Electric windows

[Konan555]

Are people in Norfolk notorious when it comes to not noticing traffic lights?

We probably would be if there where any. There's just not much need to put lights in the middle of fields.

If I had to wait for traffic lights to wind my windows down, I'd have already done about 25 miles

[Howard]

I couldn't live without them. It would get on my nerves pretty quickly not having them or central locking, but that's just 'cos I'm lazy.

[Shad]

I've just replaced my electric windows with manual ones!

In the Volvo, they are great. Perfect. But in the Honda... just one more thing that could go wrong. In fact they did go wrong. I did a track day in Wales in full race gear with the heater stuck on hot (unrelated issue), the sunroof glued in and the windows stuck closed!!

At least with manual windows they basically can't break

There was only a minor weight difference though; the actual motors themselves weren't particularly heavy. However, every little helps

[Fox]

IMHO, electric windows are not even a 'toy' - they are a bare essential, I will absolutely under never circumstances ever consider a car without them becuase if it doesn't have electric windows its unlikely to have anything else.

Absolute bare essentials in a car these days:

a) Electric Windows
b) Power Assisted Steering
c) Air Conditioning
d) Cruise Control.

If it doesn't have AT LEAST those 4, don't even waste your time.

With the exception of focused sports cars like the Exige where, lets face it, it doesnt matter, I generally tend to find those who say electric windows are not required are simply trying to make themselves feel better about the poverty specification of their car - lets face it, there is simply NO excuse to buy such a poorly specified car these days, buy smart and you don't even need to spend any extra money, you'll always be able to find, say, a 306 with electric windows for the price of one without.

[Lowe]

As above really, they're pretty much useful on normal road cars, but once you start getting focused on weight and performance I'll go for manual every time. Or, even better - fixed plexiglass windows.

[Konan555]

At least with manual windows they basically can't break

So long as the buggers don't fall off the runners!

[Shad]

True. Worth keeping the mechs well greased too.

The electrics in the Honda are a little... confused, which is why my leccy windows stopped working

As above though, on a road car it's a no brainer.

[SSA]

Electric windows save the effort on a hot day?? Surely on a hot day in this country in our cities, open windows are the last thing you'd want. Climate-controlled chilly air, filtered and fresh does it everytime for me

[SilentDeath]

IMHO, electric windows are not even a 'toy' - they are a bare essential, I will absolutely under never circumstances ever consider a car without them becuase if it doesn't have electric windows its unlikely to have anything else.

Absolute bare essentials in a car these days:

a) Electric Windows
b) Power Assisted Steering
c) Air Conditioning
d) Cruise Control.

If it doesn't have AT LEAST those 4, don't even waste your time.

With the exception of focused sports cars like the Exige where, lets face it, it doesnt matter, I generally tend to find those who say electric windows are not required are simply trying to make themselves feel better about the poverty specification of their car - lets face it, there is simply NO excuse to buy such a poorly specified car these days, buy smart and you don't even need to spend any extra money, you'll always be able to find, say, a 306 with electric windows for the price of one without.

Aircon is just a waste of fuel. The only time i wish i had it, is when my cars been parked in the sun for hours, which as you will agree is very rare (that the sun would even stay out for several hours.. )

Except maybe stupidly hot days, the air outside is always cold enough for me.. and you can use the spare fuel to drive a bit faster and get more air in


But back to windows, using manual ones whilst driving can in theory affect stearing and so should be banned.

[Konan555]

Aircon is just a waste of fuel. The only time i wish i had it, is when my cars been parked in the sun for hours, which as you will agree is very rare (that the sun would even stay out for several hours.. )

Except maybe stupidly hot days, the air outside is always cold enough for me.. and you can use the spare fuel to drive a bit faster and get more air in

Air con uses bugger all fuel if you're out on the open road in comparison with opening a window.

It's also incredibly handy for demisting

[Butuz]

Yeh demisting is the one really true good use that air con actually has. It dehumidify's and it does it bleedin well.

Butuz

[BenW]

Wasn't it prooved that air-con is more economical than having the windows open?

[Rave]

As someone who thinks all cars whould be as light as possible I like the idea of manual windows to save a few grammes. However, on the '96 model Suzuki RGV250 they found that a starter motor actually weighed less than a kickstart assembly- so I can't really figure out why this doesn't apply to all situations where motive power is needed, given that electric motors are so small and powerful these days. I guess it's probably due to marketing as much as anything else- I'm sure that fitting electric windows to a car actually costs the manufacturer 3/5ths of sod all, but it helps them to persuade punters to cough up more money for a higher specification level car. Similarly with fitting manual winders to sports cars it's probably as much to do with providing the customer with that stripped down 'race feel' as much as actually saving weight.

[[GSV]Trig]

The Vectra only has lekky in the front altho the Cav had them all round and there controlable from the front console.

[Funkstar]

Wasn't it prooved that air-con is more economical than having the windows open?

This was on a Myth Busters episode. Air-con uses a constant amount of power, and more fuel, no matter what speed you are traveling. Having your windows open however causes uses more fuel the faster you travel. I believe air-con gets to be more efficient at about 50mph if i remember right. Ironically, when it is really hot, you need aircon more at slower speeds because you don't get the same air flow you get at high speeds with the windows open

[5lab]

tbh, the best thing i've found for clearing the windscreen is the heated one in my car - i cant believe more cars dont have it - no scraping or wiping, just whack it on and wait a minute. awesome