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Most car technology improves over time, such as tires, brakes, suspension, economy, the list goes on.

Kinda puzzled why then indicator lights have become more crap in allot of modern cars?

The main problem arises with direct sunlight coming down on the indicator you want to see flashing.

I am not talking about sunlight in my eyes, i mean the opposite, the sun is in 'their' eyes coming from above and or behind me.

The indicator flashing is pretty much invisible. But older cars are not like that, you can see easily the indicator flashing.

Just wondering? wtf is going on with these modern cars?

Edit: not asking because i had an accident, since you cannot automatically trust an indicator you can see anyway.... but i have noticed it allot, and with all the fuss you see about road safety in the media, just seems so bizarre to me?
We are not allowed to drive 5kph over the speed limit or get a little tipsy, yet cars are allowed to have invisible indicators? wtf?
Post edited February 17, 2017 by mystikmind2000
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Don't get me started on new cars these days. I want a tach, speedo, oil and temp, 3 pedals, 4-6 speeds... everything else is fluff. Granted, I enjoy power windows and locks, but things are getting ridiculous. "Infotainment" system? Fuck, I need three knobs for the HVAC and 2 knobs and a few buttons for the radio. Maybe an Aux port to plug in the phone for tunes.

At some point they forgot that a car is for driving.
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HereForTheBeer: Don't get me started on new cars these days. I want a tach, speedo, oil and temp, 3 pedals, 4-6 speeds... everything else is fluff. Granted, I enjoy power windows and locks, but things are getting ridiculous. "Infotainment" system? Fuck, I need three knobs for the HVAC and 2 knobs and a few buttons for the radio. Maybe an Aux port to plug in the phone for tunes.

At some point they forgot that a car is for driving.
Like soon there will be mobile phones that do everything but make a call! lol

But really, there is something bizarre going on with indicators?

On the old cars the indicator is just plain orange glass, simple, it works.

Now they are trying to be too clever or something? i dunno? but the glass is now this clear white bubbly reflective bizzaro crap.... get the sun on it and its just blahhhh, useless. only the globe is orange. OK its wonderful at night, but people do actually drive cars during the day too!

Day drivers would also like to be able to see indicators flashing!!!!!
Post edited February 17, 2017 by mystikmind2000
high rated
Huh, from what I've seen, I figured new cars didn't even have them anymore since no one seems to bother using the bloody things anyway.
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GR00T: Huh, from what I've seen, I figured new cars didn't even have them anymore since no one seems to bother using the bloody things anyway.
Signals. Where I live most people don't even bother with brakes.
Post edited February 17, 2017 by tinyE
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GR00T: Huh, from what I've seen, I figured new cars didn't even have them anymore since no one seems to bother using the bloody things anyway.
Well yea, but thankfully most cars have 'body language' so to speak, that's what you learn to read with experience.

What really pisses me off is that the authorities make such a big song and dance about safe driving, but then don't care about invisible indicators, its so inconsistent.

If you break an indicator light and cover it with red cellophane plastic or something, the police will pull you over for that, even if the indicator is now visible compared to the previous state of being invisible when undamaged..... just amazing.
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GR00T: Huh, from what I've seen, I figured new cars didn't even have them anymore since no one seems to bother using the bloody things anyway.
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tinyE: Signals. Where I live most people don't even bother with brakes.
Brakes, huh, the most dangerous drivers are those idiots that dance on the brake, the brake lights flashing on and off repeatedly, you know that kind of idiot i am talking about.... then watch for the illegal U turn or running a red light or some other incredible thing that comes shortly after dancing on the brake pedal. Dancing on the brake pedal is a sign of confusion because they seem to have trouble understanding what planet they are on or something along those lines.

"oh where am i?, why am i here? who am i? What is this big round thing in front of me for?, oh i like this brake pedal, i shall repeatedly whack it before testing what this big round thing does when i randomly spin it without looking around first"
Post edited February 17, 2017 by mystikmind2000
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mystikmind2000: wtf is going on with these modern cars?
It's the Roads and Maritime Service that's responsible, they're the ones allowing this crap on the road.

The cars I really hate are those huge Euro 4WDs like Audis, Mercs and BMWs, the ones that are so wide they take up an entire lane and almost always driven by an idiot.

I've even seen some that have orange lights on the front guard that are always on, like running lights.

Every time I encounter one at a roundabout I have no idea if they're turning or not.

How the authorities allow this on the roads is beyond me.

Even more annoying are the idiots who have blue headlights.

Or idiot pushbike riders with the flashing and blinding LED strobe lights.

But what really astounds me are the idiots that struggle driving a modern car.

I learnt when cars had no power steering, drum brakes and drove like tanks, driving new cars is like child's play and yet you see idiots struggling.

- End rant.
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HereForTheBeer: Don't get me started on new cars these days. I want a tach, speedo, oil and temp, 3 pedals, 4-6 speeds... everything else is fluff. Granted, I enjoy power windows and locks, but things are getting ridiculous. "Infotainment" system? Fuck, I need three knobs for the HVAC and 2 knobs and a few buttons for the radio. Maybe an Aux port to plug in the phone for tunes.

At some point they forgot that a car is for driving.
You don't know to appreciate the joy of dual-zone climate control until you get one and then you can have 2-3 degrees lower temperature setting than your wife. I myself lower the perks of technology.
I think I understand what you're saying, and there is only one solution.
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mystikmind2000: But really, there is something bizarre going on with indicators?

On the old cars the indicator is just plain orange glass, simple, it works.

Now they are trying to be too clever or something? i dunno? but the glass is now this clear white bubbly reflective bizzaro crap....
I'm not even sure what we are talking about here. Pics? Are you talking about the indicator (incl. warning) lights next to the speedometers etc., or the lighted knobs and stuff on the dashboard?

I'm not sure if I've seen a similar problem... but then my car is a 9 year old Toyota.
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timppu: I'm not even sure what we are talking about here.
How do you warn other cars in front or behind you that you are about to take a turn? If the answer is neither "I don't" nor "I put my hand outside my window", then you are most likely using your car's indicators. Those orange blinking lights.
When it comes to car problems, the best advice I once got was this:

When I was young student I had some cheapo second-hand car that was starting to give me trouble and was more and more expensive to keep working. We were outside with my friend and I was bitching to a friend of mine "Good gawd, I don't know what I should do with my car anymore?".

Some smelly drunkard was just walking by us and yelled to me: "Drive it off a cliff! Smash it to pieces!"

Yeah we bursted out laughing. Sometimes you hear the truth from childrens' and drunkards' mouths.
Post edited February 17, 2017 by timppu
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JMich: How do you warn other cars in front or behind you that you are about to take a turn? If the answer is neither "I don't" nor "I put my hand outside my window", then you are most likely using your car's indicators. Those orange blinking lights.
Aaah! Thanks for explaining, my English language skills failed me (indicator lights = turn signal). I don't recall seeing such "white bubbly" turn signal lights though... they are still orange here. Some new ones are quite gimmicky though, e.g. on some cars it is like an orange stripe light that goes from side to side, instead of actually blinking. The white signal light is for reverse.

That actually reminds me: are those indicator lights nowadays orange in US cars? I recall earlier that whenever someone here had an "American car" (some pick-up, van, or whatever), the indicator lights were red. It always made it harder for me to distinguish them from the other back lights.

For instance, a long time ago there was an American van in a queue on the right lane, and I was driving on the left lane. The van was blinking its red indicator light because it wanted to change lane, but since I saw only the left side of its rear, I thought he was simply pumping his brake pedal, hence the red light was blinking. I didn't realize he was going to turn.

I've always found if odd that the turn light was red, just like the rest of the lights at the back.
Post edited February 17, 2017 by timppu
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HereForTheBeer: Don't get me started on new cars these days. I want a tach, speedo, oil and temp, 3 pedals, 4-6 speeds... everything else is fluff. Granted, I enjoy power windows and locks, but things are getting ridiculous. "Infotainment" system? Fuck, I need three knobs for the HVAC and 2 knobs and a few buttons for the radio. Maybe an Aux port to plug in the phone for tunes.

At some point they forgot that a car is for driving.
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blotunga: You don't know to appreciate the joy of dual-zone climate control until you get one and then you can have 2-3 degrees lower temperature setting than your wife. I myself lower the perks of technology.
My wife knows her place. XD

Just kidding dear! I'll rub your feet as soon as I'm done with the dishes.
Two months from now they are going to find HereForTheBeer's decapitated corpse buried in his back yard.
Post edited February 17, 2017 by tinyE