The other day, the lad who works for me was looking puzzled (actually that happens quite often, but I digress). On enquiry, he explained that he had been looking in vain for the bonnet release catch/handle, on a modern Peugeot…
He was surprised to find that this release catch/handle was in fact located on the left hand front door pillar, so is only accessible when the door is open.
Now what in heaven’s name possessed the person responsible for this ridiculous location? Why not leave the handle inside the vehicle (usually beneath the facia, in the manner used for decades), where it is more readily accessible, also, for those new to the vehicle, easier to find? Dunno.
Anyway, to me, it seems crazy to install a bonnet handle that can only be reached if a door is open. What happens in the event of an accident in which the car is too seriously damaged for the door to be opened? How can anyone open the bonnet to disconnect the battery in such an emergency, for example?
Another scenario I’d rather not think about is if, a little way down the line, the battery fails, and the car is parked with its left side close to a wall. The car can’t be started, and guess what, the door can’t be opened in order to reach the bonnet release to open the bonnet in order to change or re-charge the battery! Wonderful. Don’t you just love it?