Poor car design

Gloomendoom

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

A clutch replacement on a modern discovery is a dream job as I understand (whole body lifted off the chassis), sexy.

Does anyone buy a manual modern Discovery?

Gloomendoom

patman99 wrote: »

Anyway, don't get me started on the engine cover and bottom trays that car makers fit theses days. They serve absolutly no purpose whatsoever other than to act as a skip-filler.

Apart from reducing noise and aerodynamic drag.

Btw, did you ever wonder why car makers colour-coded the various caps under the bonnet (you know, green cap for coolant system expansion bottle and radiator cap, blue cap for screenwash & yellow for oil filler cap and dipstick)?. Well, it is a scheme originally introduced by Rover on their Metro as an aid to women drivers (the car's intended target market) when checking and topping-up the fluids.

The designers discovered that by talking to women owners, that the women did no basic checks as they were not confident in getting the right fluid in the right hole. The remedy ?, colour-code everything.

And the problem with that is?

Richard53

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

Like the Discovery 3 you mean? Body off to replace the turbo lol

I said Land Rovers, not overpriced posemobiles.

facade wrote: »

It is easy.
You take the water pump off.

That, Sir, is cheating.

27col

I expect that all the engine auxiliaries were easy to get at before the running gear was married to the body.
You may assume from my post that I watch a lot of "How it's made and Megafactory" type programmes.

Gaz83

I still can't get over the battery for the Citroen Xsara Picasso being mounted underneath the passenger seat.

At least with the Mk1 it had two clips that allowed you to fold the passenger seat over, allowing relatively easy access. On the Mk2 you have to remove the whole seat.

N9eav

Gaz83 wrote: »

I still can't get over the battery for the Citroen Xsara Picasso being mounted underneath the passenger seat.

At least with the Mk1 it had two clips that allowed you to fold the passenger seat over, allowing relatively easy access. On the Mk2 you have to remove the whole seat.

Chrysler PT cruiser diesel is the same and its a gel cell battery that costs £250 a time just for the battery.

worried_jim

N9eav wrote: »

My old Peugeot 505 estate required the engine to be removed to change the clutch.

A friend got given for free a Renault 4 in the early 90's. It was time for an oil change but to take the oil filter off half the engine needed dismantling and the owner didn't have the time or money to do so and just gave the car away.

AdrianC

worried_jim wrote: »

A friend got given for free a Renault 4 in the early 90's. It was time for an oil change but to take the oil filter off half the engine needed dismantling and the owner didn't have the time or money to do so and just gave the car away.

http://www.renault4.co.uk/oil-change.htm
Seems easy enough with a not-exactly-uncommon tool.

Gloomendoom

AdrianC wrote: »

http://www.renault4.co.uk/oil-change.htm
Seems easy enough with a not-exactly-uncommon tool.

It was the same with the Citroen CX. It seemed easy enough. Just unscrew the filter with a not uncommon tool. In practise, it was pretty much impossible without also removing the housing and cooler assembly.

AdrianC

Gloomendoom wrote: »

It was the same with the Citroen CX. It seemed easy enough. Just unscrew the filter with a not uncommon tool. In practise, it was pretty much impossible without also removing the housing and cooler assembly.

Never had a problem with any of the four CXs I owned...