The Stupidest Little Complaint

[JenkkiMike]

Am I the only one who thinks the intermittent wiper switch is installed backwards? On the switch, there are five lines of varying length arranged from shortest to longest indicating the intermittent wiper speeds. The shortest position is actually the longest pause between wipes and the longest line is the fastest speed. Why the hell isn't it the other way around? I interpret the length of the lines to represent the length of time between wipes.

Anyway this is such a minor thing and is quickly overcome once learn to ignore the lines and get used to the car. Overall I am loving my Tour X after a couple weeks of ownership.

 

[Foxbat]

Think of it in terms of a speedometer: the longer lines mean faster wiping speed.

 

[trflesher]

I believe this is the same way or was the same way on my 2012 Buick Lacrosse as well ... I guess the thinking . maybe .. the long line means its when it runs most often? I don't know ... I think the other way, as you did, but just have gotten used to it now since its my second car labeled the same way

 

[Jack GS]

@JenkkiMike, It's backwards for me too. The intermittent wipers in my '99 Accord are designed as you describe, shortest line=shortest time. Since I still drive the Accord and Regal, I have to stop and think about it as they are opposite.

 

[saab93driver]

Perhaps the lines are meant to be visual representation for how much rain is falling. Short line = less rain = longer interval.... ;-/

But looking at the manual the meaning is short line = fewer wipes and long line = more wipes.

 

[Kamehameleon]

My Sonata and Jetta both had it as shorter line-longer pause, so I'm used to it. I always understood it as frequency (i.e. shorter line, less frequency of wipes)

 

[jclin4]

What I find backwards is that you temporarily press the stalk down for mist, and push up for intermittent and normal wiper action. All my other cars were the other way around.

 

[JenkkiMike]

That too! All of it just requires getting used to but it all does seem backwards.

 

[liuby33]

Off topic but sort of on topic at the same time: I thought using INT as the short form of Intermittent was really a good way of tricking us into thinking that it is Intelligent, which is in a majority of cars in this bracket these days but not in Regal.

 

[Red_X]

Yeah, I feel like it's mislabeled...like the line should be a longer time between intervals. And I'm still reacquainting myself with the right way to use them: my Subarus had the stalk upside down.

 

[mike69440]

I pondered this also, concluded everyone including me on this forum is OCD & just weird.

 

[Jack GS]

I pondered this also, concluded everyone including me on this forum is OCD & just weird.

Good company if you ask me 😆

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

I don'y pay any attention to the length of the lines. I know that if I twist the knob towards me the wipers pause longer and if I twist the knob away from me the wipers pause shorter. As far back as I can remember all my other cars have been the same way.

 

[Ctrcbob]

I don'y pay any attention to the length of the lines. I know that if I twist the knob towards me the wipers pause longer and if I twist the knob away from me the wipers pause shorter. As far back as I can remember all my other cars have been the same way.

Ditto.

 

[saab93driver]

I pondered this also, concluded everyone including me on this forum is OCD & just weird.

I was good with that until someone mentioned the that using the turn signal stalk sounds like a breaking chicken bone. Never bothered me before....Messes with me now.

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

I'm ok with the wiper switch, but I understand what you're saying.

I have a similar gripe with the manual shift... We have it so forward is up and backward is down shift,... But I would prefer it the other way around. I'd like back to be up and forward to be down because of the g forces when accelerating and braking dictate this to me. I suppose I want it like a sequential racing shifter.

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

I perceive it as moving the shifter forward is upshifting or moving the car forward, and moving the shifter back is downshifting or backing down. To me this feels natural and I don't have to think about it.

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

I perceive it as moving the shifter forward is upshifting or moving the car forward, and moving the shifter back is downshifting or backing down. To me this feels natural and I don't have to think about it.

I guess for me it's hard to shake the road coarse racing mentality. Race motorcycles are also opposite from the norm... 1 up 5 down instead of 1 down & 5 up.

About the wiper switch... I do remember at least one time where I thought the same thing as the OP when using it.

 

[BoostedRegal2.0]

After riding motorcycles for 50 years I couldn't get used to 1 down 5 up on a racing bike.

 

[Zeroboostbuick]

After riding motorcycles for 50 years I couldn't get used to 1 down 5 up on a racing bike.

95%+ of the time I do trackdays. I hardly ride on the street anymore. That kinda explains the difference.