Fuel Filler Door, Yet Another Reason I Love my Ion

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Does anyone know the ratio of vehicles that have passenger-side as opposed to driver-side fuel filler doors? An informal survey of my parking lot indicates that we are in the minority.

Yesterday, I approached a gas station because the gas was a few cents cheaper (I know that it doesn't amount to much). When I pulled in, I saw that there was a line of about 7 or 8 vehicles waiting to be fueled (crude diagram below, Fig.1). Upon even closer inspection, I noticed that all of them had driver-side fuel filler doors and there was an empty spot at the head of one of their lines (which I of course took advantage of).

Has anyone else experienced this, or was it just an anomally? I felt so good about not having to wait that I treated the Red Line to a car wash with all the options and a hand dry!

Fig.1
..............(<-]........(<-] (<-] (<-] (<-] (<-]
..............== PUMPS ==
[->) [->) [->).........(me]
--------------ROAD---------------

[Sp00ner]

Another bonus is the fact that you can't open the door into the curb. I've done that so many times in other cars.

[JDRedline]

Saturnfans.com recently did a gas door pole and of the 171 people who voted, 114 of them prefer it on the driver's side. I figured it was because that's the way the S-series was designed.

But, I'm with Spooner. I always hated it on the driver's side because I like to park close and always had a problem trying to get out of the car because of those poles.

[RL-2005]

A *Gas Door Poll* ?

Thats how you know youve got too much free time on your hands

[SLSduke82]

I imagine it's well over 50% on driver's side. Hell, I've had my RL since August, and I still sometimes pull up to the pump w/ the driver's side facing it, only to get out, swear, and have to three point like a jackass.

Engrained in my brain, I guess.

[Boosted_Ion]

Originally Posted by SLSduke82

I imagine it's well over 50% on driver's side. Hell, I've had my RL since August, and I still sometimes pull up to the pump w/ the driver's side facing it, only to get out, swear, and have to three point like a jackass.

Engrained in my brain, I guess.

lol... As soon as I started reading this thread that exactly what I thought of. My wife and I have two Saturns, the RL and a 2001 SC2. The SC2 has a driver's side filler door and every once and a while I pull up to the pumps on the driver's side with the RL.

I've thought about trying to play it off and act like I was only wanting to wash my windows...

[John]

There is actually a good reason for the pass fuel fill. If you run out of gas on the side of the road which side would you rather be standing on pouring gas in? That was the actual reason for the pass side fill according to the product trainers.

[ptparker]

Also, it is away from the muffler/exhaust (except for you GG ) so that if is spills, it is less likely to spontainously cumbust from getting in contact with exhaust componants.

Also if you run out of gas, it is away from the highway (assuming you pull off to the right, like you should).

I do wish it had a cable/electronic release.

[redlinerookie]

Originally Posted by ptparker

Also, it is away from the muffler/exhaust (except for you GG ) so that if is spills, it is less likely to spontainously cumbust from getting in contact with exhaust componants.

Also if you run out of gas, it is away from the highway (assuming you pull off to the right, like you should).

I do wish it had a cable/electronic release.

I second that. I think that, and way better rear visibility are the two things that were better on my 95 SL2 than this car. The in-cab release would be nice with the threat of gas vandals, but it is by no means a necessity.

[pclear9061]

im gonna have to custom make one b/c i got rude ass people lately that have been opening the gas door and takeing the cap off and makeing me throw a c cel then i have to get out put the cap back on and drive like freaking 100 miles b4 it turns off