The New York Times Wheels site has a lengthy list of comments resulting from a contributor's beef with certain contemporary car features. One suggestion that kept popping up was that manufacturers should bring back vent windows. Obviously the readers were boomers or older, since those handy devices haven't been seen in new cars for many years. What was the last car sold in North America that had them? Anyone recall? I'm one who remembers them well and I agree with the crowd on this. Nothing could clear mist off the inside of a windshield faster than opening a front vent window except air conditioning, and that uses energy.

With a vent to redirect airflow you could lower the side window and not be subjected to a hurricane blast. Or you could keep the side window raised and open the vent just slightly to get some cooler air inside. Yes, I can do that with my five-year old car's built-in vents and fan but the air gets subjected to under-hood heat. Even though I may want to drive along the highway with the windows closed to reduce exterior noise, the car's airflow system won't keep me cool so I'm forced to turn on the air conditioner. Old fashioned side vent windows would make that unnecessary. (When Fisher Body first introduced the system on GM cars in the early 30s they called it "No Draft Ventilation.") Finally a question for you aerodynamics experts: Is it possible that friction created by air passing over the hood at speed causes it to be heated before entering a car's ventilation system?

[Photo: Philip Powell]