Date:         Tue, 9 Apr 2002 23:47:30 -0700
Reply-To:     G Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         G Challis <gchallis@CENTUM.COM>
Subject:      Re: Some good info about E-code headlamps & "City Lights"
In-Reply-To:  <01eb01c1e01a$d8642da0$0100a8c0@MEDION1800>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

May not be true in Austria, but it's definitely true for Britain.  We would
always just drive with the sidelights on in town and that was the norm, at
least 20 years ago - don't know about now.  (Am now donning Nomex suit in
anticipation of "English electrics not being able to support ...." blah,
blah, blah!!).

The parking light turning on with the indicator stalk is a German car thing
mainly.  Funny though that our U.S. spec. vanagons don't have it yet the
Mercedes ML from Alabama does.

Graham
90 GL auto CHC

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Robert Steven Fish
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 4:04 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Some good info about E-code headlamps & "City Lights"


snipped----
I thought European city lights were for use at night in the city
end snipped---------

Nope... that I have NEVER seen here, in any of the cities I have been in.
In Austria you would most likely get a ticket.

But one fun thing that we do here with our "city lights" is to park
somewhere kooky, in pitch black darkness, like on a corner, or near an
entrance... and we turn the car off, but leave the blinker ON for the side
where our car is sticking out in possible traffic.

That way the "city light" glows on the front corner, and a tail light on the
rear corner.. and hopefully nobody slams you because they didn't see your
tail or nose sticking out.

And speaking of driving with your "city lights" on at night... last year I
was in Egypt, and the people all drove there with their lights.. OFF.. yes,
turned off, at night (granted,  there were street lights illuminating the
roads there).  It was rather alarming to see though, and I asked a few
locals and they said that the drivers  save money by not having to buy the
bulbs so often.  Whether this is true or not (insane, if you ask me) there
were taxis, and trucks, and passenger cars.. all zooming around with no
lights on.

RSF

<º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{

Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Stann" <ChrisS@INFORMS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 12:45 AM
Subject: Re: Some good info about E-code headlamps & "City Lights"


> >How about city lights?  What is a city light? It's a European-type
parking
> >lamp, a small 5W bulb sticks through a grommet in the lamp's reflector
into
>
> I thought European city lights were for use at night in the city, where
> adequate street lighting made headlamps unnecessary.  You turn on the
'city
> lights' to keep from blinding oncoming traffic with your headlamps, yet
> people can easily spot your car because the headlights are glowing.  Once
> out of the street lights you turn your regular headlights back on.
>
> Could I be wrong?
>
> Chris.
>