2012 cars still using hand-crank windows?

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Electronics fail a lot easier than mechanical devices. Even though it may take a bit of elbow grease to raise/lower your windows, I think it will last longer than electric windows. Unless you are REALLY against non-electronic things, I don't think it'll be a problem.

Basically, this. There are two things that go out on a car before anything else: the first is the power windows, and the second is the power locks. Power locks come with backup manual locks as a matter of course, but power windows don't -- although, apparently it was an option back when power windows were first introduced. Having seen multiple cars with windows stuck halfway down, in a state where it rains all the freakin' time (Florida is /not/ the sunshine state; that should be Arizona.), I don't exactly complain when a car has manual windows. At least I know they aren't likely to break, and that if they somehow do, it's a repair I can cheaply and easily carry out myself, without having to involve a mechanic.

 

[Reishadowen]

I'm shopping around for a new car and I thought I had found it when I saw the Nissan Versa sedan. But then I failed to find anything about power windows and I always just took power windows as a given. Then I read about how even brand new cars made in the past 5 years are still using these and that power windows are not always standard. What is going on here? Does anyone actually drive a new car and still experiences a mini-work out whenever they need some air?

...You...actually found a car, made within the last five years, that DIDN'T come with power windows?

...

Where the hell were you shopping, the Former Soviet Union?

 

[Phlakes]

...Did you guys really turn a discussion about fucking power windows into an excuse to call people entitled pricks?

Why yes, I believe you did.

Spoiler

OT: My car right now has crank windows because my broke ass can't afford a better one, and I love every chance I can drive something with power windows (and a radio).

 

[Robert Ewing]

I assume it's to do with cost, and marketing it to the lower end of somebodies budget.

I can't imagine that electric windows are that much more expensive than wind-up though... perhaps it all adds up in the end, I dunno.

 

[SeeIn2D]

I hate power windows...

They are touchy, bitchy things that are useless if they loose power.
Give me manual windows any day.

I have never heard of a power window failing in anyway unless your car is like an '81 Honda. Just saying.

 

[teh_Canape]

I know someone who would be happy about it

Spoiler

 

[Xanadu84]

Some people get a new car out of sheer, grudging necessity, and anything that sacrifices from the car but puts more money in your pocket is a blessing. Hell, in the economic climate, not having power windows might be a selling point because it gives the APPEARANCE of bare-bones frugality that many are looking for. And Im sure theres even a nostalgic, luddite, or hipster-esque sub-group that like the old fashionedness of that crank. Taken together, thats enough to justify a small number of cheaper cars having power windows as an option. And sure enough, that's what you see.

 

[loc978]

A friend of mine has a 2006 that he bought new with manual crank windows... and I have a bad history with power windows (in everything from a 1975 Oldsmobile to a 2001 Mercedes. Yes, I've seen power windows fail on a 2001 Mercedes, when it was only 4 years old), too many things can make your windows not work at all. I'm still convinced cars and gadgets don't mix well, which is why most people don't own one car for long.

 

[-Samurai-]

The real question to me is, are you really so lazy as to make that a deal breaker on what is apparently an otherwise good car?

EDIT: Or is it more just a thing of curiosity?

Lazy?

I drive a 1997 Chevy Cavalier that has hand crank windows. Ever try to roll down the passenger window at 70mph on the highway? Well don't, because you'll kill someone.

Cars can become unbearably hot. You can go from pouring down rain to 95 degree weather in a second in the summer, and you'll want your windows down in a hurry, and often times, the drivers side won't get you enough cool air. Power windows are a safe way of getting that breeze you want.

 

[-Samurai-]

...Did you guys really turn a discussion about fucking power windows into an excuse to call people entitled pricks?

Why yes, I believe you did.

If there's one thing The Escapist community can do, it's turn every topic of discussion into an entitlement debate.

Do you prefer to eat the middle of the bread instead of the ends? Entitled fuck.

 

[theSHAH]

I'm shopping around for a new car and I thought I had found it when I saw the Nissan Versa sedan. But then I failed to find anything about power windows and I always just took power windows as a given. Then I read about how even brand new cars made in the past 5 years are still using these and that power windows are not always standard. What is going on here? Does anyone actually drive a new car and still experiences a mini-work out whenever they need some air?

Let me guess, daddy is going to buy you that car?

daddy actually bought me what I'm driving now (96 volvo 850), I plan on saving up for this car myself. Daddy being a long-time car salesman himself will be helping me with negotiating though.

 

[theSHAH]

I admit there is an elemental of laziness, but the main turn off is the huge blow the interior appearance of the car takes. ... Why get a "new" car if I'm going to be downgrading on some aspects, I shouldn't have to downgrade on any.

I've never driven, and it's mainly because of attitudes like this.

In the items I treasure the most, I wouldn't label something a failure just because it does something differently.


It'd be like not eating a pizza because there's not enough pepperoni on it. The very first thing I'd consider is price - and the very last would be "how stylish it looks".

This logic is flawed. It's like walking around with a walkman because you prefer tapes. It's 2012 and we have ipods. It's 2012 and we have power windows.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

SNIP

Living in a province where there are very cold, freezing winters I prefer hand crank windows. Automatic windows have been known to freeze, usually in the closed position but sometimes open after going through a drive through. Also what's a little exercise?

I hope they continue to sell cars with hand crank windows forever.

 

[Dags90]

Daddy being a long-time car salesman himself will be helping me with negotiating though.

A car salesman...in this economy? Ouch. If I were him, I'd buy me a one way ticket to 2003.

I like to think the person who doesn't drive "because of attitudes like this" is just a hipster who hasn't found a Yugo to drive around ironically.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

I'm shopping around for a new car and I thought I had found it when I saw the Nissan Versa sedan.

Funny you should say that. I just turned in a 2012 Nissan Versa sedan the other day. I had to use one as a rental while my actual car as being repaired (asshat did a hit-and-run on it). I know it's a rental and most have some options removed, but good lord...it was bad. Here's it's lovely (or lack of) list of accessories:

* Manual windows
* Manual locks - Get this, the driver's side door was the only one with a key hole. You had to physically unlock your door, then reach in and push the latch for all three doors, then push them to the "locked" position when you got it. Ridiculous.
* Manual side mirrors
* No center console (No arm rest either)
* No arm rest on any door. That's right, all four of them
* No driver's side buttons for windows, locks, anything. Hell, no buttons for any of the doors.
* No steering wheel adjustment switch (one static position only)
* No mirror in the flip-down visor.
* Speedometer only had 0-10 markers, no 5MPH marker and only 8 hatch-marks between the 0-10 (including the 0 & 10 markers), forcing you to "ballpark" the speed or just simply round up.
* No vertical seat adjustment
* No headrest adjustment (thing was mounted on and had no release switch)

Worst car I've ever driven. I mean, look, rentals typically are stripped to some degree, but when I look at my friend's 1993 Jeep Cherokee, a car that is NINETEEN years older and has ALL of these features...it's a bit ridiculous.

 

[Capt. Crankypants]

Bought a car a few months ago, an '02 Lancer, and it has wind-up windows, and you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way. Power windows are one more thing that can go wrong with a car, and they're expensive, as my brother found out.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I hate power windows...

They are touchy, bitchy things that are useless if they loose power.
Give me manual windows any day.

I have never heard of a power window failing in anyway unless your car is like an '81 Honda. Just saying.

In my experience, the electronics start to completely crap out after about 8-10 years, starting with the windows, then the power locks, then the AC, and then lord only knows after that. Although if you live in a really dry state that also doesn't get very cold in the winter, your cars might last longer. In Florida, the humidity gets to everything eventually -- to the point that it's never a question of whether an old house will have mold, but what kind of mold it has, and if it's dangerous or just ugly. Anyway, any car made further back in time than 2002 or 2003 is going to have suspect electronics at this point. While that may not be an issue for people who lease a new car every five years, some of us literally drive the things until we get a repair bill that would wind up costing more than a replacement bill, at which point we've usually been car payment free for several years. Sure, the car may be pretty crappy by the time it finally gives up the ghost, but that's money in our pocket in the years between paying it off and selling it off, and it gets us where we need to go in the meantime.

The real question to me is, are you really so lazy as to make that a deal breaker on what is apparently an otherwise good car?

EDIT: Or is it more just a thing of curiosity?

Lazy?

I drive a 1997 Chevy Cavalier that has hand crank windows. Ever try to roll down the passenger window at 70mph on the highway? Well don't, because you'll kill someone.

Cars can become unbearably hot. You can go from pouring down rain to 95 degree weather in a second in the summer, and you'll want your windows down in a hurry, and often times, the drivers side won't get you enough cool air. Power windows are a safe way of getting that breeze you want.

Does it not have a working air conditioner? Because as I pointed out above, the windows usually go before the AC, so if it had had power windows stock, chances are you'd be ACless and unable to open a window. Bad combination, there.

I'm shopping around for a new car and I thought I had found it when I saw the Nissan Versa sedan.

Funny you should say that. I just turned in a 2012 Nissan Versa sedan the other day. I had to use one as a rental while my actual car as being repaired (asshat did a hit-and-run on it). I know it's a rental and most have some options removed, but good lord...it was bad. Here's it's lovely (or lack of) list of accessories:

* Manual windows
* Manual locks - Get this, the driver's side door was the only one with a key hole. You had to physically unlock your door, then reach in and push the latch for all three doors, then push them to the "locked" position when you got it. Ridiculous.
* Manual side mirrors
* No center console (No arm rest either)
* No arm rest on any door. That's right, all four of them
* No driver's side buttons for windows, locks, anything. Hell, no buttons for any of the doors.
* No steering wheel adjustment switch (one static position only)
* No mirror in the flip-down visor.
* Speedometer only had 0-10 markers, no 5MPH marker and only 8 hatch-marks between the 0-10 (including the 0 & 10 markers), forcing you to "ballpark" the speed or just simply round up.
* No vertical seat adjustment
* No headrest adjustment (thing was mounted on and had no release switch)

Worst car I've ever driven. I mean, look, rentals typically are stripped to some degree, but when I look at my friend's 1993 Jeep Cherokee, a car that is NINETEEN years older and has ALL of these features...it's a bit ridiculous.

Okay, that is ridiculous. Manual windows and side mirrors I can understand. Manual locks are a bit much, since the electronic version of those always has a manual backup, but it's not too big of a killer. Only one key-hole, though, not to mention all of the other crappy little things abut the car (no mirror in the visor, lacking adjustment options all over the place, no arm rest...) are just inexcusable. And the inaccurate speedometer? How is a car with something like that even street legal? Honestly. By the way, are you sure you didn't miscount? Because 9 tick marks not counting the zero and the 10 would be sufficient for an accurate reading. 8 total is just bizarre, not to mention unsafe, since speed limits tend to change in increments of 5, not 10.