Q is for Quarter Lights that Open

I’m doing this blogging A to Z thing. Today is Q.

When I started driving, seat belts had just been made mandatory, “regular” gas had lead in it, rear-wheel drive was the norm, and those triangular windows at the fronts of the front doors (and sometimes the backs of the back doors) opened. We called them vents, but in most cars now they don’t open, so they’re not really vents anymore. The proper name is quarter lights.

That’s just a random fact I happen to know. I’m not really a car guy. For me, cars are just transportation.

What I want out of a car is safe, reliable transportation. And because I drive about 100 miles most days, good mileage. I’d pay extra for better cargo space or all wheel drive. Leather seats? Heated seats? Sun roof? Not so much.

Not counting the SUV I drove for a few years, adjusted for inflation, I’ve spent about the same amount of money on most of the cars I’ve owned.

But auto innovation being what it is, each one had bells and whistles the previous one didn’t.

10 years ago, power windows only came with the higher trim levels – for an extra grand or more. Five years later, they were standard equipment even on base level vehicles. My latest car, which is the base level, has power windows, multiple power outlets, USB and bluetooth connections, touch screen dashboard, and steering wheel controls. And voice control for pete’s sake.

And all that stuff is great.

But for all the improvements, I miss some of the old features. I miss full-size spares. And bench seats. And rear leg room.

And I miss quarter lights that opened (aka vent windows). Cars have better ventilation systems now, which sort of makes those vents unnecessary, but sometimes you just want that little bit of fresh air vent windows provided.