drivers side exterior mirror

[V6Passat]

I think that if you could explain things in a single page, they wouldn't bother with a 100 page manual.

The problem is that peoples ability to read something and follow varies so greatly with their background, education level, intellectual development, and existing subject knowledge, that it's just simply not possible to summaries all the features in something much shorter than the manual. If it were, they'd do it.

Just look around these forums and see how many pages that some of the threads take to explain the same thing in many different ways so that some individuals understand. Then imagine the difficulty that car manufacturers (or any manual writers) face when they don't have the chance of a two way interaction!

Totally agree. I was taking the piss (with my suggestion). I work in the telecommunications industry and am all to farmiliar with customers expectations around manuals, specs etc. for the record, they are mostly unrealistic.

Lets get reading folks!

[Corey_R]

Aah - we're in similar industries then! Yeah - customers expectations around manuals can be quite amusing, and yet frustrating

[AdamD]

Lets get reading folks!

+1. I got a hold of the manuals for my GTI (and have read them cover to cover), and my car won't arrive for 6 weeks!

[barges]

surely you guys have better things to do than read manuals. the good people at volkswagen know this and thats why the glovebox has a shelf for the manual so that its always there when needed.

[V6Passat]

+1. I got a hold of the manuals for my GTI (and have read them cover to cover), and my car won't arrive for 6 weeks!

wow that is keen. If you have time to spare i have some odd jobs that need doing! Part of me says i need to do this, but the other part of me says i couldnt be bothered.

Now a question for all, where is the fuel cap on my Passat?

[AdamD]

wow that is keen. If you have time to spare i have some odd jobs that need doing! Part of me says i need to do this, but the other part of me says i couldnt be bothered.

Vast sections of the manual consist of warnings you just ignore. Much more is generally common-sense advisories (you accelerate by applying the accelerator pedal, etc), that can likewise be skimmed or ignored.

I was able to get through the meat of the manuals (owner's manual and RCD-510 guide) in a few hours one quiet evening. And now I know a whole lot more about the features of the car I'm paying good money for.

I'd much rather know about my car's features - and have them improve the ownership experience - than not know and not utilise them, or ask silly questions about them on a public forum.