RE: PH Blog: Why modern cars are too confusing
Discussion
yonex said:
you should be able to order an M5 with no stereo or centre console if you wish
And if you choose to do so, which I'm sure if you were particularly persistent you could get done (I'm thinking Sultan of Brunei/Eric Clapton one-offs etc), may the Gods of Resale have mercy on your soul.
Garlick said:
tomoleeds said:
garlic,when did you last buy a car, you state "have they bought a S4 or base with the bodykit, has it a cassette deck or cd player," think you will find cassette decks are no longer sold with cars
Nooooooooo! How will I play my 5-Star album? 
Interesting thread, i know what you mean. As a car obsessed kid, the dealers in our local ford showroom that my mum and dad were loyal customers of were surprised that i could name all the ford colours etc and say what model the car was i.e Lx or Si etc. That was at an age of about 9.
I'd be in the car with my mum and dad going places and be able to name every car that went the other way. Not these dys, so many different models etc.
But i tell you the main thing that gets me. In say 1998, you could tell a mondeo lx from a mondeo ghia, The ghia would be fully colour coded, have front fog lights, and have some sort of garish but at the time tasteful chrome trim above the number plate etc. A ghia x meant better alloys and full leather.
These days, all the ford focus range for example looks the same with exception of the st. We have new shape focus titaniums at work and the only thing that tells you theyre the range topper is the little letters on the back.
Rubbish imo. No differentation at all.
I'd be in the car with my mum and dad going places and be able to name every car that went the other way. Not these dys, so many different models etc.
But i tell you the main thing that gets me. In say 1998, you could tell a mondeo lx from a mondeo ghia, The ghia would be fully colour coded, have front fog lights, and have some sort of garish but at the time tasteful chrome trim above the number plate etc. A ghia x meant better alloys and full leather.
These days, all the ford focus range for example looks the same with exception of the st. We have new shape focus titaniums at work and the only thing that tells you theyre the range topper is the little letters on the back.
Rubbish imo. No differentation at all.
This has made me laugh.
If getting you head around the options list on new cars then buying a second hand one is a mine field of options and specs.
I'm trying to buy a 10 year old humble BMW E46 coupe as a runaround and trying to work out what the original owner spec'd, whats been added over time and what options are just a figment of the ebay/autotrader sellers imagination is proving harder than I thought!
If getting you head around the options list on new cars then buying a second hand one is a mine field of options and specs.
I'm trying to buy a 10 year old humble BMW E46 coupe as a runaround and trying to work out what the original owner spec'd, whats been added over time and what options are just a figment of the ebay/autotrader sellers imagination is proving harder than I thought!
, but still warning off the crims after all these years 
Seriously, I think back to the very early 80's when as a 22 year old I had a 1981 RS2000.
Under the bonnet the electrics were protected by about 5 fuses.
Fuel injection? That's when I put the pump nozzle into the fuel pipe and squeezed.
Can bus? Generally the thought as I cut across a bus lane, thinking CAN I get across the junction before that BUS hits me?
ABS? Some new dangled plastic used for the dashboard.
TC? A cartoon cat that lived in a refuse bin....
Variable valve timing? When the cambelt slips.
I miss the ability to be able to gather around such cars on a Saturday lunch time with my mates and think 'we can have this engine our by 3pm'.....
Under the bonnet the electrics were protected by about 5 fuses.
Fuel injection? That's when I put the pump nozzle into the fuel pipe and squeezed.
Can bus? Generally the thought as I cut across a bus lane, thinking CAN I get across the junction before that BUS hits me?
ABS? Some new dangled plastic used for the dashboard.
TC? A cartoon cat that lived in a refuse bin....
Variable valve timing? When the cambelt slips.
I miss the ability to be able to gather around such cars on a Saturday lunch time with my mates and think 'we can have this engine our by 3pm'.....
havoc said:
In another nod to complexity, I've now got to the point where I don't want to own a modern car without a warranty. Never bothered with any of my cars except for the S2000 (which never needed the warranty anyway), but Becs' Golf has one which I've just extended, and my next car will have one too:-
- Turbos
- Direct Injection systems
- Expensive, integrated multimedia systems which cost several hundred to replace
- Components which have been engineered down to a price (I'm looking at you, Ford and VAG)
- Multiplexed integrated computer systems controlling everything
- Electric windows/mirrors/seats/tailgates/handbrakes/gloveboxes/cupholders...
Yup, that's scary. Warranty a very good idea I think. For the car manufacturers it's probably another way to make sure the things get binned when 10 years plus, now that having visible rust on older cars is a big nono...- Turbos
- Direct Injection systems
- Expensive, integrated multimedia systems which cost several hundred to replace
- Components which have been engineered down to a price (I'm looking at you, Ford and VAG)
- Multiplexed integrated computer systems controlling everything
- Electric windows/mirrors/seats/tailgates/handbrakes/gloveboxes/cupholders...
Contigo said:
Couldn't disagree more, I like new cars with as much tech and gadgetry on them as possible. Yes more can go wrong but the joy of driving is much enhanced on the road.
Only the joy of commuting was ever enhanced with extra gadgetry for me. With the exception of Xenons in bad light, there's very little I miss when going for a drive in my older carGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff