11 Features You No Longer See in Cars

Mental Floss ^ | February 11, 2014 | Kara Kovalchik

[ExCTCitizen]

I am looking at the Ford Flex to replace my Ford Taurus station wagon (really the wife's, but I love it.). I been a Ford man since I was a kid. My dad was friends with the local Ford dealer.

Another thing missing from today's cars - local ownership of auto dealers. I try to buy from local dealers.

[Starstruck]

And sometimes they kicked back.

Had one of those things that had the lever that released the compression when you started it. Forget and it would throw your heel into the foot rest. Couple of times and you remembered.

[Responsibility2nd]

You're in a crowded parking lot. Trying to back out. A backup camera is great for what is directly behind you. But when you are trying to see what's coming and all you can see is this...

It doesn't help very much.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

A radio that did not require a BA in electronics to operate.

A heating or AC system that had a MANUAL OVERIDE for when the electronic duct flow controlers failed to work.

Wing windows to allow air flow into the car so you did not need AC.

Key start on the dash instead of the steering column which allowed easy removal and not disassembly of the steering column with the little aluminum push rod breaks.

[Secret Agent Man]

me too. and the only one with lights that turn on in rain and when it gets dark.

[Revolting cat!]

Headlights that stay on when you forget to turn them off, so that you can drain the battery and have to call the triple hey!

[Secret Agent Man]

anything that stops you cigarrette flingers, i am for. :)

i don’t care about you smoking, but we are all pissed at you when you flick your butts out the window and they hit our cars.

[nascarnation]

A lot of those smaller local dealers (at least the Republican ones) got terminated by Baraq’s “car czar” in 2009.

[Secret Agent Man]

crap, imagine below freezing temps AND broken arms from a damn hand crank.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

What I miss the most...A BRAND NEW 1970 truck for $1990!

[Secret Agent Man]

dodge still makes a station wagon. prius has one that’s a station wagon. vw makes a station wagon. ford’s flex is a big boy station wagon.

[Secret Agent Man]

i can’t stand what they did to the new escapes.

they went smaller to compete with honda cr-v and toyota rav4, and other small suv’s.

they should have kept the escape the same type of vehicle as it was, and created a new smaller suv to go after the other smaller ones.

the former escapes have very good visibility all around.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think “Galaxy” referred to what you could put inside its trunk.

[nascarnation]

I think that’s why the Subaru Forester is doing so well, it’s got a more “blocky” functional profile.

[fanfan]

LOL

[Secret Agent Man]

i think those are gone now because so many thieves busted them out to steal stuff in the trucks. sometimes hard to tell if it’s open or broken.

[Secret Agent Man]

try a new explorer. got a lot of good room in those babies.

i am never going back to cars, as a safety issue for my driving i need to be up higher and see what’s around me better.

[Secret Agent Man]

yeah, your #12 is one I wish I had.

[Secret Agent Man]

FIAT - Fix It Again, Tony :)

[BlueMondaySkipper]

I drove some Ford Flex’s working at the dealer as a tech.

We rented one last year in Denver. I didn't like them before but really did once I drove it. Nice ride, all sorts of room. We had 4 of us, with skis, inside and still had plenty of room. If I were looking for something in that size I would definitely consider it.