Does Your Vehicle Have Hand-Crank Windows or Power?

[matcom]

ran accross a rather mundane USA Today article saying automakers are phasing out hand cranked windows even on basic models. if you are REALLY interested you can read the article here: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060706/1b_carwindows06.art.htm

anyhoo got me thinking. Mrs Matcom's Saturn has power windows but my '94 Ranger Pickup is a basic model and has hand cranked windows.

so DU - what say you?

Hand-Cranked windows or Power?

[JVS]

1. Hand cranked. Power windows are a scheme to force you to pay...

for more repairs when they crap out

[billyskank]

2. Power at the front, hand cranked at the rear

Best thing about power windows is being able to wind down the passenger side's window to ask for directions when you're lost. Pain in the ass doing that with a crank.

[matcom]

5. didn't know you could have both?

interesting. don't think i've ever seen a car with two types :shrug:

[billyskank]

6. Not a feature, just the manufacturer being cheap

Quite common in European cars.

[u4ic]

75. You're a guy

and you ask for directions??!? :wtf:













:P

[AtomicKitten]

3. My 5-speed Toyota has hand-crank windows.

Bought it because it was the ONLY car on the lot that had a manual transmission.
Only a few times have a pined for automatic windows.
Great mileage.

[RebelOne]

4. Power front and back.

I can't remember how long it's been since I had a car with hand-cranked windows.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Power baby. THe more gas I can consume, the more I feel

like a true American!!!!


:hide:

I only wish my van had a Hemi.

[JVS]

10. I was unaware that power windows were gasoline powered

I know they take some electricity, but cars have a generator that produces electricity to keep it running without draining the battery. I'd recon that the windows are not forcing the engine to work any harder than it already is.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Joke, JVS, joke.

I was making fun of the big, well equipped cars people seem intent on driving.

[billyskank]

20. And the generator is powered by...?

:)

[JVS]

22. yeah, but the generator is spinning whether you use the power or not

so the gas is already going to be used by your driving. Unless you like to idle your car and play with the windows

[billyskank]

25. If you're not loading the alternator (that's its name)

by running anything electrical then it turns very freely. Turn on some power-hungry circuit (say the rear window demister) and the alternator becomes much more difficult to turn. You don't get anything for free.

I don't think the electric windows take a particularly big hit on your gas mileage though. ;)

[Midlodemocrat]

28. Billyskank to the rescue!!!!!

:bounce:

[bleedingheart]

8. My 2004 Corrolla has hand cranked windows

and I like it that way.

I find that the number of problems you have with your car is directly related to the overhyped bullshit they add to them...call me a purist but I don't like too many gadgets...so much more to go wrong and cost more to repair...

[City Lights]

9. Power.

The Honda and the VW.

[wildhorses]

12. power n/t

[In_The_Wind]

13. power, power, power

on all of the Alpern family vehicles

[ileus]

54. crank , power, and zippered: yeah baby...

Crank on my 94 accord
power on the 03 Aerostar
zippered on the 95 Jeep

[NewWaveChick1981]

14. Hubby's 1998 Ford Escort wagon

(5-speed---kinda ugly but gets 40+ mpg!) has all manual windows. My 1999 Mercury Sable wagon has power everything. I know from friends' experiences that it's a pain in the ASS to get power windows fixed. I'm just hoping mine hold out. :) I want to get a new car some time soon.

[Hand]

92. Short on frills, long on guts...

...that's the Escort. Needless to say, my 1994 hatchback has hand crank windows..

Here she is... :toast:

[NewWaveChick1981]

96. Yep!

:hi: My sister had an Escort almost exactly like yours. She loved it! Hubby's wagon has remarkable pickup and gets the best gas mileage of any car he or I have ever had. :toast:

[LaurenG]

15. Both cars hand cranked nt

[Ravenseye]

16. Hand Cranked are safer

Forget all the other reasons. If you get in an accident, or crash into water, your power windows will go caput. If you are undewater in a lake and need to get out of a car with power windows you could be shit out of luck. The doors might not open because of the pressure, and your power windows will trap you.

Hand cranked windows won't have the problem. If you're in that lake and want to get out, just take a deep breath of what air remains, and then crank open the windows and swim for the surface.

You can keep your power windows. I don't want to drown to death.

[matcom]

17. do you drive into lakes often?

:rofl:

[JVS]

18. Only when I'm drinking

[Ravenseye]

39. Lake.

Big Lake.

[Ravenseye]

35. No

But if you ever drive into a lake and your power windows don't open and you start to drown, think of me. :)

[billyskank]

23. I love the way americans will tell you something is unsafe

and then point out some unbelievably far fetched scenario in which the thing in question is indeed a problem.

:rofl:

[Mutley]

33. Are you saying Brits don't do that?

:D

[Ravenseye]

38. Only after a nice cup of tea

;)

[Ravenseye]

36. So you admit it's a problem?

Why take the risk then?

[Divameow77]

61. I have heard the safest way to get out of a

submerged car is to let if fill up then kick the window out.

[TheMightyFavog]

69. Three Words:

Automatic center punch.

It's a small tool used in metal working that if you use on a car window, will shatter it completley.

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001247.php

[Floogeldy]

87. I agree and, in addition . . .

It is costly to replace the motor or whatever it is when the power window breaks. Waste-O-money.

:smoke:

[txwhitedove]

19. Hand-crank on new Toyota Matrix. Don't want no stinkin' power...

windows. Every power feature and gadget is one more thing that can go wrong. Now that our cars are computerized, just replacing the computer gizmo is outrageously expensive.

[Midlodemocrat]

21. What about the Scooter? Hand cranked or power?

:hide:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Power..........all the way!

And here's why, for most of the time, power windows are safer: If you are by yourself in the car, and someone tries to get at you, the power windows go up much more quickly and of course, you don't have to reach them to crank them up!

Same thing for power locks.....much safer!

My power windows on all my Toyotas have never failed!

:woohoo:

[Deep13]

26. hand-crank

Power windows is just one more thing that can go wrong.

[KansDem]

27. Hand crank, but even then the knob has broken off...

...leaving me having to turn the arm. I don't roll my windows up or down very much.

I drive a 41-year old automobile.

[CottonBear]

29. We have 3 vehicles, all of which have hand cranked windows.

Electric is just something which can break. Plus, if the battery goes out, there's no way to roll the windows up and down.

[Blue Diadem]

30. power..but on one car, one window is broken now

and it'll cost more to fix it than the car is worth..so that window just doesn't open anymore.

[Catshrink]

31. I convinced myself it was "OK" to have power...

I used to think power accessories were frivolous and too costly, just like I'd rather learn to do home repairs and remodeling myself rather than pay someone to do it.

Then I bought a Honda Civic (pre-owned, of course) and went for the EX model -- when I bought it I was driving 45 minutes each way and decided a little more comfort was allowed. Holy Crap!!! I love the power gadgets! My favorite thing is the door unlock thingie - no more fumbling for the key, unlocking the front door, reaching in and unlocking the back door, with an armful of groceries. It is sweet! The CD player is kind of nifty too.

[MorningGlow]

32. Jeep Wrangler means...

Jeep Wrangler means hand-crank windows and DIY everything else. Because Jeep drivers are too friggin' rugged for any candy-ass features like power windows or power locks! (Okay, I have a CD player--I'll admit that!)

[trackfan]

34. Hand-crank

[jus_the_facts]

37. My '89 Chevy Corsica has power everything...and STILL less than 70K miles

.....on it...that's ORIGINAL miles too...all the paint has melted and peeled off because it was recalled for bad primer...but eventhough it looks like shit...still only had to put roughly 2K into it since I got it after my grandmother died in '97...so for a car comin' up on 20yrs. old it's a keeper!! :D

:hi:

[scarlet_owl]

40. Hand crank.

[KitchenWitch]

41. power

And it sucks when they get iced and I need to open them.

[noonwitch]

42. For the first time, I have power windows on my car

They came with the package I was buying. I don't really care, but it is one more electrical thing to break down.

I do like the keyless entry system, with the power locks. It does seem safer for me as a single female.

[Rob H.]

43. Power on my current car

But my previous vehicle was a Jeep Wrangler with a soft top and plastic windows so it had neither--it had zippers! :P

[reyd reid reed]

44. Hand cranked.

The way I see it, power is just one more thing for the kids to play with until they break it. And then it'll be more expensive to fix.

Plus, my first car had power windows. One day it died on me. Windows were down and it started to rain.

NOT fun.

[Deja Q]

45. Power, but I don't mind hand cranking...

[Spaceman Spiff]

46. All I have to say

is FUCK POWER WINDOWS! Every car I've ever had with power windows malfunctioned at some point. Next car I get will have roll ups if I can get them.

[Tikki]

47. Honestly, Mr. Tikki had to fight me 'tooth and...

nail' to get the latest new vehicle with power windows . I hate them...I sense danger from them and
a costly repair bill down the road. You used to be able to get electric
door locks without getting the automatic windows, but I guess not anymore.
...and I do have a center punch placed in a prominent place in the truck's cab...

[LeftyMom]

48. Hand cranked

I kinda prefer them because the kid won't play with them. I'd only want power if it had a lockout feature where I could set them to only respond to control from the driver's seat.

[ileus]

56. that's options been around for years.

[LeftyMom]

57. I wouldn't know

This is my first car, and the only option it has is AC (which isn't really an option in California anyhow.) I think my best friend's SUV does that though.

[LSK]

49. power windows on my 12 yr old vehicle

I didnt even know they still made hand crank windows??? :shrug:

[XNASA]

50. Did somebody say "Hand-Crank"?

[cobalt1999]

51. do zippers count?

Jeep Wrangler soft top.

[Beware the Beast Man]

52. Currently- hand crank.

The driver's side power window of my old Intrepid broke in the down position, and it was murder trying to fix it.

[deucemagnet]

53. Power windows and locks for the first time.

Not my choice, I bought the car used. It's kinda nice to be able to open the rear windows and close the front ones when you're on the highway, but I don't think it's an option I'd pay for if I were buying a new car. Keyless entry is nice, though.

[Flaxbee]

55. power windows... but I think I'd like an override option

in case I ever drive into a lake.

So, power for safety as CaliforniaPeggy pointed out, in case there are bad people after me and I have to roll my window up quickly, but an emergency handle, too, to crank the windows down for underwater driving needs.

Seriously, though, I don't think everything in the car should be power-operated, there should be an override somehow, b/c if the power systems crap out, you're trapped.

[Blue_Tires]

58. crank

[Dem_4_Life]

59. I currently have Hand Crank and have heard too many prob's w/ power. nt

[samsingh]

60. power

why?

[Divameow77]

62. Power

and I even have power sliding doors in my van too :-)

Didn't really care though, just happened to come with the 2002 van I bought.

[taterguy]

63. neither

No windows on my Gary Fisher mountain bike, and that's the way I like it

[Pithlet]

64. My last car that had crank windows

was my red '93 Honda Civic Hatchback. Despite the handcrank windows, I really miss that car. It was a manual transimission. My current power everything family car is nice and all, but I still miss my little car.

[YankeyMCC]

65. Hand crack all the way

[RevolutionaryActs]

66. Hand crank.

Power windows are for sissies! :silly:

[TheMightyFavog]

67. Hand-Cranked

I drive a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.

[Oeditpus Rex]

68. One more reason I'll never own a new car

Already, you can't work on 'em because of modern engine design, and some cheap-assed part like a taillight bezel costs $4,228 without the gasket. Now they want to standardize one more thing that's eventually gonna burn out — probably the belt before the motor — and it's always the driver's side because that one gets used more, and depending on the window position when it does, you've either got to get out of the car at drive-up windows and whatnot or you get frozen and rained on, because there's a month-long waiting list at the Authorized Service Center, and when you do get in it's gonna cost you about $400 for the privilege of rolling down your window — which you could've done just as well and forever with a crank.

I my '65 Chevy.

[Ramsey]

70. Power

I didn't realize any new cars still had hand crank windows. Of course, the power ones suck when they break, especially in the down position!

[Crabby Appleton]

71. 3 vehicles

1 crank and zipper
2 power

[ikojo]

72. I have a scooter....no windows

[GOPisEvil]

73. Power.

My previous vehicle had hand-crank, and the one before that had power. What that means, I have no idea...

[Lady Effingbroke]

74. Hand crank - 93 Toyota truck.

Every car with power windows I have owned gave me nothing but problems (window getting stuck closed or open or falling out of the track completely.)

Maybe because the cars were all clapped out pieces of shyte? :think:

[bigwillq]

76. Power (nt)

[u4ic]

77. Hand cranked n/t

[Fox Mulder]

78. Power. I hate power windows.

Damn motor sucks in them.

I wish they'd stick with the hand-cranked windows.

[Rabrrrrrr]

79. My Maserati does 185 and it has power windows.

I lost my license. Now I don't drive. I just sit in it, and play with the power windows.

[matcom]

81. stop playing with your 'hand-crank' you LOSER

fucking '72 Gremlin should NOT be a part of this post :eyes:

[Maestro]

80. Hand cranked Dodge Dakota

all electric Honda CRV.

[bridgit]

82. 'Hand-Cranked'...

[fishwax]

83. hand cranked n/t

[Nicole]

84. Power

I have power everything. I love power. :rofl:

[ghostsofgiants]

85. Skateboards don't have windows.

[sakabatou]

86. Power

'98 Nissan Sentra

[havocmom]

88. Our car has power windows and I hate them

No voice in the matter cuz Detroit doesn't listen to me.

The fewer unnecessary electrical do-dads, the better, far as I'm concerned.

[Tab]

89. I recently rented a vehicle for $90/day with hand-cranked windows

had no choice (my car broke down), but this POS car had digital thermometer, and decent sound, but hand-cranked windows and individual door locks.

I own a vintage '78 vehicle, which has hand-cranked, but I understand that. But a late-model rental car??

[leftofthedial]

90. hand

[Liberal In Texas]

91. Power, baby, power.

My '87 has power....windows.



Mostly a hangar queen now, but man, those windows.

(Also, a power hatch latch...cool, eh?)

[PowerToThePeople]

93. Hand Cranked n/t

[BrotherBuzz]

94. Hand cranked and they also serve as my air conditioner

Heck, I even have wind wings for our triple digit days. Woo hoo!

[barb162]

95. Power; they're great especially if you want the back windows

down while you're driving