High Beam, Low Beam

[moveover]

Now that the nights are drawing in and I'm using my headlights again, I'm recalling what a royal pain in the a*se the headlight stalk is on my V8V. I can' believe AM fitted such a horrible clunky mechanism for switching back and forth between high and low beam. Particularly as you often needs to switch quickly when rounding a bend, which means your hand is nowhere near the stalk in the first place. Volvo switch-gear - yuk.

[lynham]

ha ha.... and i thought it was just me!

[Speedraser]

The stalks aren't the car's best feature, but where would you suggest locating the high/low beam stalk to make it easier to find while rounding a bend?

Edited by Speedraser on Monday 8th November 21:50

[froggie]

Buttons on the steering wheel spoke works well

[moveover]

Or just a flick-forward, flick-back mechanism, which you could manage with a touch of the finger. The problem with the existing stalk is firstly, that it's a toggle mechanism, but more frustratingly has a ridiculous amount of travel on it.

[Speedraser]

Personally, I wouldn't want buttons on the wheel. I also don't mind that it's a toggle action rather than push-pull. However, I completely agree that the travel is far longer than it should be.

[froggie]

Theres 2 buttons on our Vanquishes,quite easy access and barely noticeable.
Cerbras have all the stalk controls on the wheel well usable in difficult situations.
The difference between flapper paddles and a gear knob i suppose

[Jay_Davis]

The position of the stalk isn't the problem, its the feel. Not very good. They needed to raid someone elses parts bin.

[Murph7355]

Whilst the stalks could be better, if you're finding yourself needing to change the lighting whilst "rounding a bend", you're not driving properly.

We'll be moaning next that the radio buttons are too small to operate easily when doing 200 up the M1

[moveover]

Murph7355 said:

Whilst the stalks could be better, if you're finding yourself needing to change the lighting whilst "rounding a bend", you're not driving properly.

We'll be moaning next that the radio buttons are too small to operate easily when doing 200 up the M1

Sorry - I take it that you either dip your headlights before going round a bend, or you're from Texas where there aren't any. What do you mean not driving properly?

[handyman 1417]

Have to agree with Murph, but can't find a problem with the stalk anyway, even on a spirited drive.

[AstonZagato]

The thing that annoys me is that the stalks are (were?) also used in the Jaguar XK8 but, rather than the toggle action taht they have in the DB9/AMV8/DBS, they were "push for high beam", "pull for flash". Much more sensible in the Jaguar IMHO.

Edited by AstonZagato on Wednesday 10th November 12:32

[Vantage man]

Before complaining about AM try an Alfa !

[LC23]

moveover said:

Now that the nights are drawing in and I'm using my headlights again, I'm recalling what a royal pain in the a*se the headlight stalk is on my V8V. I can' believe AM fitted such a horrible clunky mechanism for switching back and forth between high and low beam. Particularly as you often needs to switch quickly when rounding a bend, which means your hand is nowhere near the stalk in the first place. Volvo switch-gear - yuk.

I was at the factory today and one of the top bods gave a talk. Lets just say he has been saying for a while that the switch gear is one of his least favourite parts and that Aston are looking to change this soon.

[Murph7355]

moveover said:

...What do you mean not driving properly?

If you have to be fiddling with any of a car's controls as you round the bend, other than smooth use of the steering, then you have failed to anticipate the bend properly, or the conditions that you're driving in.

That is what I mean by not driving properly.

Why would you realise, part way through a bend, that you cannot see well enough?

Unless you meant you had it on mains and someone was coming the other way? (Which again is poor anticipation, judgement and consideration to other road users). Or you accidentally flicked it on? (In which case you have the world's biggest hands!)

[moveover]

Murph7355 said:

moveover said:

...What do you mean not driving properly?

Unless you meant you had it on mains and someone was coming the other way? (Which again is poor anticipation, judgement and consideration to other road users).

...is exactly what I meant. Unlike you, I cannot see around corners. You are clearly a king among men!

[Speedraser]

LC23 said:

moveover said:

Now that the nights are drawing in and I'm using my headlights again, I'm recalling what a royal pain in the a*se the headlight stalk is on my V8V. I can' believe AM fitted such a horrible clunky mechanism for switching back and forth between high and low beam. Particularly as you often needs to switch quickly when rounding a bend, which means your hand is nowhere near the stalk in the first place. Volvo switch-gear - yuk.

I was at the factory today and one of the top bods gave a talk. Lets just say he has been saying for a while that the switch gear is one of his least favourite parts and that Aston are looking to change this soon.

IMO, most of the switchgear is very nice and of high quality, and stacks up very favorably against the competition. Much of it is metal and feels like quality stuff to use. The stalks are not great; not up to the standard of the rest of the car, though not too bad. The worst switchgear, I think, are those for the power seats, which look like they could be from any cheap car (they've nicely addressed this in the Rapide).

[Steve Richards]

moveover said:

Murph7355 said:

moveover said:

...What do you mean not driving properly?

Unless you meant you had it on mains and someone was coming the other way? (Which again is poor anticipation, judgement and consideration to other road users).

...is exactly what I meant. Unlike you, I cannot see around corners. You are clearly a king among men!

Agree with Murph, If a car approached whilst driving around a bend you would go onto dip wouldn't you......if so, why not dip your lights before the bend, chances are you don't need mains on anyway as you are only lighting up the hedge opposite after all.

[RichB]

Steve Richards said:

moveover said:

Murph7355 said:

moveover said:

...What do you mean not driving properly?

Unless you meant you had it on mains and someone was coming the other way? (Which again is poor anticipation, judgement and consideration to other road users).

...is exactly what I meant. Unlike you, I cannot see around corners. You are clearly a king among men!

Agree with Murph, If a car approached whilst driving around a bend you would go onto dip wouldn't you......if so, why not dip your lights before the bend, chances are you don't need mains on anyway as you are only lighting up the hedge opposite after all.

Surely the AM V8V has headlamps that follow the steering? My Volvos have had this for the last few years or did you chaps only get the switchgear and not the lights

[Siy]

Speedraser said:

LC23 said:

moveover said:

The worst switchgear, I think, are those for the power seats, which look like they could be from any cheap car (they've nicely addressed this in the Rapide).

I agree with this - are there not any aftermarket nice metal switches that we could replace them with?