David Brister.
said:
> My RHD TR4A which was tatty but I believe original when I
> acquired it (nearly three decades ago) has the o/d on the
> right of the column and the turn switch on the left.
This whole question of where eash control should be encompasses more than just
the OD switch. Let's see... My first "real" car, a Fiat 128 Spider, had turn
signals, headlight dipper, and windshield wipers on three
steering-column-mounted paddles, two on the left side IIRC. I don't recall
every car's controls since then. Various Caravans, including the one I have
now, have combined turn signal, windshield wiper, headlight dipper controls on
a single stalk on the left (an abomination, IMHO), and the autotranny shifter
on the right, plus a smaller tilt-wheel control (which I think is on the
right). The GT6 (my most recently-purchased vehicle) has lights on the right
side and turn signals on the left, with a separate dash-mounted switch for the
wipers, and the horn in the steeringwheel hub (I think). The Spitfire,
probably because it is newer and was mandated by the Feds, I suppose, has
combined turn signals and headlight dipper on the left, and combined wipers and
horn on t!
he right. And these descriptions don't even encompass the possibility of
momentarily flashing the main beams (nor the Fiat's ability to kill the
headlights completely with the stalk switch!). With all these combinations in
my present, not to mention my past, I have to stop and think about it every
time I get into a different car. The only OD I've ever had is the Spitfire's
(the Fiat had a 5-speed), but if I ever have to deal with yet another switch on
the column I will be forever hitting the wrong thing. So glad my OD switch is
unambiguous.
As for it requiring my hands off the wheel, the OD seems to me a tool mainly
for Interstate use. When I'm cruising at speed I sure hope I can afford a
second or so of one-handedness. And after all, it takes one hand to shift the
ordinary gear, don't it? Throwing the OD switch is easier and faster.
And anyway, my comment about the shift knob as being the ideal place for it
actually comes from a road test I recall reading from decades ago, maybe R&T or
C&D or Motor or something. 'Twasn't something I thought up all by myself.
Everyone's style is different, of course.
--
Jim Muller
- many cars in the past, three in the present
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