Does your car have a nifty feature?

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake) 03/26/2014 at 19:52 • Filed to: None

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All 3 cars I've owned have had some nifty feature. I'm talking about a feature that isn't necessarily advertised, or maybe just one that's not that special. It's just...nifty!

The Accord I had in college would roll all its windows down when you held the unlock button on the key. It was really, really nice in the summer. This one sort of toes the line of nifty, I honestly wish all cars had it.

My Kia had speaker lights that beat to the music. Nifty!

On my Sonic, the rear wiper automatically wipes if you are in reverse with the wipers on. It's a nice little touch. I honestly didn't know this was advertised until just now.

So what do your cars do that you think is neat, or nifty?

Josh Welton > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:54

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My first two cars were mid 80s Mazda 626s. The center dash vent moved from side to side. I didn't think much of it, but all my friends thought that was the coolest thing ever...

My '09 Ram R/T has a gear that's only accessible by manually shifting, or in auto when it down shifts. The gap between 2nd and 3rd(545rfe) are so spread apart that they put it in as a bridge, but they don't tell you it doesn't engage during normal driving. That trick takes off a couple tenths in the 1/4 mile, one reason the times for those trucks are all over the board.

Lekker > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:54

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My Z rolls its windows down if I press and hold the unlock button for 5 seconds. Simple, but nice to air it out :D

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:54

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At low speeds in my focus when I turn the steering wheel additional lights on the side of the car come on so I can see whats on the ground around me. It's actually incredibly handy in places without a lot of streetlamps.

jkm7680 > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:54

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On my A4, that thing is a "Business card holder." (Not my Picture)

AM3R > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:56

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My E90 BMW also does the windows down/sunroof open trick with the key fob!

I coded it so I can also close them, and whenever I lock the doors it folds my mirrors.

CAR_IS_MI > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 19:59

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My jeep has doors that come off...

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:01

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Uhh, my IS300 likes to warn you about engine problems by disabling traction control. Nifty eh?

RPM esq. > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:02

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Mine has two features I'd consider "nifty." First, it does the same window trick as yours, where if you hold down one of the buttons on the remote it opens all the windows. And second, when you reverse, the passenger-side wing mirror rotates downward so you can see the curb if you're parallel parking (there is a switch to turn this on and off for when you're backing up but don't want to be looking at the ground!).

RPM esq. > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 03/26/2014 at 20:04

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My car does that if any of the throttle or emissions sensors go wrong, plus it goes into "limp mode." It's no fun driving an M3 at full power one minute, and limping up a hill with about 50 horsepower the next...

Jayhawk Jake > RPM esq. 03/26/2014 at 20:05

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Acura?

My dad had an MDX that did that mirror trick.

Jayhawk Jake > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 03/26/2014 at 20:06

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'Oh damn, lost traction in that turn. Guess I need to pop the hood'

Orange Exige > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:06

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My dad's 99 Maxima (which I'm driving now... :/ ) has the same feature where you hold the unlock button and it opens the front windows however long you hold it. So you can crack it open or open em full wide to prep for your arrival on a summer day.

My AW11 MR2 (first car), I don't think had any nifty feature lol. I guess you could count T-tops :P

My NA Miata has something that would fit right into the "nifty feature" categorization. If you lock them from the inside, the doors won't lock unless you pulled the outside handle while closing the door. I think it's super clever because it prevents you from accidentally locking your keys in the car seeing as you have to consciously hold the handle when you close it. It does get tiring when you have to keep reminding passengers about it though XD

Jayhawk Jake > CAR_IS_MI 03/26/2014 at 20:06

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A buddy of mine had a 4 door wrangler (that he traded for a Sonic :P), he would take the doors off to wax them.

RPM esq. > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:06

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E46 M3, actually. My girlfriend, who is a perfectly competent but very nervous parallel parker, is very jealous.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:09

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It goes surprisingly fast and sounds surprisingly loud for what it is. :p

Jayhawk Jake > AM3R 03/26/2014 at 20:10

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Power folding mirrors are becoming popular, but I can't see the point.

I so desperately wish I had the auto down windows...it was a great feature, especially here where it can get to 110 in the summer...and I have a black car with black interior.

Jayhawk Jake > jkm7680 03/26/2014 at 20:11

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Interesting. I've got a form of a business card holder, the vanity mirror covers have a slot that fits business cards. I've got the card for a service rep at the dealer in there.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:11

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Flip on a turn signal in my Buick and a secondary headlight on the left or right side lights up where you're turning.

Jayhawk Jake > RPM esq. 03/26/2014 at 20:12

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I liked it the few times I drove my dad's car.

My mom is a nervous parallel parker. She once hit a curb and popped a tire. I don't think I've seen her parallel park since, and that probably happened almost 20 years ago

jkm7680 > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:12

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Yeah, it's a thoughtful feature, I don't really use it much though.

bhardoin > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:13

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Rearview mirrors always have that little tab to turn them during the night, so that you don't get blinded by someone's headlights. But the tab on my Z's has the classiest little sun on one side, and when you turn it at night the other side has a star on it.

Also, I can change the oil on my car without laying down or lifting the car. There is so much space in the engine bay, and its so low, that I can just bend down, reach around the engine, and loosen the drain plug. The filter is just on the side of the block in plain view. So just slide the drain pan under, done. So awesome.

awe46m3zcp > RPM esq. 03/26/2014 at 20:14

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Don't forget our rechargeable flashlight in the glovebox.....another nifty feature.

Jayhawk Jake > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 03/26/2014 at 20:15

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Sort of like turning headlights, but fixed. That would be nice in dark areas. My Kia almost had something like that by accident: it had turn signals in the mirrors and they were really bright, so they lit up the side of the car...

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:17

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The nice part about these is that they're not tied to the turn signal but to the actual movement of the steering wheel so going through low speed bends and stuff you can see where you're going. Believe it or not I drive my little Focus out to oil rigs now and drive on a lot of dirt and gravel roads in the middle of nowhere, this feature can be a lifesaver when driving in the dark.

RPM esq. > awe46m3zcp 03/26/2014 at 20:17

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Good point! That reminds me that the location of the E46's fuse box might qualify as well—in a hidden drawer that drops down inside the glove box.

Jayhawk Jake > bhardoin 03/26/2014 at 20:18

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What year Z do you have?

I miss my autodimming mirror...

thedevilinside > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 03/26/2014 at 20:21

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Yup, this. I guess I have other "cool" features too, but I'm not sure what they are right now. Maybe that the wiper pauses then wipes one last time when windshield fluid is sprayed? That can be useful.

desertdog5051 > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:24

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Sadly, the only nifty feature mine has is it starts every dayl :)

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:24

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My car has an air purifier. in 2002.

There's no air purifier listed in the brochure, so i think that's nifty.

Milky > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:25

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That rear wiper thing actually makes a lot of sense, wish either Jeep I had would of had that.

As for me, I still love the spoiler on my car. It seems like an active is a must for any sports car above 50k now, but back in '04 it had to be pretty damn sweet. I feel cool merging on the highway and seeing it go up.

Vizzini > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:25

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An example of German over-engineering: when the headlights are on, my instrument lighting fades on and off depending on ambient light. Sounds weird, but surprisingly nice in mixed lighting conditions. Drive through a bunch of shade, the lights come up. Pop out into the sun again, the lights fade back down.

bhardoin > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:26

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71.
Autodimming mirror sounds awesome. haha

Jayhawk Jake > Vizzini 03/26/2014 at 20:27

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That's interesting, and I can see how it'd be nice.

Jayhawk Jake > Milky 03/26/2014 at 20:28

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I remember thinking that was the coolest thing ever when the Crossfire came out

Jayhawk Jake > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK 03/26/2014 at 20:29

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I figured that's what you meant. Around here it would be nice, if you venture outside of the city proper at night it's dark . I can think of a few occasions where I could have used it driving at night across Kansas...

Jayhawk Jake > bhardoin 03/26/2014 at 20:31

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The Kia had an autodimming mirror, and my parent's last few cars have had it. It's really nice. It broke in my dad's old Acura though...half the mirror was permanently dimmed. Replacements ran something like $250 too...

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:34

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POPUP HEADLIGHTS

Also Toyota introduced this "weather experience device" that lets me feel the rain even when I have the roof on and the windows up.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:35

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My dad's Silverado has the ability to turn up and down the annoying chimes for the doors, lights, etc. You can also search for radio stations in the area under certain genres, and it actually works.

Milky > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:37

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#AllTheDownForce

bhardoin > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:39

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Blueh. That's so much damn money. Freaking new cars.

philipilihp > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:41

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My E90 335i has a removable panel in the middle of the back seat, behind the fold down armrest. When you pull it out, it's actually a box containing a bag to put your skis in so you can put them in the trunk and they can stick out of the rear seats into the cabin, but won't get it dirty! I don't have skis, but I like the fact that BMW thought about that.

Jayhawk Jake > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 03/26/2014 at 20:42

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Pop up headlights are awesome. I long for a car with them...

antmicmkii > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:43

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I could start my first car with any key, or a screwdriver, or a butter knife. I don't think that's the same kind of nifty feature your taking about though.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:47

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I've had MR2's for so long now that it feels weird if I drive a car without them.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 20:58

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Autolamps. Not DRLs but headlights that come on when its dark out. (I need to fix mine, the damn sensor is burnt out)

Jayhawk Jake > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 03/26/2014 at 21:00

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Mines got that too. Seems to be the trend as standard now.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 21:05

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The parcel shelf on the first gen BMW MINI. I'm not too sure if the next two gens have the same feature, but I still think it's pretty damn clever.

Ok, see the parcel shelf (ignore the speakers, I just grabbed the picture off the internets)? There's that cutout in the middle. Normally, the cutout rests on top of the rear wiper motor hump. It also happens to be exactly the same diameter as the transmission tunnel hump.

On the back are two more raised humps. These usually sit in line with the back of the seats, you can see that in the first pic. However, when you fold the seats down (make sure the headrests are fully down), you remove the parcel shelf from the trunk and the two humps on the back sit over the headrests and the cutout in the middle sits over the transmission tunnel.

Very clever I think, because you don't have to take the whole thing out and find somewhere to put it, it just stows neatly away in the car.

Jayhawk Jake > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 03/26/2014 at 21:09

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My Sonic also has nice options for storing that piece. It can slide to sit behind the rear seats (up against them) in a groove meant for it. Then the floor of the cargo area opens up and it fits underneath, which is actually where I have mine now.

Agrajag > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 21:09

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On my 240d, it has two interior dome lights, one in the front and one in the back. Not so uncommon. The cool part is that the front one only turns on when one of the front doors is opened, and likewise for the rear.

AM3R > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 21:09

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My mirrors were dinged twice within the first week of me getting the car, so I was pretty happy that it stopped happening after I coded them.

My car is dark grey on black, so I feel your pain. It's crazy just how hot it can get in there.

QCGoose > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 21:15

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1st gen Ford Focuses (I have an '05 ZX3) have a pen/pencil holder on their center console next to the e-brake:

When I picked up my ZX3 for a work commuter last November and was going through it to familiarize myself with everything, I wondered what that clamp and recess were for. Looked through the owner's manual and read "pencil holder"... Really? A freakin' built-in pencil holder? LOL!

Not sure I'd call it "nifty" more than I would "weird" and IMO pointless.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 22:50

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I have a secret gauge self-test. With the key in "on", you hold the odometer button for a few seconds, then while still holding it you turn the key to "run" and the lights will all come on and the dials will sweep up and down.

There's also a similar "key dance" to disable/enable the horn honk when I lock the car with the remote. You cycle the key between on and run five times and then hit the lock button on the remote, or something like that.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jayhawk Jake 03/26/2014 at 23:08

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The center armrest is a storage bin, and if you open the lid all the way you get a cupholder for the back seat as well as a dispenser for those little pocket tissue packs.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > QCGoose 03/26/2014 at 23:57

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That's actually really nifty. My pen just rolls around in the door pocket.

CAR_IS_MI > Jayhawk Jake 03/27/2014 at 00:01

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TF is wax? its a Jeep, it bathes in mud. Wax is for soccer moms.

bigbluehoop > Jayhawk Jake 03/27/2014 at 09:02

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I had a Jag with rain sensing wipers. I miss those....

Jayhawk Jake > bigbluehoop 03/27/2014 at 09:16

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My mom has an A5 with them. My dad and I took it to a car wash and forgot about the wipers, started going through and the wipers went off, we turned to each other like 'OH SHIT' and scrambled to figure out how to turn it off.

Drgn Lrd > Jayhawk Jake 03/27/2014 at 09:34

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my wife's silverado has a center floor console and there is a place to hold your pistol for you. This isn't my pic, but it shows the concept well

Benzed92 > Jayhawk Jake 03/27/2014 at 11:59

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My Mazdaspeed6 does the window thing too, and closes them when you close the door and hold the button on the handle. and the Jeep also has removable doors. I do wish the rear tailgate opened from the inside though.

Philbert/Phartnagle > Jayhawk Jake 03/31/2014 at 23:03

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When I stomp down on the accelerator pedal the rear tires squeal and smoke and the car goes sideways.

Does that count as a nifty feature?

Kickplate > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 00:29

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My S4 has an accessory plug in the trunk. I've had the car for eight years and I just noticed this thing, so I pushed it and the plug appeared. It popped out using one of those dampened hinges like on the glove box, totally over engineered.

Then when you flip the front seats forward, the headrests motor down. I don't know why Audi bothered, it's totally unnecessary. But it's cool.

One thing that none of my cars have is an engine light on the hood. It would be so helpful when adding washer fluid at night. Does anyone offer this anymore?

Buick Mackane > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 02:41

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My 67 Alfa Giulia Sprint GT Veloce has a choke and throttle lever under the dash. This car has no power options at all, however, you can pull the throttle lever while on the highway and use it as a cruise control if you are very careful. Kids, do not ever try this at home. I cant think of one nifty feature on my daily driver, a 96 Saturn SL2. Well maybe a couple of thing, you can freak out your friends and kick the sides of a Saturn SL2 as hard as you want and not dent it. Also, the Saturn SL has a spin on type transmission oil filter and a regular drain plug for the transmission fluid. Makes draining the trans fluid a breeze.

Longrush > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 06:47

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My Dad's Ford Mondeo has the heated windshield option. Makes for fast defrosting.

My Dodge Magnum has the flasher for lane changing , which goes on for 3 flashes only. That way I don't have to remember to turn the flasher off , although after half a mile a warning beep comes on.

My old Beetle (2005) had the option of closing windows also , but would dod the sunroof too.

Drives a Citroen, doesn't regret a thing! > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 07:19

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Citroen Xantia VSX 16v. Automatic suspension stiffening by increasing damping rate and blocking suspension fluid cross-flow between left and right sides of the car, according to changes in driving dynamics. In regular mode it's soft and rides like a magic carpet, and when it bites down it turns into a mad corner eater that makes passengers scream in terror. 1994 was the future!

Dean > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 09:15

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Our Fusion has a auto-dimming side mirror too. It's fancy.

Ricky Weston > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 10:25

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One of my Mercedes has radar cruise control, which is the best car gimmick ever. Love it to death. Makes commuting a breeze. On the other hand, it is fun to actually drive once in a while.......

venivelovici > RPM esq. 04/01/2014 at 14:07

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My dad's E32 did that, too. Also, the "pick your own wiper delay" feature counts as nifty, in my book. A bit convoluted, but useful. Also, the old school tripmeter in the dash: input distance to destination, and the arrival time is displayed on the dash and in the info screen in the IP.

venivelovici > AM3R 04/01/2014 at 14:09

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My friend was a longtime 4Runner owner. Blew his mind when I rolled down the rear window by putting the key in the lock in the tailgate and turned it (right?) to retract the window glass. Nifty!

venivelovici > Jayhawk Jake 04/01/2014 at 14:15

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When I bought my used Volvo 745, my mechanic showed me how to open the hood vertically: pop the hood, and open to about 45'. At the hood hinge, there is a little restrictor on a pivot that you can spin ~70'. This allows the hood to open vertically. Nifty!
(Tried to do an image search for this - no dice. Car's not available to photograph at the moment)

RPM esq. > venivelovici 04/01/2014 at 14:42

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Oh man, I loved using that trip computer in my E34.

venivelovici > RPM esq. 04/01/2014 at 14:50

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D=rt, amirite?

AM3R > venivelovici 04/01/2014 at 15:41

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love that trick! A friend of mine is a dog owner and he always rolls it down halfway whenever he has his dog with him. He says she loves it!

I think it's a really cool feature and I'm glad it's still available on the new 4runners.