On 3/23/06, David Brodbeck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I do kinda prefer the Swedish 'pull up on the ring' reverse lock-outs to > the German 'push down on the shift lever' ones, although the former are > admittedly much harder to operate when wearing mittens. >
I loved the front seatbelt buckles in my late lamented 1980 Saab 900, which consisted of a sort of swinging arm, at the top of a fixed post next to the transmission tunnel, that caught the belt and latched down. This meant that there was no need for a buckle mechanism of any kind on the belt itself. New passengers would sit down, pull the belt around themselves, then grow increasingly confused and agitated as they searched the length of the belt repeatedly for a tongue to fit into a slot somewhere like in every other car. The car also had the pull-up reverse lockout, and of course the ignition switch between the seats---a great idea that I wish other carmakers would have copied. Prevents the keys jangling against your knee and means you don't have to worry about the weight of the keyring causing premature wear on the lock cylinder as in a Benz. One of the best snow cars I've ever driven, too, with plenty of weight, skinny 165-mm tires, and only about 100 hp but well-chosen gear ratios to make the most of it. Alex Chamberlain '87 300D Turbo '93 Isuzu Trooper
