BRZ Question

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by reeves

What? There's a trunk opener button!!?? All this time I've been turning OFF my ignition before I could open the trunk with my key fob!!!

So where's the trunk opener button?

Can't tell if troll...

But it's next to the light dimmer switch, bottom left of steering wheel. Bigger rectangle button. Can't miss it.

[reeves]

No, seriously, i'm not trolling.. I just took the "missing" trunk opener lever/switch/button as a "no-frills, bare essentials" approach to what this car was intended to be..

not that i've needed to open the trunk any more than twice (while the engine is on) since I've own it.. but no, I never really bothered looking for it. Took a quick glance around and didn't see it, so I've been using my key fob only. Good to know now!

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by reeves

No, seriously, i'm not trolling.. I just took the "missing" trunk opener lever/switch/button as a "no-frills, bare essentials" approach to what this car was intended to be..

not that i've needed to open the trunk any more than twice (while the engine is on) since I've own it.. but no, I never really bothered looking for it. Took a quick glance around and didn't see it, so I've been using my key fob only.

Yeah, it's there. Did you find it? You also have to hold it in for a second for it to release the trunk. Guess it's a safety feature.

[reeves]

ran out to my workplace parking deck just to look for it.. yes, it's there!

[BRZfan]

Originally Posted by reeves

What? There's a trunk opener button!!?? All this time I've been turning OFF my ignition before I could open the trunk with my key fob!!!

So where's the trunk opener button?

Read thee thine Owner Manual.
Before you shoot yourself, be familiar with firearms before you load them as well. (reference: see above)

[dori.]

Originally Posted by Jayde

Yeah, it's there. Did you find it? You also have to hold it in for a second for it to release the trunk. Guess it's a safety feature.

it's actually something that can be programmed IIRC.

[hal0n]

Originally Posted by DaJoian

I have always wondered why they didn't make these buttons light up...Especially the trunk button. Oh well...

I can actually answer that. I'm a design engineer at a tier 1 supplier for this car, but I did not work on this car personally. So, anything I say is just an educated guess based on what is in the public domain.

Most likely, the primary reason is cost. Believe it or not, LEDs are relatively expensive (more-so if you want tight control of the chromaticity and intensity). Also the mechanical structure becomes more complicated to allow for illumination. The plastic has to be translucent which is a more expensive material than than opaque plastics. Then the graphic would have to be laser etched into paint instead of just pad printing (like a rubber stamp). That is just a basic overview, but you should be able to understand how all of those things will result in increased cost. The cost difference could be like double or more.

The safety aspect is covered by FMVSS and illumination is allowed for those switches as long as you follow the guidelines.

[BRZfan]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

I think it would is probably safer to have them illuminated, so that people aren't fumbling around trying to see outside temp, mpg, etc. while driving (not that they should be anyway). Obviously the trunk button should be illuminated just from a convienence standpoint (same as the power mirrow adjusts). But hey that's where the cost cutting comes in to play! Every little penny worth of parts, costs tons in developement.

I agree, people who buy this car should not be "fumblers" - and those pennies add up.

[BRZfan]

Conclusion:

In the development stage of the FRS and BRZ I envision a weekly meeting of all the program managers, engineers, cost accountants etc and the head honcho asks: "Look, boys and girls, we have a cost target for this vehicle. Do we REALLY need this feature. Give me three reasons, WHY?

[BRZfan]

Originally Posted by BRZfan

Conclusion:

I envision a weekly meeting of all the program managers, engineers, cost accountants etc and the head honcho asks: "Look, boys and girls, we have a cost target for this vehicle. Do we REALLY need this feature. Give me three reasons, WHY?

Head Honcho: "FORGET IT! WHAT'S NEXT?"

[reeves]

All those switches become second-nature after a while anyway.. no illumination needed. I'd rather pay less for the car and keep those buttons in the dark.