Producers » rec.autos.makers.saturn » driver side gas cap
driver side gas cap [message #507640] Fri, 11 November 2005 04:44
fish  
My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.

I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas cap
on the passenger side.

I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull of
the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.

But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane, you
can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.

I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.

I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.

Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel from
a neutral zone.

--
______________
=====fish=====
Re: driver side gas cap [message #507641 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 05:30
Ratbert  
That salesman is full of crap. Car designers put the gas cap wherever
it fits. If you don't like it, you're pretty much stuck with living
with or buying some other car. I personally don't care, as I have run
cars out of gas exactly twice in my entire life, and never on a highway.
In both cases, I got some help pushing the car off the road where I
was out of traffic when I poured the gas in.

fish wrote:
> My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>
> I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas cap
> on the passenger side.
>
> I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull of
> the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.
>
> But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane, you
> can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
> passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.
>
> I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.
>
> I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.
>
> Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel from
> a neutral zone.
>
Re: driver side gas cap [message #507642 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 06:34
RKHenry  
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:44:54 GMT, "fish"
<i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote:

>My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>
>I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas cap
>on the passenger side.

More significantly, if you pull up to the gas pump island on the
right, which is standard traffic in the U.S., then the filler on the
left is convenient to fill the tank.

Meanwhile, the people with fillers on the right have to pull to the
left side of the pump island, bucking all the vehicles trying to fill
up on that side of the pumps, creating a horrendous traffic jam with
with left-side and right-side cars going head-to-head on each side of
the pumps. Otherwise, some people try dragging the hose across the car
to fill on the right, scratching the paint or leaving black marks from
the hose.

I don't know who the idiot is who decided to start putting gas fillers
on the right of U.S. cars. Maybe they're all trying to emulate
Japanese cars, except that all the Japanese cars intended for U.S.
delivery that I've noticed have the filler on the left side of car,
just like normal U.S.-made cars--since that's where they all seem to
be made anyway.

I think I'll just try to keep my SL2 forever and ever.

RK Henry
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516453 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 13:58
Ash  
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:44:54 GMT, "fish"
<i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote:

>My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>
>I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas cap
>on the passenger side.
>
>I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull of
>the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.
>
>But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane, you
>can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
>passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.
>
>I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.
>
>I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.
>
>Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel from
>a neutral zone.


I understood that they stopped putting the fuel filler in the center
rear because it was a potential explosion hazard in collisions. The
filler cap is usually found on the opposite side of the car from the
exhaust tip for the same reason. If I am wrong, please correct me,
but I know I heard that somewhere.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516454 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 14:33
Mark  
RK Henry <robert.henry [at] earthlink.net> writes:
(snip)
> Meanwhile, the people with fillers on the right have to pull to the
> left side of the pump island, bucking all the vehicles trying to fill
> up on that side of the pumps, creating a horrendous traffic jam with
> with left-side and right-side cars going head-to-head on each side of
> the pumps. Otherwise, some people try dragging the hose across the car
(snip)

I haven't really seen these tremendous traffic jams, at least here in
Ohio - there's normally enough space in the gas station to make the
maneuvering fairly easy.

> Japanese cars, except that all the Japanese cars intended for U.S.
> delivery that I've noticed have the filler on the left side of car,
(snip)

My 2004 Subaru has it on the right. Our 1995 Mazda did, too, IIRC. I
don't think I ever had a problem with traffic in gas stations that I
could attribute to that. Oh, and a new Infiniti FX35 I drove recently
also had it on the right. (How "Japanese" you regard these, I don't
know. My Subaru was actually made in Japan, but I don't know about the
Mazda and Infiniti.)

Maybe gas station design varies from region to region? (Not that I've
really noticed much difference.) Sometimes we drive our own cars to
other places, but sometimes we fly and get hire cars, and I can't
remember what side the cap's been on cars we've rented.

-- Mark
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516455 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 14:46
Bob Shuman  
there is no standard, Japanese or otherwise. I have 5 vehicles in our
family, ranging from 1991 through 2001. Three from Chrysler, 1 from GM, 1
from Mitsubishi. They all vary some on left (driver), some on right
(passenger), even the three Chryslers. There simply is no "standard" here
based on my personal experience.

I agree with the previous poster who said designers fit this in wherever
they can based on appearance, location of the fuel tank, and lowest cost.

Bob

"RK Henry" <robert.henry [at] earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:npa8n1lm4lafs84dm2j9k61e1rspsh7to7 [at] 4ax.com...
> On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:44:54 GMT, "fish"
> <i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote:

> >My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
> >
> >I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas
cap
> >on the passenger side.

>> I don't know who the idiot is who decided to start putting gas fillers
> on the right of U.S. cars. Maybe they're all trying to emulate
> Japanese cars, except that all the Japanese cars intended for U.S.
> delivery that I've noticed have the filler on the left side of car,
> just like normal U.S.-made cars--since that's where they all seem to
> be made anyway.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516456 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 15:22
Steve Mackie  
> filler cap is usually found on the opposite side of the car from the
> exhaust tip for the same reason. If I am wrong, please correct me,

That is true, but what side the tip is on and what side the gas filler neck
is on has no rhyme nor reason.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516457 ] Fri, 11 November 2005 16:35
Art  
For the elderly, like my father, the extra walk for the gas cap on the right
is a real problem.


"fish" <i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote in message
news:WsUcf.32422$dU6.11870 [at] trnddc03...
> My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>
> I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas
> cap
> on the passenger side.
>
> I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull of
> the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.
>
> But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane, you
> can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
> passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.
>
> I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.
>
> I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.
>
> Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel
> from
> a neutral zone.
>
> --
> ______________
> =====fish=====
>
>
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516472 ] Sun, 13 November 2005 08:15
SMS  
Steve Mackie wrote:
>>filler cap is usually found on the opposite side of the car from the
>>exhaust tip for the same reason. If I am wrong, please correct me,
>
>
> That is true, but what side the tip is on and what side the gas filler neck
> is on has no rhyme nor reason.

In most cases, it is on the opposite side of where the exhaust pipe is.
It seems that most European cars have it on the right, and most U.S. and
Asian cars have it on the left, but there are plenty of exceptions.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516475 ] Sun, 13 November 2005 14:25
Notifier Deamon  
Post removed (X-No-Archive: yes)
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516485 ] Mon, 14 November 2005 00:47
Roy  
"Biker Geek" <bikergeek [at] speakeasy.net> wrote in message
news:slrndnefm0.psh.bikergeek [at] shell3.speakeasy.net...
> On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 05:34:16 GMT, RK Henry
> <robert.henry [at] earthlink.net> wrote:
>> More significantly, if you pull up to the gas pump island on the
>> right, which is standard traffic in the U.S., then the filler on the
>> left is convenient to fill the tank.
>> Meanwhile, the people with fillers on the right have to pull to the
>> left side of the pump island, bucking all the vehicles trying to fill
>> up on that side of the pumps, creating a horrendous traffic jam with
>> with left-side and right-side cars going head-to-head on each side of
>> the pumps. Otherwise, some people try dragging the hose across the car
>> to fill on the right, scratching the paint or leaving black marks from
>> the hose.
>
> I have an '03 Ion without power windows.
>
> Around metro Boston, often, the cheapest gas is to be had at the
> mom-and-pop stations with a single island that are
> full-serve-only. At these places, the attendant invariably walks
> up to the *passenger* side window, on the assumption that
> everybody has power windows. It's not just one gas station
> either; I've seen this a bunch of places. Cripes, how hard is it
> to walk around to the driver's side of the car?
>
> Real PITA if you don't have a front-seat passenger in the car to
> roll the window down.
>
I'd just roll the drivers side down and start talking. I'm sure they would
eventually catch on and come around.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516487 ] Mon, 14 November 2005 01:07
Roy  
Try not to take too much offence but if he can't walk around the car he
shouldn't be driving. You are supposed to take an occasional walk around the
car to visually check things like tire pressure and lights. I say this as
much for his safety as others.

As for running out of gas in the left lane, If you are getting on a
multi-lane divided highway without enough gas to get to where you are going,
or at least to get to an exit with gas station, then you should also not be
driving. This isn't just dangerous for you when you are putting in your
"emergency gas" but any car I've ever driven loses the power steering when
the engine is shut off, not to mention the power brakes loose their boost
also.

Sorry if I offended anyone but I just got back from a drive where an old guy
pulled out of a gas station parking lot in front of me (I was doing the
posted limit of 80kph) I had to lock up the brakes and skid to the side so I
wouldn't hit him. The best part is the cop sitting in the parking lot
watching for speeders didn't even flinch.

"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE [at] mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:GS2df.7131$2y.1159 [at] newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> For the elderly, like my father, the extra walk for the gas cap on the
> right is a real problem.
>
>
> "fish" <i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote in message
> news:WsUcf.32422$dU6.11870 [at] trnddc03...
>> My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>>
>> I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas
>> cap
>> on the passenger side.
>>
>> I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull
>> of
>> the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.
>>
>> But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane,
>> you
>> can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
>> passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.
>>
>> I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.
>>
>> I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.
>>
>> Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel
>> from
>> a neutral zone.
>>
>> --
>> ______________
>> =====fish=====
>>
>>
>
>
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516490 ] Mon, 14 November 2005 04:09
Art  
"Roy" <crawroy [at] nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:SyQdf.123759$Ph4.3799018 [at] ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
> Try not to take too much offence but if he can't walk around the car he
> shouldn't be driving. You are supposed to take an occasional walk around
> the car to visually check things like tire pressure and lights. I say this
> as much for his safety as others.

I don't take offence but he has a son to watch the oil level and tire
pressure, lights, etc. I also fill the car with gas occasionally for him so
he doesn't have to take the long trip. He uses a walker but still drives
fine.


>
> As for running out of gas in the left lane, If you are getting on a
> multi-lane divided highway without enough gas to get to where you are
> going, or at least to get to an exit with gas station, then you should
> also not be driving. This isn't just dangerous for you when you are
> putting in your "emergency gas" but any car I've ever driven loses the
> power steering when the engine is shut off, not to mention the power
> brakes loose their boost also.
>
> Sorry if I offended anyone but I just got back from a drive where an old
> guy pulled out of a gas station parking lot in front of me (I was doing
> the posted limit of 80kph) I had to lock up the brakes and skid to the
> side so I wouldn't hit him. The best part is the cop sitting in the
> parking lot watching for speeders didn't even flinch.
>

And I've seen similar moves by young and middle age drivers. Especially
those that cannot separate cigarettes or phones from their heads as they
drive.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516494 ] Mon, 14 November 2005 07:16
Roy  
"Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE [at] mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:EdTdf.9133$AS6.3020 [at] newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "Roy" <crawroy [at] nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:SyQdf.123759$Ph4.3799018 [at] ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca...
>> Try not to take too much offence but if he can't walk around the car he
>> shouldn't be driving. You are supposed to take an occasional walk around
>> the car to visually check things like tire pressure and lights. I say
>> this as much for his safety as others.
>
> I don't take offence but he has a son to watch the oil level and tire
> pressure, lights, etc. I also fill the car with gas occasionally for him
> so he doesn't have to take the long trip. He uses a walker but still
> drives fine.
>
>
>>
>> As for running out of gas in the left lane, If you are getting on a
>> multi-lane divided highway without enough gas to get to where you are
>> going, or at least to get to an exit with gas station, then you should
>> also not be driving. This isn't just dangerous for you when you are
>> putting in your "emergency gas" but any car I've ever driven loses the
>> power steering when the engine is shut off, not to mention the power
>> brakes loose their boost also.
>>
>> Sorry if I offended anyone but I just got back from a drive where an old
>> guy pulled out of a gas station parking lot in front of me (I was doing
>> the posted limit of 80kph) I had to lock up the brakes and skid to the
>> side so I wouldn't hit him. The best part is the cop sitting in the
>> parking lot watching for speeders didn't even flinch.
>>
>
> And I've seen similar moves by young and middle age drivers. Especially
> those that cannot separate cigarettes or phones from their heads as they
> drive.
>
I agree there are bad drivers of all ages, this one today just happened to
be older. And the cop didn't seem to care.
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516497 ] Mon, 14 November 2005 16:11
cewhite3  
"fish" <i.am.such.a.fish [at] atlantic.ocean> wrote in message
news:WsUcf.32422$dU6.11870 [at] trnddc03...
> My '97 SL2 has the locking gas cap on the driver's side.
>
> I was at the showroom yesterday to see all models with the unlocked gas
cap
> on the passenger side.
>
> I asked the salesman and he told me that the reason is that if you pull of
> the road on the right, it is safer to add emergency fuel.
>
> But the problem is that if you're on the highway and in the left lane, you
> can pull off to the left shoulder and thus, if the gas cap is on the
> passenger side, you expose yourself to oncoming traffic.
>
> I hate the fact that all current and future models are based on that.
>
> I may have to choose another brand when I'm ready to shop for a new car.
>
> Saturn should have put the gas cap on the rear center, so you can fuel
from
> a neutral zone.

See http://tinyurl.com/dm43f for a previous Usenet discussion on the subject
of fuel filler loactions.

Ed
Re: driver side gas cap [message #516503 ] Tue, 15 November 2005 02:10
fish  
C. E. White sez...

> See http://tinyurl.com/dm43f for a previous Usenet
> discussion on the subject of fuel filler loactions.

That was very good reading.
Thank you!

--
______________
=====fish=====
Vorheriges Thema:Electric problem ?
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