[Railfan]

Only after I signed the papers did I notice that to fill up the gas tank, the driver has to walk around to the passenger side of the car. There are two problems with that:

1. The majority of the cars out there have the filler spout on the driver side of the vehicle, so when I pull up to a station, I am going against the flow of most everyone else, blocking most of them from exiting (and them blocking me), not to mention having to wait for a spot against the flow.

2. Here in northern Michigan, it is cold outside in the winter. I am a wuss, and I don't like spending more time out in that cold wind longer than I have to. So having to walk around the car to fill it up with gas is an inconvenience that I don't appreciate.

I wish GM and the other automakers would get their acts together and produce all cars with the gas filler opening all on the same side.

Next time, I guess I will have to put the location of the gas filler up higher on my list of things to pre-check before making a decision on a new car.

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

Some of the positives, however, are:

You'll never have to bump your door on the poles/pump/other obstacles when getting out.
On the side of the road in an emergency you will be out of traffic while siphoning/filling the tank.

The last decade it has been getting a bit more 50/50, and thus cars have an arrow in the instrument panel. I personally prefer it, mainly because of those huge metal U's they have between each pump that seem to always line up with my door. I understand your preference though.

 

[closer9]

I hate it too, but mostly because all three of our other vehicles (all Mopar come to think of it '67, '94 & '98) are on the driver's side, and I always seem to forget.

 

[jeepgrady]

You really must be kidding. With your statement: "After I signed the papers", indicates that if you would have noticed this prior, you wouldn't have purchased the vehicle.

If this is such an important issue in your life, I must say, "I wish I was in your shoes".

 

[ChevyMgr]

This is an amusing subject. An fyi for all; Late model GM vehicles have a little arrow by the fuel guage. It points to the side where the filler is, so you don't pull up on the wrong side of the pump.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Years ago I was told (can't remember by whom) that some of the American cars put them on the passenger side because the cars they're competing against, e.g. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, have them on that side as well. It was pointed out that the drivers of those vehicles find it more familiar and so are more likely to migrate from their foreign brand to the American brand.

Dunno how truthful that is, but it makes sense, kinda. Personally I don't care. I did years ago when I encountered the first one, but now it's not even worth noting.

I just wish they could find a way to do like they did many years ago and hide them behind the license plate or one of the taillights. But that's not safe. Dang!

 

[chevyguy8893]

It threw me off for a bit with the first vehicle I had that had the fill neck on the opposite side. I would always forget when I pulled up to the pump. Then one of my friends said, "why not look at the gas gauge arrow, it will tell you which side it is on". I had no idea what he was talking about till I looked closely at the gauge, then I felt stupid.

 

[Railfan]

You really must be kidding. With your statement: "After I signed the papers", indicates that if you would have noticed this prior, you wouldn't have purchased the vehicle.

If this is such an important issue in your life, I must say, "I wish I was in your shoes".

Yeah, I know, it does seem trivial. But, when it is below zero (F) with a wind chill of -25 F and I am driving home from a long trip, and need gas to get there, well, it is an inconvenience. Yes, I am nitpicking. After having several cars from GM and others, all with the gas filler on the drivers side, I get used to it being there. And then the first time I have to fill this new car, I find it on the other side......come on auto companies, let's get consistant.

Would I have not gotten this car if I had known? No, I probably still would have leased it anyway, but.

 

[Silver LTZ]

This really bothers you? Two of the three cars I own now are on the right. It doesn't bother me either way.

 

[JasonZ34]

1. False
2. Wuss

It's just the nature of the design. i'm guessing it just depends on where they can mount the tank and route the filler tube.
I was taken off by it at first but the only thing I don't like about it is that I have to think about which side it is on for the car I'm driving.

 

[Mastery]

Well, you can spend more time with the better half by walking up to her window while it's pumping, and have her roll down the window and talk with you

 

[snowleopard]

I can see why it's confusing, but I don't understand the frustration and statements that auto companies need to get their act together/get consistent/etc.

If it's cold, wear heavier clothing or plan it such that you don't have to get out of the car more often than necessary if it is that unbearable. Fill up to the max each time before the trip and don't fill up until you are at basically empty.

You can't expect the auto companies to think about every single little minor detail that everyone from every state might experience at some point. It would be impossible because some people like it on the passenger's side (as was mentioned some posts up about the safety).


Man up, prepare for when you -have- to get out of the car (have card in hand, jacket bundled, etc), and when you start to fill-up, set it to auto-fill and jump back in the car! Problem 90% solved.



On another note, if you think -25 F is cold, think of the Russian winter... where -75 F is not unheard of... you'll feel like you're in balmy weather after experiencing a real Russian winter.

 

[dc2009]

This issue has been around for years.

I can remember about 20 years age I was comparing 2 cars in the same issue of Consumer Reports. Both vehicles I was reading about had the fuel door on the drivers side of the vehicle.

One of the reports said having the fuel door on the drivers side was a great convenience for basically the same reasons given in this thread.

The writer of the report on the other vehicle declared having the fuel door on the drivers side is a safety hazard and should be made illegal, it is more likely to be damaged in an accident causing fuel spillage and become a possible fire hazard.

By the way many of the gas station I frequent are one-way through the pumps so half are available for right sided vehicles and half are available for left sided vehicles.

 

[Malo83]

Sounds like the guy who said no lighter was a deal breaker

 

[Railfan]

First of all, I would like to thank all who responded to this thread. I do enjoy all the varied responses, even the ones who are chiding me. Yes, I am a "wuss", but I am an honest wuss. As I get older I get more set in my ways and like familiarity. As for "maning up", in my case (my age) it is less of that and more of just being more comfortable in my routines.
And then there is the case of me not wanting to inconvenience others at the gas station. Here, we don't have one way drives in the stations. The other day I pulled into a station and just started to fill up, when the guy in the same lane facing me finished up, sat in his car unable to back up because there was another car behind him waiting. He was clearly ticked at either me for being there facing "the wrong direction", or he was ticked at the guy behind him who was not backing up to let him out. Had I known he was about done when I first pulled up, I would have backed up before starting and let him out. As it was, I really didn't want to interrupt the filling of my tank, letting him through and then trying to restart the process. Perhaps I need to be thicker skinned, but I just do not like to inconvience others if I can help it and with the gas tank fill tube on the passenger side, this will be a problem more times than not around here.

Overall, I like the car very much. But there is always that one little thing....be it a cig lighter or whatever. Besides, everyone needs a hobby.

Again, thanks for all the responses; all good points. See ya at the gas station.

 

[Mastery]

The other day I pulled into a station and just started to fill up, when the guy in the same lane facing me finished up, sat in his car unable to back up because there was another car behind him waiting. He was clearly ticked at either me for being there facing "the wrong direction", or he was ticked at the guy behind him who was not backing up to let him out.

You should carry extra Malibu brochures with you, then you could have handed him one for reading material while he waited

 

[srobinso11]

Had this conversation last year... got a little heated...

http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3007

 

[Trend1]

You can always move to Jersey we never have to touch those dirty smelly gas pump nozzle...we get our gas pumped for us for free, they even sometimes wash your windshield! I believe it's the law here in NJ.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Or you can move to Oregon. It is the law there unless it changed recently. You can't pump your own gas legally if the station has an attendant on duty. You can if it's one of those 24-hour places with no attendant, or if the place with an attendant sets their pumps to dispense after hours without one.

My sister came to visit me when I lived in Medford. She pulled up to get gas and started to get out. I told her it was illegal to pump her own gas and she just laughed in disbelief. So I reaffirmed it and she closed the door and waited for the attendant. He confirmed my statement. She had never heard of such a thing! We both had a good laugh on that one.

 

[jeepgrady]

You can always move to Jersey we never have to touch those dirty smelly gas pump nozzle...we get our gas pumped for us for free, they even sometimes wash your windshield! I believe it's the law here in NJ.

When I used to commute from Pa through NJ to NY, I sometimes stopped in Jersey for gas. I never once let the slimeballs near my car. No way would I allow them to spill gas down the side.