10 Car Components Worth Saving

"Margin Of Error" (marginoferror) 08/04/2015 at 12:24 • Filed to: None

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Car enthusiasts are pretty vocal about the urgency of saving the manual transmission, but in this time and day, many other great car features are facing obsolescence because of safety regulations, bean counters and the general laziness of non-enthusiasts.

10 - Key ignition switch

9 - Sealed beams

8 - CD Player / Changer

7 - Crank windows

6 - Manually operated ragtops

5 - Analog gauges

4 - Normally aspirated BMW inline-6 engines

3 - Hydraulic power assisted steering

2 - Handbrakes

1 - Physical buttons/knobs

Decay buys too many beaters > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:28

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Agree with 1, 2, 3, 5, 10

Indifferent about 4, 6, 7

Disagree with 8 and 9

MultiplaOrgasms > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:30

2

I never thought I’d ever say this, but for once I agree with you on all points.

EXCEPT SEALED BEAMS

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Decay buys too many beaters 08/04/2015 at 12:30

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Any explanations?

I’m not sure a lot of these make sense. For example, the only reason I use my CD changer is because I don’t have an aux jack.

Margin Of Error > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 12:30

4

Sealed beams on commercial trucks makes a lot of sense.

Cheap and easy to fix

MPA > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:33

4

Keyed ignition? I’m fine without them. It’s so nice walking up to the car, getting it and starting it without reaching into your pocket

Party-vi > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:34

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lulz too late

Decay buys too many beaters > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 08/04/2015 at 12:34

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Yeah, I think If manufacturers switched from cd players to aux jacks nobody would even notice. I haven’t touched a CD in years.

Sealed beam headlights are just generally wasteful and not as bright or efficient as modern bulbs.

Ed, for the old good times > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:34

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According to recent news I would add... Driver!

RockThrillz89 > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:35

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So pretty much 10 years ago? I’m fine with that.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > Decay buys too many beaters 08/04/2015 at 12:36

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Woops, that was supposed to be a stand alone comment. Damn mobile...

Margin Of Error > MPA 08/04/2015 at 12:36

1

That’s a lot of hardware and excessive complexity for such a little perk.

There’s a reason refrigerator doors don’t open automatically when you walk toward them.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:36

2

1. YES.

2. YES.

3. GM has proved electric steering can be set up properly, so I wouldn’t hold this as a general rule. However, put in the effort to set it up right or GTFO and gib hydraulic plox

4. YES.

5. ALL THE YES

6. Meh, I don’t care.

7. Ditto.

8. Yes. Changer especially.

9. They have their uses.

10. ALL THE YES. I don’t like pushbutton start. Also, what happens in a situation where the pedal sticks/general computer control goes AWOL? With a key, you can physically break the connection. With a button, you’re going for a ride.

misfitmascots > Decay buys too many beaters 08/04/2015 at 12:37

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I would notice.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:38

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Don’t forget windscreens. I’m sure that some bean counter somewhere is just dying to kill the windscreen once autonomous cars come out.

Decay buys too many beaters > misfitmascots 08/04/2015 at 12:48

1

Plus

solved

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:48

8

Save the manuals: greasy hands, not once!

Captain of the Enterprise > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:50

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I don’t need the cd player but I do want the aux jack.

Margin Of Error > Party-vi 08/04/2015 at 12:50

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That can’t be

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 12:50

1

Round sealed beams always looked just fine, IMHO.

Sweet Trav > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:53

1

1 and 5 are the only ones I care about.

The rest are being phased out for a reason. EPAS is amazing when done right.

I'll gladly take a 200+ horsepower turbo 3 cylinder that weighs less than 200kg.

jjhats > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 12:58

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my proximity key/push button have made me really lazy and I love not having to work a key

TheRealBicycleBuck > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:01

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BUTTONS! Give me back my BUTTONS!!!

Brickman > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:02

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10. Yes!

9. ehh

8. sure

7. Nope. Had manual windows my whole life and im like a 2 year old when it comes to the magical power windows :D

6. Sure

5. YES!

4. Yes!

3. Yes!

2. yep!

1. YES!

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 13:04

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Round headlight is round headlight, except when the car in question (usually european) was never designed for round headlights (am I right Citroën SM?). In that case round sealed beams almost universally look worse.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:05

2

Agree with everything except #8. I would much rather have a cassette player.

Margin Of Error > BrownMiataDieselWagon 08/04/2015 at 13:06

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Yes, but I think cassette players already went extinct.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > MPA 08/04/2015 at 13:06

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Except when you: get in the car, sit down, push the button, key not found!,swear, pull key out of your pocket,swear again, hold it next to button, push button, put key back in pocket, swear one last time, leave.

I know this from experience.

I’d much rather, get in, turn key, leave

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/04/2015 at 13:10

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yes gawd yes. My ford fusion has all touch sensitive buttons, even the seat heater button.

So get this if it’s cold enough to need the seat heaters on you are more than likely wearing gloves. so when it’s minus 40 I have to get in the car,remove glove,turn on seat heater,put glove back on.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 13:12

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Oh certainly, I’m not all over sealed beams as a mandate. I do, however, like them as an industry standard and think that the current tendency toward lumpier and weirder housings is doing the styling world no favors.

spanfucker retire bitch > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:22

2

Why? These things are garbage.

Margin Of Error > spanfucker retire bitch 08/04/2015 at 13:24

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They make sense on work trucks

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 13:27

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I don’t care about the styling aspect that much, but I prefer the functional benefits you get from more advanced lighting technologies.

TheHondaBro > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:41

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10. No.

9. No.

8. No.

7. No.

6. No.

5. No.

4. Okay.

3. They’re both just fine.

2. Don’t care.

1. Yes.

misfitmascots > Decay buys too many beaters 08/04/2015 at 13:41

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No

TheHondaBro > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:42

1

Because when you push the START button, it should be assumed that you want to drive the car.

TheHondaBro > BrownMiataDieselWagon 08/04/2015 at 13:42

2

Bruh, in-car record player!

TheHondaBro > jjhats 08/04/2015 at 13:44

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Exactly. My dad’s Fit has keyless start and I love it.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 13:45

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Nope. Never going back.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 13:45

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Sure, but... depending on the deploying of those advanced lighting technologies, they’re often less functional in terms of everything but the light output when new. Control modules on the lamp unit, plastic lenses that can degrade over time, leaky housings, ballasts for CFL, and a dozen little ways to undergo expensive partial failure. That’s without talking about the tendency to make housings that require bumper or fender liner pulls to access the back of for element replacement. I don’t hold that sealed beams are best in all respects, but they usually at least don’t look *stupid*, and the packaging from an industrial design standpoint is iconic. An LED glass-lens sealed beam unit is, to me, the best of both worlds.

jjhats > TheHondaBro 08/04/2015 at 13:53

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I think its funny how fast tech trickles down to low cost cars. my focus has it but my dads new Mercedes glk doesnt

Tareim - V8 powered > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 14:03

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really don’t know why anyone would want CD’s over USB/SD card as it can hold so much more on it and takes up a lot less space both in the format itself and the head unit itself can be smaller by up to half the depth of a CD stereo

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 14:10

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As is the way with all “advanced” things, modern lighting tech still has a number of issues that can however be adressed through continuous research and development. Sealed beams have a massive advantage in that regard as they are a proven design which has been in use for several decades. Give the new tech a few years, and the durability and reliability will eventually be massively improved.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 14:25

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Something ever MGB owner should have on them at all times.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 15:26

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That’s just the trouble - a lack of standardization is a profound setback to improvements in the specific failures common to the new tech, rather than the general ones. Who cares if a housing leaks if there’s a new model coming next year? A way of making a mistake is much harder to correct than any one specific mistake - take for example ongoing issues with given automakers and interior quality, or oil consumption, or rustproofing, or transmission failures... any number of things which should be possible to correct, but aren’t because the next generation always goes forward with the same culture behind it and nothing is learned. I fear we’ll be dealing with leaking housings, overheating modules, and extreme difficulty of service for the foreseeable future.

Sealed beam advantages also have very little to do *mechanically* with their time in use and development - a mechanically elegant design which is simple only can improve so much, but typically starts at a fairly high level due to fewer things to go wrong. I absolutely don’t (retroactively) support the sealed beam mandate in the US, but the other extreme (yay! everybody can design headlights with modernity and power that best fit their model!) is equally troubled. Let’s go down the list of seeming advantages and some more negative takes on them:

“Designs can best match the car!” - >A few trends catch on and are aped relentlessly regardless whether they fit (angel eyes, etc.) - and situations in which the designer tries to make something unique have no backstop for failure, see the new Cherokee. See also model uniqueness leading to limited model application of lighting elements.

“Headlights are now aerodynamic!” -> true, but plastic aerodynamic shapes in shear with the flow of objects over the hood abrade very quickly, suffer sun damage due to higher exposure (and material), and are doomed to FOD. Better materials can help, but there is no cure. Headlight covers suffer most of these same issues, but offer the same advantages to sealed beam use, so the advantages aren’t out of reach.

“Headlights can now be replaced at only the element!” -> also true, but with most element replacements being as or more difficult than replacing a sealed beam, and non-standard element usage, any cost advantage is pissed away, without even counting DRL elements or other items requiring a replacement of more...

“Modern lighting technology/brightness!” -> can be incorporated into a modular unit, specifically a sealed beam style one. Apart from slightly elevated cost at replacement, no distinction. This also covers headlights lasting longer, having better dispersal patterns, etc.

“Headlights cost less for more!” - > true from a manufacturer’s standpoint, but by the same token that manufacturers can do a lot more with electronics and fuse-welded plastic housings at a price point, you get what you pay for. Headlight fluid was meant to be a joke, dangit, not the result of a day in the rain. Burned DC rectifiers in the outside buttcrack of a housing shaped like a piece of eggshell a la Pablo Picasso are nobody’s idea of fun either.

At the end of the day, I don’t really have anything against modern lamps across the board, but sealed beams absolutely should still have a place in the market. Hissing them because “new tech is just better” is... well, I hesitate to say “your opinion is wrong”, but it is most certainly not self-evident fact. Opinion it is.

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 15:42

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I am too lazy to reply. Consider it a win.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 15:54

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Well, you indicated, in all caps I might add, that sealed beams were not worth saving. I’m not pushing them as clearly superior, just as a mature, functional tech that doesn’t NEED TO DIE RIGHT NOW OMG. Like the manual.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 16:05

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Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 17:00

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Did I? That is probably because of my european heritage, as sealed beams weren’t mandatory for half a century over here. As a matter of fact sealed beams are virtually none-existent where I live (aside from a bunch of vintage Dodges owned by some guy in my village), so for me, as a person who grew up with leaky, yellowed and broken swivveling headlights its hard to justify saving something I’ll never use, ever.

Berang > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 17:02

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Save radios that actually have controls one can understand.

Shoop > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 17:39

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AUX JACK

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 17:50

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Swiveling headlights are neat, admittedly. Sealed beams are close to non-existent in a lot of US areas as well for passenger cars just due to attrition, because they have been un-mandatory for long enough here compared to mean age of death in the rust belt, etc. Plenty of older stuff of any kind with them, though, here or in Europe, when you look for it. *shrug* They’re a functional thing that certainly didn’t need to be mandated, and are clearly past their prime for popular use, but they lend themselves well to the design styles I like...

Case study: I think this is a clean and practical look and every bit the equal of the Euro equivalent looks-wise, even if it wasn’t meant to be:

Though, of course, world markets hadn’t been there since the W108:

Is the world W115 helped that much by having monolithic lights, looks wise? I’m not convinced.

Anyway, it’s mostly a preference thing: completely abandoned by the car world at large, but I suspect far more due to cost and aerodynamics these days than for any real practical improvements. There are improvements today that failed to be on-time for the sealed beam to protect it from being lightly inferior back when the style limited *bulb* and reflector use somewhat, but these days, when someone can have pretty much any style they want, it’d be nice to see even a touch on the old standards.

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 17:57

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k

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 18:13

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Maybe I should have just said “save real round and rectangle headlights” to save time. Not trying to be a bore, just wasn’t sure you realized there even *was* a case for the tech. Also, this shit is ridiculous:

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 18:55

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k

(It isn’t)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 19:06

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I WILL NOW SWEAR OFF TALKING ABOUT HEADLIGHTS AT ALL FOR A WEEK

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 19:07

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k

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 19:14

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(I was trying to hint I owed you an apology for dragging things out when you didn’t want to continue. For whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry.)

MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 19:16

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k

...

...

...

headlights suck

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MultiplaOrgasms 08/04/2015 at 19:20

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MultiplaOrgasms > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/04/2015 at 19:25

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MM54 > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 19:36

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I’m totally on board with all of these except for sealed beam headlights.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Margin Of Error 08/04/2015 at 22:25

1

I agree with everything else, but sealed beams....? Pretty sure changing a bulb is MUCH easier, more convenient and less time consuming than changing an entire headlight.......no thanks to sealed beams unless they are on classic cars and have no other alternative.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Margin Of Error 08/05/2015 at 04:43

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no loss.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Margin Of Error 08/05/2015 at 04:44

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Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so much want in my next car!

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 08/18/2015 at 10:03

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Also wheels.

Damn hovercars.

Echo51 > Margin Of Error 08/24/2015 at 12:06

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What advantage do they have? You have to replace the entire unit when the bulb burns out, correct?