheel was too difficult/accidentally activated/I have no idea WTF they were really thinking. Solution? Put the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

I recall more than a couple of people slamming their hands on the steering wheel to no effect when trying to use the horn in Fords of that era.

Also when airbags first came out and the horn was moved to the little buttons on the sides of the steering wheel (I think the Aveo still did this until like last year ).