Hooniverse Asks- What is the Best Automotive Engineering Feature Ever Introduced?

Robert Emslie

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Comments

Yesterday we filled these pages with the angst that is the result of bad engineering, and boy did you all have a lot of pain to share. But I’m not Dr. Phil, and you’re just going to have to deal, m’kay? As part of that healing process, I’m flipping yesterday’s question on it head, and today I want to know what automotive engineering feat most gives you the happies.

There’s lots of amazing features out there that are applaudable, some even that many couldn’t, or at least wouldn’t want to live without. Moveable pedals, Big Gulp-capable cup holders, and John DeLoren’s gift to commuters, the lane change turn signal, there are a lot of great features that may cause you to face-palm upon your first discovery and utter an astonished why didn’t I think of that?

We had a cathartic release of the craptacular yesterday, so let’s build on that good vibe and fill up today’s responses with your nominations for what’s right in the world – well, the automotive engineering feature world at least.

And remember, it’s just food, it’s not love.

Image source: [polkaudio.com]

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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120 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What is the Best Automotive Engineering Feature Ever Introduced?”

  1. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    The oil pump

    Reply
    1. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      But total-loss lubrication systems keep the dust down on the roads in summertime!

      Reply
  2. Hoon_Solo Avatar
    Hoon_Solo

    The radar detector.

    Reply
  3. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Air conditioning. Seriously. I live in Florida.

    Reply
    1. west_coaster Avatar
      west_coaster

      I once read something about great innovators of the 20th Century. One expert offered up that Willis Carrier should be near the top of the list. He's regarded as the inventor of air conditioning, and the expert further went on to say that modern settling in the Southwest, including places like Phoenix and Las Vegas, could not have happened without his invention.

      Reply
      1. CptSevere Avatar
        CptSevere

        I've heard that theory before, and I completely agree. I live in Southern AZ, in Tombstone, and a tourist was asking me yesterday what the people here did here in the 1880's to keep cool in the summer. All I could say to him, was "suffer." It's 100 here today, and the swamp cooler is cranked.

        Reply
    2. Joe Btfsplk Avatar
      Joe Btfsplk

      I have to go with the clear plastic seat covers that were sold by Fingerhut…kept those velvet seats factory fresh.

      Reply
  4. Smells_Homeless Avatar
    Smells_Homeless

    Electric starter, hands down.

    Reply
    1. jeremy![™] Avatar
      jeremy![™]

      dont like broken arms then?

      Reply
      1. Smells_Homeless Avatar
        Smells_Homeless

        Broken arms, bending over, unnecessary effort… these are all things of which I disapprove.

        Reply
    2. AlexiusG55 Avatar
      AlexiusG55

      My uncle (a motorcyclist as well as a car enthusiast) approves of them on cars, but disapproves on motorcycles. He thinks that the rate of drunk motorcycling increased when they were introduced to motorcycles as it's impossible to kick-start a bike while drunk.

      Reply
      1. west_coaster Avatar
        west_coaster

        I don't know, I've seen a few inebriated vintage Harley riders do it after a hot afternoon of swilling beer.

        Reply
      2. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        I think it would be easier to kick start a bike than start a car with a hand crank while drunk. Also, the crank still sticking out of the front bumper would be a good clue the driver was drunk, even if they did manage to get it started.

        Reply
    3. M600 Avatar
      M600

      Is it just a myth or did Henry Leland bring electric start to Cadillac because someone in his family was hurt cranking a car?

      Reply
  5. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    <img src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1004120312717&id=f7ccc4cb9b029890cf62152d5b214f90"&gt;
    Solid-state electronic ignition. Points and condensers sucked, and were largely responsible for cars' frequent maintenance schedules right up through the early '70s.

    Reply
  6. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    Without going too far back into the motorized buggy era… Electronic ignition.

    Reply
  7. jeremy![™] Avatar
    jeremy![™]

    <img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5860336746_0fbc0c20f9_z.jpg&quot; width="640" height="360" alt="carbon">
    no?

    Reply
    1. muthalovin Avatar
      muthalovin

      So fast!

      Reply
  8. oldcarjunkie Avatar
    oldcarjunkie

    I have to say – heated seats. Wonderful things in the winter.

    Reply
    1. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      Absolutely. They're the fastest way to a woman's heart in the dark, depressing depths of a New England winter.

      Reply
  9. PrawoJazdy Avatar
    PrawoJazdy

    Auto Climate. I hate reaching down to constantly adjust the temp in the car because it's too hot/cold.. It should be standard.

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      You're being sarcastic. Please say you are.

      Reply
      1. theTokenGreek Avatar
        theTokenGreek

        there's absolutely nothing I hate more about my car than the auto-A/C. Why the hell can't I have a normal mixer? Do they think I don't know how to regulate my own temperature?

        Reply
      2. PrawoJazdy Avatar
        PrawoJazdy

        I am not. What? I like it.
        Obviously I can regulate my own. However, the problem lies in it getting too damn cold in the car. Then when I shut it off, too hot too quick. Set the temp and focus on the road and blind spots and bikers and all that.

        Reply
        1. tonyola Avatar
          tonyola

          Why shut it off? There's a temperature control even on manual systems.

          Reply
          1. PrawoJazdy Avatar
            PrawoJazdy

            There is, but I can never get them to blow out a decent temp.
            The auto system will flip it on and off, adjust the temp and raise/lower the fan speed. I like that. Set the temp and forget it all together.

  10. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    Standard Operating Procedure.
    <iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/r6YBIHc0LAY&quot; frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    Reply
  11. acarr260 Avatar
    acarr260

    This may seem odd at first, but I vote for that annoying bell/buzzer that comes on when you turn off the car and your lights are still on. My new commuter car (a VW Scirocco beater) does not have this technology (or it's broken), and I've come close to leaving my lights on twice in the morning so far. It's just a matter of time before I do it and don't catch it. Alternatively, automatic lights are nice too and they alleviate the need to flash your lights at the idiots driving around with no lights in the dark.

    Reply
    1. west_coaster Avatar
      west_coaster

      Actually, all cars have automatic shut-off lights. The go off by themselves…in about six hours.
      /lameoldcarjoke

      Reply
    2. M600 Avatar
      M600

      Auto lights is the only one here thats good. The dinger was a sad intermediate step.

      Reply
      1. acarr260 Avatar
        acarr260

        Well, the Scirocco in my comment earlier is 31 model years old (1981). My '82 S-10 that I had in high school at least made an annoying noise when the lights were on. I obviously wasn't talking about new cars – even my 2000 Silverado has automatic lights.

        Reply
    3. From_a_Buick_6 Avatar
      From_a_Buick_6

      Yeah, maybe 10 years ago. Today, though, for a car to have a buzzer instead of auto-off just screams cheapness to me. My Ford has an automatic lights, but they're worthless during the morning commute or when its overcast. But if you flip the headlight switch from "Auto" to "On," the lights will not turn themselves off (Unlike the Auto setting). You just get a chime. A chime which, by the way, is identical to the chime you get when the door is ajar.
      This is one of the many reasons I have grown to hate Ford.

      Reply
      1. acarr260 Avatar
        acarr260

        Using the same chime is just dumb. When do you need to notice the "you're lights are still on, dumbass" noise? That's right… after you open the door. That sounds about as useful as no means of warning.

        Reply
    4. Van Sarockin Avatar
      Van Sarockin

      My 25 year old SAAB had auto-off lights. Slick feature. Only drawback was that if you only had the parking lights on, they wouldn't shut off with the ignition, so I almost drained the battery when I'd only been using parking lights.
      A light feature i do hate, though, is the gradual shutoff. I can never figure out if the lights will ever actually shut themselves off.

      Reply
      1. acarr260 Avatar
        acarr260

        I've had a couple of vehicles that stayed on for 30 seconds or so as a safety feature… I have to admit that part of me never really trusted them though.

        Reply
  12. importauotwerks Avatar
    importauotwerks

    direct injection with turbo charging smaller engine major power computer tuning yields more power

    Reply
  13. austinminiman Avatar
    austinminiman

    Tires. And yes, I know, everyone trumpets the same message of "Oh yeah, putting radials on something that came with bias-plies makes all the difference!"
    I'm not talking about that. I mean modern tires. They've come a metric shit-ton past the original radials. My 400ish HP Volvo 985(go ahead and figure out the nomenclature Volvo geeks) was essentially undrivable in the rain. We're talking starting in third gear and feathering the throttle. On went a set of, frankly not terribly expensive, Eagle GT's. It's a different car. It's composed, quieter, handles better, and I can start in, gasp, first gear when it's wet and it only breaks the tires free when I want it to. Miraculous.
    Can we give a round of applause to the fine men and women still trying to figure out the ideal sidewall firmness as it relates to the angling of the bi-directional rain sipes?

    Reply
    1. Hoonda Avatar
      Hoonda

      940 wagon with a V8 swapped in? Nice. The girlfriend wants an LS1-swapped 244 sedan with a manual gearbox.
      I've never actually had poor rain tires on my honda. It came with yokohama avid directional tread tires. I replaced them with general altimax HP's. I had the opposite experience when I drove a friend's car. Thing had no grip at all.

      Reply
      1. austinminiman Avatar
        austinminiman

        It's a 960, but yes. With a Tremec T56. Gotta love a .52 OD 6th. I went the 302 route with some AFR 165 heads because somehow that seemed more pure than an LS1. Needless to say, your GF is a keeper. You gonna fulfill said request?

        Reply
        1. dead_elvis Avatar
          dead_elvis

          Feel free to post pix of what I'm guessing is a fairly crowded engine bay. If my 244's redblock ever gives up, I'm thinking Ford V8 transplant; it's a pretty common swap, as you probably know.

          Reply
        2. Feds_II Avatar
          Feds_II

          You and I need to talk. That's exactly the setup I am going for in my rx7.

          Reply
          1. austinminiman Avatar
            austinminiman

            Talk we can. Hell, you can drive it if you're anywhere near Upstate SC. Admittedly, mine's not the happiest at the moment. The guy who built it, Ross Converse, used a 4.6 ECU instead of a 5.0. So it essentially lives in running-rich panic mode. Idles at 3,000 RPM, etc. But it's still scary fast. Should be everything else too once I get the electronics sorted. What generation RX7? I'll tell you, the T56 is the party trick in that car. It's sweet. A little notchy for some tastes but I love it.

        3. Hoonda Avatar
          Hoonda

          Didn't know they made wagons with the I6. Although it could be the 960 wagons were some of the wierdly named 960's that still had a redblock instead of a 6.
          And I know very well she's a keeper. Not only does she have a genuine appreciation of cars, she even appreciates oddball cars like turbo bricks. She also thinks everything is better with the addition of positive manifold pressure. I'm thinking in a couple years once we are both more settled I'll build the 240. Most likely her next car is gonna be a college graduation present Fiat 500 (most likely abarth) though, since she test drove one and loved it, just thought it needed power.

          Reply
    2. vwminispeedster Avatar
      vwminispeedster

      Dang. I thought you were referring to your forestry equipment… http://www.volvo.com/constructionequipment/corpor… Volvo 985

      Reply
  14. Froggmann_ Avatar
    Froggmann_

    Windshield wiper delay. that and HID headlamps. I like to see what the heck I'm gonna run into on rainy nights.

    Reply
  15. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    <img src="http://store.corvettemuseum.com/images/store_images/CUP_HOLDER_C6CAR.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      Drink condensation pucks? Those are great! They keep your cup holders from getting scuzzy!

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Exactly. Best Automotive Engineering Feature…. In The World!

        Reply
  16. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    Okay, in the modern era, I'm going to have to go with electronic parking aids, including those sonar things and back-up cameras.
    Yeah, I know, this suggestion will set the I'm-an-absolutely-awesome-driver-and-will-never-touch-a-car-with-an-automatic-transmission-and-everyone-who-can't-expertly-park-as-well-as-I-do-shouldn't-be-allowed-to-drive crowd into a tizzy. But for 95% of drivers, being able to park more quickly and easily is a benefit to us all. Fewer scratched bumpers, less time waiting for Ms. Starbucks-and-iPhone to move her massive SUV into or out of a space, and so on.

    Reply
    1. OA5599 Avatar
      OA5599

      No argument from me. I use the backup camera on Mrs. OA5599's gigantic SUV all the time when hooking up the trailer. The task is made siginificantly easier when you can see the trailer toungue and the hitch ball without having to leave the driver's seat. Also, in dark parking lot sthe electronics in the camera will detect more objects than I can by eye.

      Reply
    2. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
      Mad_Hungarian

      The reason I will disagree is not the one you suggest. Hey, I like automatics. No, my problem is we would not need those doggone things if we designed cars with visibility in mind. I used to freak people out parallel parking a '63 Cadillac in one pass. It's easy as can be; you can see all four corners of the car from the driver's seat. I have a hard time thinking of something that compensates for poor design as an engineering achievement. It's the automotive equivalent of your doctor giving you a drug to counteract the side effects of another drug.

      Reply
  17. Paul_y Avatar
    Paul_y

    I am a huge fan of cruise control, to the extent that I ground off my knuckles and spent an entire saturday morning installing an aftermarket system on my xB not long after I bought the car- the end result is a car that is vastly more pleasant and less stressful on the interstate than previously.

    Reply
    1. austinminiman Avatar
      austinminiman

      What system did you go with and how do you like it? Wondering how far those systems have come these days…

      Reply
      1. Paul_y Avatar
        Paul_y

        I bought the Rostra system from here:
        http://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/
        It works great, actually. The most difficult parts of the install were threading the wire harness through the firewall (on top of existing stereo wiring and whatnot), and mounting the switch for the clutch pedal (both tasks involve being upside down under a dashboard, naturally). The sensitivity gain is adjustable- y ou can set it to hold your speed rock-steady, or allow it some wiggle room (i.e., so you lose more speed uphill/gain more downhill) which allows for higher mileage.
        They've come a long way versus what west-coaster described below. There's a servo that attaches to the throttle linkage, and the switch for the clutch pedal, but the rest of it's electronic and just plugs into the ECU. No dicking around with magnets or other such nonsense. If I had to install another one, I could probably do it in half the time. If I had an automatic, I probably would have saved another 45 minutes (that clutch switch JUST fits between the pedal mechanism and the firewall, and I was getting very frustrated/sobered up trying to get the damn thing threaded).
        While I didn't see doing so at the time I installed it, having added CC made driving from NY to CA last year a thousand times more bearable than it otherwise would have been. It's a high strung car (4k rpm at 80mph!), and was previously very stressful on long, dull interstate drives.

        Reply
    2. west_coaster Avatar
      west_coaster

      I'll go you one better. Many years ago I had a job that involved a LOT of driving, and I was determined to add cruise to my Chevy Monza (Google it if you're unfamiliar). I bought a unit from JC Penney, back when they had auto centers at their large retail outlets.
      Well, the thing was a huge mess of thin 20-gauge wires that went everywhere. Remember, this was in the days when almost all cars were still carbureted, so there was a solenoid that attached to the throttle linkage, switches for the brake pedal (and clutch if you had one), and, a sensor that read the vehicle's speed via magnets that you attached to the drive shaft. On the Monza, there was a torque tube/bar that ran down beside the shaft, leaving no place to attach the pickup. So I had to have a muffler shop weld a bracket onto the torque tube in order to mount the sensor. Man, what a hassle. I think the install consumed an entire Saturday.
      Oh, and the cruise control never worked quite right. It would pick up about 1 mph every five minutes or so, so I constantly had to reset it.

      Reply
      1. Paul_y Avatar
        Paul_y

        See my reply to austinminiman above; these things are way better with modern cars.

        Reply
  18. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
    JeepyJayhawk

    I'd vote for disc brake, seconded by discs on four corners. Makes everything safer, easier to handle into and out of corners, and with ceramics, easier to stop a lot sooner or brake a lot later than you used to.
    Whoa before go.

    Reply
    1. west_coaster Avatar
      west_coaster

      Don't forget MUCH easier to work on than drums for the home mechanic.

      Reply
      1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
        JeepyJayhawk

        Drums are hard?

        Reply
        1. Paul_y Avatar
          Paul_y

          Drums are a hassle, at least. Discs are simpler, easier to work on, and work better.

          Reply
  19. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Oh Hellz yes.
    <img src="http://images04.olx.com/ui/13/60/71/1298256604_168875971_1-Pictures-of–1983-Datsun-280-ZX-t-tops-59000-miles.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
    1. TurboBrick Avatar
      TurboBrick

      In fact, it's a great idea no matter what size the car is:
      <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2677/4531871977_0711a7c8e1.jpg&quot; width="500" height="393" alt="1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88">

      Reply
      1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
        ZomBee Racer

        Sparky plus T-top land-yacht equals Looooove!! <3 (blink-blink)

        Reply
      2. Smells_Homeless Avatar
        Smells_Homeless

        Oh no, that one's a targa, I'm pretty sure. It's the equivalent of going commando.

        Reply
  20. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Doppelkupplung. It's just fun to say.
    Seriously, though, double-clutch gearboxes are pretty rad engineering. Not that I would trade in swapping cogs myself, but I still think it PDK and the like are pretty cool pieces of kit.

    Reply
    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      "Doppelkuplungsgetreibe."

      Reply
      1. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Now that is just gibberish.

        Reply
      2. muthalovin Avatar
        muthalovin

        Now that's just gibberish.

        Reply
  21. vwminispeedster Avatar
    vwminispeedster

    Ah yes, the "OH JESUS clips". Wear eye protection folks. Those things be a flyin everywhichway.

    Reply
  22. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    Easy. Internal Combustion. Imagine how much this thing must have understeered:
    <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4XLMr2AsAvg/TZr3De8iCiI/AAAAAAAAACE/GkWCAZRQI1U/s1600/cugnot-museum-piece.jpg&quot; width=500>

    Reply
    1. AlexiusG55 Avatar
      AlexiusG55

      <img src="http://steamingdownsouth.com/Doble/doble-e18-18.jpg&quot; width="500">
      That's early days- I think this one handled just fine.

      Reply
    2. coupeZ600 Avatar
      coupeZ600

      That thing needs to be the very first inductee to the Dream Garage (if we ever get around to building one……)

      Reply
  23. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    VTEC. Mostly because my car wouldn't exist without it.
    <img src="http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/honda_acura_central/honda_s2000_dead_after_2009_car_news/honda_s2000_dead_after_2009/hon_s2k_04_1/1952915-1-eng-US/hon_s2k_04_1_cd_gallery.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. IronBallsMcG Avatar
      IronBallsMcG

      Yo!

      Reply
    2. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      yo.

      Reply
    3. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      YO…u must appreciate these, then:
      <img src="http://www.kumberamotors.com/inventory/436/16084.jpg"width=500&gt;

      Reply
    4. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      I'm by no means a Honda kind of guy, but the S2000 is one of my favorite modern sports cars. I can't deny the engineering achievement of reliably getting that much power out of that small of an engine without forced induction. Even my iron-block, 2V/cylinder, pushrod Hemi owes some of its power to having VVT.

      Reply
  24. Spencedaddy Avatar
    Spencedaddy

    i'm going to have to go with vent windows on my 93 Lightning…its a spectacular feature as I could be the only individual in the world that positively HATES air conditioning…its bugs my eyes, my face, my nose, and i hate cold air being blown at me at any point in time….
    fuel injection could be my favorite though…impeccable reliability, ease of tuning (once you learn the computah), and spectacular ability to impress women entering my pickup truck when i pull out the laptop and pretend to tune stuff,
    "i'm changing the WOT 1-2 shift point so we can get back in the powerband faster"
    "so what is that shiny cylinder switch, and what is this blue bottle? can i move my seat back please?"
    no, no you cannot, N2O>PMS

    Reply
  25. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    In South Florida (not as hot as southern AZ but much more humid) the pre-A/C houses had lots of large windows (usually jalousie type) to catch any available breeze and the walls were generally thin to minimize persistent heat soak. Large ceiling fans were popular. There was often a ventilated crawl space under the floor. Also, trees were planted to shade the house as much as possible.

    Reply
    1. longrooffan Avatar
      longrooffan

      tonyola….I am spending the next week or so in Palm Beach Gardens…is there any cool car stuff around that I shouldn't miss? email… longrooffan@aol.com …thanks.

      Reply
  26. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Even body-on-frame vehicles required extra reinforcement for open versions. This pace car was never intended to drive anywhere but briefly on a smooth track.

    Reply
  27. Haaha Avatar
    Haaha

    <img src=http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl =http://cdn.walyou.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/01/back-to-the-future-flux-capacitor-replica-3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://walyou.com/flux-capacitor-shirt/&usg=__VaLbWI-PH1Fz0IC6J2EXSJkdDHA=&h=333&w=500&sz=41&hl=en&start=5&sig2=p2GsAMJSjLCYzQvhL6R2uA&zoom=1&tbnid=sshRDsaPSO1spM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&ei=40QCTs-wE9G1twfwo4iZDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflux%2Bcapacitor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1133%26bih%3D535%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&biw=1133&bih=535>

    Reply
  28. dolo54 Avatar
    dolo54

    I'm going with ABS. I have driven cars without them and they help you stop faster than humanly possible without. Only the most highly practiced driver can modulate their foot pressure in a panic stop, but even then ABS would stop quicker. It's the only driver aid I leave on in Forza.

    Reply
  29. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    Yo Alff, that comment was… Yo.

    Reply
    1. Andrew Avatar
      Andrew

      I suddenly remembered why I stopped writing for this site.

      Reply
      1. RichardKopf Avatar
        RichardKopf

        Yo dawg, that's harsh.

        Reply
    2. Andrew Avatar
      Andrew

      Is it too much to ask that people have an intelligent conversation about something that falls outside your normal rust-caked, malaise-era, carb-fed, rose-tinted, anachronistic view of all things automotive?

      Reply
      1. engineerd Avatar
        engineerd

        See Alff's response above.
        You're right. VTEC did prove that you could affordably make variable valve timing. Nearly every new engine produced in the last 10+ years has had some sort of VVT. And for that I'd say it definitely deserves a mention on the best auto engineering features list.
        But, the Yo! jokes are just so stinkin' funny.

        Reply
      2. Feds_II Avatar
        Feds_II

        Methinks the lady doth protest too much. Learn to love your car and all that anger will subside.
        I'll be perfectly honest here: I've converted more cars from carb to fuel injection than I have from fuel injection to carb. Hells, I've converted one car to 3 different kinds of fuel injection, and I'm going to a fourth (While going from triangles to cylinders). The only carbed majigger I have is my motorcycle, and it's an '08.
        You posted a statement that the S2000 wouldn't exist without Vtec, then complain when no one engages you in an intelligent conversation. For one, every turbo Miata might have something to say to your car, which, by virtue of being 4-cylinder, manual transmission, and rear wheel drive is basically an MGA. Now who's anachronistic?
        Aww see what you did, you made me get mad on the internet. Let's just agree that your S2000 is as awesome as the 924's your not allowed to race against, My RX-7 makes as much torque as it does horsepower, and broad generalizations should only be made about broads, in general.

        Reply
        1. engineerd Avatar
          engineerd

          I've been using the word "broads" more and more. I think it has a certain je ne sais quoi.

          Reply
          1. Alff Avatar
            Alff

            I use that word when I'm at the pub … so pretty regularly. It certainly has je ne sais quaff.
            Depending on the lady, it might also have a certain je ne sais queef.
            Sorry, but you only have yourself to blame for certain of my je nes sais quips.
            I'll be certain to je nes sais quit now.

  30. RichardKopf Avatar
    RichardKopf

    The brakes on a Volvo 240. Seriously, have you seen them? They'd make a Porsche blush!

    Reply
    1. vwminispeedster Avatar
      vwminispeedster

      Citroen DS too with the hydraulic button. I learned very quickly to modulate that thing with ease.

      Reply
  31. M600 Avatar
    M600

    Many challengers but none will defeat… Ventilated seats!! If you haven't had the pleasure, let me explain. There are fans in the seat that push cool air through perfa in the upholstery. The seat is where you are hottest: thus you stay cool more efficiently and don't need to freeze your knuckles and knees with the dash vents to stay comfortable. I know it sounds stupid, but once you've had them you wont live without them.

    Reply
    1. Smells_Homeless Avatar
      Smells_Homeless

      I dunno, man. They're definitely cool. But would they keep you happy in January in your closed Model T after you've cranked it to life, adjusted the timing constantly, checked the gas with a wooden dipstick you keep under the seat, roared at a blistering 35 MPH, and stopped on the way to work to have your rod bearings re-Babbitted?

      Reply
  32. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    It's not the absolute best, but I really really like Valvetronic. Throttle butterflies are stoopid.

    Reply
  33. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Since most of my initial ideas have already been mentioned, I'm going to limit myself to the '90s. The greatest automotive engineering achievement of the '90s was…
    Remote Start.
    Seriously. Heated or cooled seats only keep your buttocks warm or cool. Remote start cools the entire inside of the car AND aids in the deicing procedure. If you, like me, have to park outside it is a must. It was the only thing I really missed on the Mustang.

    Reply
    1. M600 Avatar
      M600

      I admit cooled seats was not a serious contender, but remote start belongs on yesterdays list. It was probably invented by Chevron, because burning fuel is the only thing it aids. In fact lets nominate start-stop technology for an honorable mention in today's list.

      Reply
  34. Jim-bob Avatar
    Jim-bob

    The Internet. Never before has an invention allowed car people to talk so much about so many things while saying so little.

    Reply
    1. engineerd Avatar
      engineerd

      Or look up so much about fixing something! Or order parts so easily!

      Reply
  35. coupeZ600 Avatar
    coupeZ600

    Pah! was the greatest innovation in car engineering bar none (except for window gutters, that is..).

    Reply
    1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      But you really need the N button to apply it correctly.

      Reply
      1. coupeZ600 Avatar
        coupeZ600

        I was trying to "thumbs up" you on my goofy new smartphone and I accidentally hit the wrong button with my mangled fingers…Should be a +3 at least…

        Reply
    2. Smells_Homeless Avatar
      Smells_Homeless

      Man o man, I miss me some drip channels.

      Reply
    3. engineerd Avatar
      engineerd

      The Jeep has window gutters. I dig 'em.

      Reply
  36. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Alfa's primary objective with VVT was to meet emissions standards, in the immediate post rust-caked, carb-fed malaise era.
    You're right, others more successfully applied the concepts to deliver increased power.

    Reply
  37. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    Piezo injectors with common-rail diesel direct injection. It's done a lot for diesel engine power, noise, emissions and low-end response, and was an enabling technology for Fiat's Multiair throttleless engine management system.
    <img src="http://rb-kwin.bosch.com/us/pool/de/Diesel/Pkw/Einspritzung/CRS_Piezo.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  38. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    If it were still the 80's I'd offer AWD. That was a pretty big tech leap back then, and by the end of the decade everyone was building AWD cars.
    But traction control and tire technology have made AWD a luxury.

    Reply
  39. Van Sarockin Avatar
    Van Sarockin

    Unibody. Mainly because so many other great innovations have already been so capably detailed above. almost a monocoque, but allowing simple, cheap changes in design and repairs. Permits the elimination of the heavy, twisty, inefficient frame.
    Engine as a stressed member. I laugh at your subframe.

    Reply
  40. Mazda5Mama Avatar
    Mazda5Mama

    <img src=http://cdn.walyou.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/01/back-to-the-future-flux-capacitor-replica-3.jpg>
    No??

    Reply
    1. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
      JeepyJayhawk

      First post, delivers the awesome… Next, you need a gravatar.

      Reply
    2. topdeadcentre Avatar
      topdeadcentre

      Yes!
      Well… Maybe…
      <img src="http://world.peace.net/~joelll/mr-fusion.jpg&quot; title="Mr. Fusion" alt="Mr. Fusion" />

      Reply
      1. Mazda5Mama Avatar
        Mazda5Mama

        Mr. Fusion FTW!

        Reply
  41. buzzboy7 Avatar
    buzzboy7

    <img src="http://www.clutchco.com/individual%20clutch%20components/images/CLUTCH%20disc.jpg"&gt;
    After yesterday's torque converter waster this just seems so appropriate

    Reply
  42. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    I know that people today wax nostalgic about t-tops, but trust me, they fell way short of expectations in day-to-day use back in the day.
    First off, almost all of them leaked once the car was a year or two old. GM's horrible build quality back then meant that some of them leaked right off the showroom floor. They also tended to rattle on bumpy roads (again, bad GM build quality), and there were stories of them actually flying off at higher speeds. There was also the issue of storage. If you decided to remove them once out on the road, you had to cram them into the F-body's small trunk. If you had brought a bunch of luggage along, there was really nowhere to put them.
    Every now and then I fantasize about buying a pristine '78-79 Z-28, as that was the lust car for me and my friends in high school. I won't even consider an example with t-tops, even if it has everything else going for it.

    Reply
    1. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      I dunno, we had T-Tops on our 70's T-Bird and they never once leaked, even though it had a hard life towards the end with mountain snow, ice and regular driving on dirt roads. Then again, my parents did take a lot of pride in maintaining it, constantly cleaning out and conditioning the seals. The trunk was also big enough to store the glass tops and a good amount of monthly grocery bags.
      I agree with the flying off part though. I was once heading down I-80 towards the bay area through Davis and saw the passenger side on a brand new Camaro fly waaaaay up like a giant Frisbee, then shatter in a million shiny pieces in front of us. The entire freeway saw it, and we all slowed to a crawl before it came back down. I can still remember the looks on the previously happy couple's faces.

      Reply
  43. LostMyMeds Avatar
    LostMyMeds

    Rear Wheel Drive, mid/ass engines, and the Ranchero, for it begot the El Camino.

    Reply
  44. theTokenGreek Avatar
    theTokenGreek

    I see your intent and like it, but I'm consumed by one question: what is the intended subject of this photograph?

    Reply
  45. Hoonda Avatar
    Hoonda

    Or honda captive rotors. Fried your brakes having too much fun on a mountain road? You get to take apart the entire corner of the car and remove the uprights!

    Reply
  46. IronBallsMcG Avatar
    IronBallsMcG

    Andrew,
    I was in no way mocking you personally with my light-hearted "Yo!"
    You seem like an intelligent netizen who can certainly hold his own in a discussion regarding subjects you're passionate about, but the reason I come to this corner of the world is for the mix of brilliance and absurdity. If that's not for you, that's ok, I still hope you stick around and get something positive from here.
    I've seen a whole lot of goofiness around here, but very rarely any true enmity. I would venture to say that your chances of finding a community more open to diverse vehicle love are pretty slim.
    Yo’s truly,
    IronBallsMcG

    Reply