Hatchback Owners Close Their Boots 'Wrong' And It Drives Me Mad
As someone who’s deeply pedantic, I’m easily annoyed by many things that people do wrong. And when it comes to cars, one of my most significant annoyances stems from how people close their boot. Or ‘trunk’, if you’re of a more ‘Murican persuasion.
Specifically, I’m talking about hatchback-style tailgates. Everyone I’ve ever seen, and most people I’ve asked in the CT office - many of whom were happy to answer after saying things like “what a preposterously boring question” - simply push down on the outside of the boot until it’s closed. Which would be fine, if there wasn’t a better way that the entire world seems to - infuriatingly - be ignoring.
Pop the boot of your average hatchback, and you should be presented with one or more grab handles. All you have to do is hook your hand inside, pull the boot down and then let go - the weight of the boot will do the rest.
Et voila - you’ve now closed your boot without getting your smudgy fingerprints all over the bodywork. Even better, you’ve not made the layer of dust/muck on the outside of your car look more obvious, nor have you got a load of dirt on your fingers.
Admittedly, some are a little ergonomically challenged, and there are tailgates (the one on ‘our’ Hyundai i30 N springs to mind) that need such a slam to shut, that pawing the outside is unavoidable. But still, the boot grab handle is a simple and effective piece of design, yet it goes unloved.
Do people not know what they’re for? Are most folk just too lazy to bother using them? Am I a sad man who should worry about more important things? Wait, don’t answer that…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
nice name
Great way to put current news into this. But why this racist man? You could put Trump there and it would make a difference.
I almost always close the boot like that, prevents finger spots on the car. Unless it’s not really possible.
Ya see I’ve noticed that grab handle, but prefer simply putting a bunch of weight on the outside and slamming the boot.
I almost always use the handles ( protecting ur paint ftw)
from what, your hands?
I recently discovered my grab handle a couple of months back and i’m loving it!
I always use them on my Mum’s car because she basically never washes it (“it will get dirty again within no time anyways, so why should I”), but what I’m really struggling with is the trunk / boot of my Dad’s BMW 520d sedan. On his old car, the 320d GT, it was easy - push a button, it automatically closes. This doesnt seem to be possible on the sedans though, and there is - as far as I know - no grab handle inside either. The only way I know is by pushing on the outside - but where do you grab it? On the “wing”, so the part where the boot lid makes its 90° turn? Or down at the bottom edge, below the license plate? I need help! Part 2 with sedans, please!! 😂
lol
My parents and family constantly do it wrong on our Mercedes ML, even though there’s a handle on the bottom of the door that would gauge your eyes out and I’ve told them about it many times.
I couldn’t care less how it’s done tbh
Turns out I’ve been doing it the right way
Yeah but the i30N boot isnt very cooperative sometimes
Yup..