I pride myself on taking care of my car -- not so much in the looks department as in keeping it running. After 22 years with my 1988 Ford Escort (purchased new), it was time for my third car. Over the years, after someone backing into the front corner, being on fire twice, a tree falling over it, and being rear-ended twice (the second rear-ending put the appearance into its death throes), it was time. Being a tall guy in a short world (at six feet, five inches), I don't just fit into any vehicle. After much research and test driving, I ended up in a 2012 Subaru Outback.
The transition from 23-year-old auto technology to the modern world was impressive and also disappointing. As I drove the car and adapted from a small car that was a snug fit to a large one that fit very well, my little paradise began to fall apart. All the cars I have owned have been manual transmissions. So is my Outback. Yet it didn't take long for the first monkey to start taunting me.
Emergency flashers are probably one of the least-used features on a car. So where was the emergency button placed? It was in the middle of the center console, behind the stick-shift, level with the shift knob and about two-and-a-half inches away when the lever is in a forward position. More so when I first got the car but still happening on occasion, when I reach for the shift, one of my fingers will skip off the button and turn on the emergency flashers. Sometimes I catch it and turn them off. Other times, I would be driving down the road and then notice the flashing lights on the dash. I have contemplated finding a clear piece of plastic to mount over the button to help prevent the unintentional fingering, but I have yet to do so. Why did they choose that placement? Maybe because it looks nice and provides nice visual symmetry.
The seat warmer switch is also a problem. While it is a nice feature on a cold day, why did they mount it facing up on the center console, between the seat and double-drink holder? Driving my mother to a doctor's appointment, I took a drink and put the cup back in the holder. I unknowingly hit the switch, and for the next 20 minutes, I was trying to figure out if the AC was working. There I was, hot, just sitting there driving while the AC was blowing reasonably cool air. In the meantime, I was getting hotter and hotter.
And don't get me started about the radio.
This entry was submitted by Richard Bedell and edited by Rob Spiegel.
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Richard, the dashboard has a finite amount of space. Location of the hazard button is low priority, so it gets put low and "out of the way". It's a somewhat understandable (if frustrating) design choice.
I have a bigger problem with changing the "standard" location of common controls. The PT Cruiser design team made a conscious choice to simplify wiring. Commendable. Removing wiring harnesses from a door is always a good choice, except when controls that have ALWAYS been on the door get moved. The PT Cruiser has its window controls mounted right in the middle of the dashboard.
Granted, it's a central location for both front seat occupants. However, this is not a good design choice for a car that is frequently used in rental car fleets. Every first-time renter who is not a PT Cruiser owner fumbles around for a minute looking for the window buttons.
Yes, it does take time to adapt. The emergency flasher will probably always be an issue with my large hands. I do remember the first time it rained while driving the Subaru. I almost had to pull over to search for the windshield wiper control. The Ford Escort was on the left hand steering column lever and the Subaru had it on the right side and it operated differently. I have adapted. I haven't hit the seat warmer in awhile either. But that emergency button...
Richard, you have discovered one of the conumdrums of modern automobile design. We just replaced a ten year old minivan. The transmission went and we decided that the cost of fixing that coupled with the mileage on the van made a replacement the prudent thing to do. This was for my wife. So, while we didn't have quite the leap you did, there is quite a difference. We also had two cars from the same manufacturer from the same year. The controls were not exactly the same, but they were similar. Now they are very different. We have not run into quite the issues you have, but it does take some adjustment. There always seems to be something in a place you don't expect, or want it. You would think that with all the ergonomics research that has been done that you new Subaru would be better laid out.
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