Stupid Design

[BigNutz]

I cannot be the only person who is highly annoyed by this blatant design screw-up. So I have a 2006 EB V8, but I'm certain that this spans all models....ready? The damned turn signal stem!

So who's bright idea was it to mount 30-45 degrees higher than every other vehicle in the world? It's not a show stopper, just severely inconvienient. And the add insult to stupidity every switch on that stem is activated by the breeze coming in the window. Whenever I try to turn left, I end up turning the high beams on, friggin' windshield wipers start going insane....

I feel like the head engineer at Ford had a high school drop-out nephew that was given this design as a way to make him stop talking, and this was the result.....

 

[94 explorer xlt]

I hear ya I bump mine every now and then and flip the high beams on but have gotten used to it. Now when I drive my wife's car I'm feeling for it way up high.

 

[Ornery]

Agreed

You mean that's not where it's located on all newer cars? I wouldn't know. Been driving the Panther platform exclusively for the last thirty years. I've always wondered whose bright idea it was to throw all those controls on the end of the turn signal in the first place? Was there some kind of contest to see who could cram the most on there? Turn signal, wiper front & rear, washer switch(es), high beam... sheesh.

Having it mounted at 11:00 is just one more thing for me to get used to. I'm still not too keen on having the gearshift on a console. Hell, I don't particularly even want a console!

 

[BigNutz]

Yeah, my dad has a prostetic leg, so needs a car without a center console which is becoming harder and harder to find. Just got himself a 2011 Dodge Caravan....Who'da thunk???

 

[koda2000]

i agree it's just stupid. i can't understand why they did this. and who came up with push down for high beam.

 

[jrford]

Whenever I try to turn left, I end up turning the high beams on, friggin' windshield wipers start going insane....

bummer, i do the same thing, i know the 3rd gens where setup the same, didn't seem to be a problem with it. I also like the shifter on the steering column, more out of the way.

 

[thebrakeman]

We've had our Mounty for about 18 months, and I noticed it when we got it, too.
I hadn't really thought about it until I read this thread. And my daily driver has it in a lower position. So don't worry about it. You'll forget about it as soon as you choose to.

 

[willied]

I actually like how it is after getting used to it. I never have problems with it accidentally engaging anything, but that's just my experience. Whatever the case, I like it a lot more than the turn signal stalk in the 5th gen Explorers. I do wish the shifter was on the steering column, as it takes up way too much space in the center console area. And once you plug something into the power outlet that then gets in the way of having a drink there. That and the door grab handles are some of the worst designs I've ever seen in a car.

 

[banditxp]

yup i like it to, i hate how on older cars like my 95 Bonneville SSEi i have to reach so far for it and i have avg size hands and it pretty much need to take my left hand off the wheel to reach it. I like how on my Ex i can just stick my finger tips out and turn on the high beams or turn signal

 

[Ornery]

OMG, Now I'm One of "Them"!

I just discovered yesterday to my chagrin, that I'm now one of the hated. Not because I'm driving a gasoline and road hogging SUV, but because the filler tube is on the wrong side!

Bought the Explorer a couple weeks ago with a full tank, so I made my first fuel stop yesterday. Boy, what a shock! I've been cursing wrong side fillers for the last forty years, and now I'm one of them! Talk about stupid designs, @ #$%^&*!

 

[willied]

I just discovered yesterday to my chagrin, that I'm now one of the hated. Not because I'm driving a gasoline and road hogging SUV, but because the filler tube is on the wrong side!

Bought the Explorer a couple weeks ago with a full tank, so I made my first fuel stop yesterday. Boy, what a shock! I've been cursing wrong side fillers for the last forty years, and now I'm one of them! Talk about stupid designs, @ #$%^&*!

I'd prefer it to be on the driver's side, but I think they have to have it that way because of the gas tank's location, though don't take my word for it.

 

[blueoval9erlifer]

I agree completely with you Ornery. I still pull up to the wrong side every now and then and have had mine for almost a year. Maybe they could figure out how to hide it completely like under the license plate how cars from the 70's had it. Or even better yet up on the front fender and on the wrong side like in Vacation.

 

[SBV45]

My fuel gauge has a fuel icon with a little arrow that points to which side the filler is on. Makes you wonder if they make them for different locales.

And yes, the turn signal switch is a cluster. The owner manual calls it a "Multifunction Lever".