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Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

jalopnik.com

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Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#131

Post by icedchai »

Bud wrote: post #26
omarqureshi wrote: post #2

Since the mini is a BMW and BMW drivers are notorious for never using turn signals, this should not be an issue, right?

The MINI is actually not a BMW, although it is true that it is made by BMW. Nor are MINI drivers really very much like BMW drivers, in fact I'd say that overall as a population, they are quite different. (I had a MINI from 2002-2020. Put about 300k miles on it.)

The Mini and BMW dealers near me are, indeed, separate. They are right next door to each other, and appear to share employees and a repair facility. Strange isn't it?

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#132

Post by kayodelycaon »

sbarre wrote: post #85
kalleboo wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What had been a common signal for “you’re a little too close” I've never seen or heard of this. But seeing cars that flash their brake light under heavy/emergency braking is common (typically high-end European brands)

I've commonly seen people just throw on their hazard blinkers in case of drastic braking on the highway... especially in bad weather. I've done it myself when going from regular speed to unexpected traffic, in the hope that the person behind me is paying attention...

People are pretty good at doing this in Ohio. I’ve never seen anyone do it in Wisconsin.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#133

Post by GhostVII »

malyk wrote: post #11

So the left turn signal is an arrow pointing to the right? And the right turn signal is an arrow pointing to the left? How does that pass, well, anything at all without someone saying “that might not be the best idea”!

They probably designed the car with Europe regulations in mind first, and then rather than try and design an entirely new brake light for the US just took the lazy/cheap way and lit up the other two available light bars.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#135

Post by christophilus »

lttlrck wrote: post #41

Personally I find the Audi-style sequential lightshow signals far more stupid - and more distracting. These look odd in a static image where the reader has been primed by the title, but in real life they are flashing lights on the corner of the car. The animated GIF in the article isn’t confusing is it?

It definitely made me double-take. At night, I could see it being a real issue. But I agree about the dumb Audi signals.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#136

Post by tromp »

Bud wrote: post #22
lmilcin wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they cannot see their own turn signal lights while driving. You are supposed to inspect your car at least from time to time. This includes walking over to see your turn signals work correctly.

We're supposed to brush twice a day, get regular exercise, eat well, not get drunk, not smoke, have an appropriate work/life balance, limit screen time, get enough sun exposure, not get too much sun exposure, vote, floss, do unto others as we would have them do unto us, and change the oil every five thousand miles, too. But how is all that working out?

And not to exceed the speed limit... just to name one that's universally violated.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#137

Post by cf100clunk »

argomo wrote: post #54

> there should be no trouble at all for a driver to understand, when seeing the full rear of the car, which direction is being indicated. This response from Mini presumes drivers have the luxury of using "system 2" logical/analytical reasoning in a hectic realtime environment where they must most rely on "system 1" intuitive reasoning. There needs to be a name for this type design fallacy, because it's not the first…

MINI: "Motoring Isn't Navigationally Intuitive."

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#138

Post by edoceo »

shotta wrote: post #51
lmilcin wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do check my car every couple of weeks. I have a routine that takes about 3 minutes total. About twice a month so about 24 times 3 minutes ~ 1 hour per year. Although I could argue it actually takes zero time because I usually do this while waiting for somebody else to get into the car. As a side note, if you are too busy to brush your teeth you should consider talking to a health professional about consequences of…

My dad put little mirrors in the garage so he can check the blinkers easily without leaving the vehicle.

Tell you dad he's clever. And also some random fool from the internet is now copying him.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#139

Post by stevecat »

beardyw wrote: post #94

> Mini has chosen the Union Jack lights to highlight Mini’s British heritage Mmm .. designed by an American, built by BMW, much much bigger, I don't think there is any of the original Mini left. I see an original on the road now and again, and they are really tiny. A new Mini could eat one for breakfast.

I drove a friend's (new) Mini recently and it was somehow larger than my Polo but also had less room on the inside.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#140

Post by u801e »

There are even worse implementations. In the US and Canada where red color rear turn signals are permitted as a cost saving measure, you will see implementations where you have to discern a blinking red light surrounded by an illuminated solid red light (when the brakes are applied).
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