I don't want a new bloody car. I want my old one back....
Discussion
Life has been a bit 'interesting' of late. In the workshop, we have a 1930's Swift for all sorts of mechanical and electrical work, and on a more modern line, we're building a bit of an experimental 1.5 DCI engine for a Clio I bought the other day..., But the really interesting thing is going on with my BMW.
I've had it about a million years now - it's an old 525 Diesel E39. Not hugely fast compared to some modern day stuff,but a big old barge, decent on fuel, good on the motorway, nice and comfortable, and just nice.
But my Mrs managed to prang it the other day - not huge, but damage to the inner and outer front wings, bonnet, headlights etc, and prob a grand or 2 of damage,even if I repair (if I can) myself.
So I'm looking at new (to me) cars. I don't want an F10 because I don't like the way it 'bongs' at me all the time, and the shear complexity of it. And I don't want an electronic handbrake, or an auto box, and especially an auto box that won't reverse with the door open. And it's huge - much bigger than an E39. And I don't want an E60, because I don't like the electric steering, and it doesn't have nice wood, and the suspension is back breaking.
And I don't want an A4 - because I don't want to press the clutch to the floor to start the bloody thing (I can drive), and anyway the foot rest gets in the way, and I still don't want an electronic hand brake,and I don't want the radio to shut off when I go backwards, and I don't want the infernal electronic nagging from the beeper,and I don't want lights to stay on even in the bright sunshine. I especially don't want to access the electronic control panel and scroll through 2 sub menus to alter the blower fan speed, and so the same again to alter the direction of the air. Dear God what were they thinking. And what happened to a door lock - what happens when the battery dies, and the car won't unlock. Oh that's right, it will connect me to the emergency services via blue tooth, and call the RAC for me. STOP IT, just STOP IT.
But I would like an engine that won't explode in a shower of parts at 100k, and I would like a gearbox that relies on an oil pump is not made of cheese, and I would like the 100 inter-connected computers to be soldered together correctly. And actually, I would like 5 star crash safety, oh and by the way, I want a 6 cylinder engine as well.
Am I asking too much - Am I really asking too much that someone builds a nice car with few electronic gizmo's, but actually thinks about the quality of the engineering and the oily bits, while managing to get the best of the modern design and thinking? Really?
Good God Germany, pull your bloody finger out.
Maybe one of the Japanese do something half tidy, but dear God, I'd struggle to buy something German. I'd be beating it with a stick all the time.
(Or is it just me being a Luddite?)
I've had it about a million years now - it's an old 525 Diesel E39. Not hugely fast compared to some modern day stuff,but a big old barge, decent on fuel, good on the motorway, nice and comfortable, and just nice.
But my Mrs managed to prang it the other day - not huge, but damage to the inner and outer front wings, bonnet, headlights etc, and prob a grand or 2 of damage,even if I repair (if I can) myself.
So I'm looking at new (to me) cars. I don't want an F10 because I don't like the way it 'bongs' at me all the time, and the shear complexity of it. And I don't want an electronic handbrake, or an auto box, and especially an auto box that won't reverse with the door open. And it's huge - much bigger than an E39. And I don't want an E60, because I don't like the electric steering, and it doesn't have nice wood, and the suspension is back breaking.
And I don't want an A4 - because I don't want to press the clutch to the floor to start the bloody thing (I can drive), and anyway the foot rest gets in the way, and I still don't want an electronic hand brake,and I don't want the radio to shut off when I go backwards, and I don't want the infernal electronic nagging from the beeper,and I don't want lights to stay on even in the bright sunshine. I especially don't want to access the electronic control panel and scroll through 2 sub menus to alter the blower fan speed, and so the same again to alter the direction of the air. Dear God what were they thinking. And what happened to a door lock - what happens when the battery dies, and the car won't unlock. Oh that's right, it will connect me to the emergency services via blue tooth, and call the RAC for me. STOP IT, just STOP IT.
But I would like an engine that won't explode in a shower of parts at 100k, and I would like a gearbox that relies on an oil pump is not made of cheese, and I would like the 100 inter-connected computers to be soldered together correctly. And actually, I would like 5 star crash safety, oh and by the way, I want a 6 cylinder engine as well.
Am I asking too much - Am I really asking too much that someone builds a nice car with few electronic gizmo's, but actually thinks about the quality of the engineering and the oily bits, while managing to get the best of the modern design and thinking? Really?
Good God Germany, pull your bloody finger out.
Maybe one of the Japanese do something half tidy, but dear God, I'd struggle to buy something German. I'd be beating it with a stick all the time.
(Or is it just me being a Luddite?)
I agree with most of the points in your rant OP.
The fact is that cars only need to last until the warranty runs out as most owners/leasers only keep a car that long. After that they are looking to swap to the latest model which will have to be an "improvement" over the outgoing car. Hence a load of stupid alterations and "features" that probably are used once and ignored along with altered ergonomics for changes sake.
The BMW popping into Park when the door is opened drives me crazy, along with the faff of having to start the car to move it a few feet when cleaning wheels, a real pain when wearing wellies/dirty overalls. I-drive for altering heating is just ridiculous,
VW Audi etc muting the radio in reverse is annoying too, and electric handbrakes with mechanisms that look like a cheap toy inside, cost cutting rubbish.
Anyhow I drive a sixteen year old E46 now, had it over a decade, don't miss the E60s at all, wish I had the fifty grand they lost in depreciation though.
The fact is that cars only need to last until the warranty runs out as most owners/leasers only keep a car that long. After that they are looking to swap to the latest model which will have to be an "improvement" over the outgoing car. Hence a load of stupid alterations and "features" that probably are used once and ignored along with altered ergonomics for changes sake.
The BMW popping into Park when the door is opened drives me crazy, along with the faff of having to start the car to move it a few feet when cleaning wheels, a real pain when wearing wellies/dirty overalls. I-drive for altering heating is just ridiculous,
VW Audi etc muting the radio in reverse is annoying too, and electric handbrakes with mechanisms that look like a cheap toy inside, cost cutting rubbish.
Anyhow I drive a sixteen year old E46 now, had it over a decade, don't miss the E60s at all, wish I had the fifty grand they lost in depreciation though.
Top rant.
I have an e39 530i and honestly the only thing I miss is bluetooth connectivity to the stereo and a 6th gear...And better rust protection if I'm honest, but the car is 16 years old and has 130.000 miles on it..
The car is very quiet inside, you can not feel, and hardly hear that the engine is running when idling, it's not too large, will cruise at 120 mph all day if required and is great on fuel aswell. Good looking thing too I reckon.
I have an e39 530i and honestly the only thing I miss is bluetooth connectivity to the stereo and a 6th gear...And better rust protection if I'm honest, but the car is 16 years old and has 130.000 miles on it..
The car is very quiet inside, you can not feel, and hardly hear that the engine is running when idling, it's not too large, will cruise at 120 mph all day if required and is great on fuel aswell. Good looking thing too I reckon.
PowerslideSWE said:
Top rant.
I have an e39 530i and honestly the only thing I miss is bluetooth connectivity to the stereo and a 6th gear...And better rust protection if I'm honest, but the car is 16 years old and has 130.000 miles on it..
The car is very quiet inside, you can not feel, and hardly hear that the engine is running when idling, it's not too large, will cruise at 120 mph all day if required and is great on fuel aswell. Good looking thing too I reckon.
I had one too. Wish I hadn't sold it to get an MX5I have an e39 530i and honestly the only thing I miss is bluetooth connectivity to the stereo and a 6th gear...And better rust protection if I'm honest, but the car is 16 years old and has 130.000 miles on it..
The car is very quiet inside, you can not feel, and hardly hear that the engine is running when idling, it's not too large, will cruise at 120 mph all day if required and is great on fuel aswell. Good looking thing too I reckon.
I have questioned for some time why car manufacturers don't build a car that has all the unnecessary "junk" removed, making it lighter, only does 60-65mph maximum, (therefore achieving 90+mpg), and market it as the only one of it's type.
Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
datum77 said:
I have questioned for some time why car manufacturers don't build a car that has all the unnecessary "junk" removed, making it lighter, only does 60-65mph maximum, (therefore achieving 90+mpg), and market it as the only one of it's type.
Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
Buy this Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
And this
datum77 said:
I have questioned for some time why car manufacturers don't build a car that has all the unnecessary "junk" removed, making it lighter, only does 60-65mph maximum, (therefore achieving 90+mpg), and market it as the only one of it's type.
Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
I am not sure we dont already mostly have that ? we have a Citroen C1, not sure how much more pared back you can get than one of those, ours has electric windows and air con but a 3 door of the most basic spec doesnt have those items, not sure how much weight it saves and whether it makes that much difference to economy, the engine is adequate and will do 90 mph, not sure how much power it could sacrifice and still keep up with traffic, maybe down to a 2 cyl with 2/3rd the power, so 40 odd bhp but it would drop into the painful category, havign had two original Fiat 500s I wouldnt want a daily driver that couldnt top the national speed limit.Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
A lot of the weight in cars is the necessary safety kit to ensure they arent deathtraps and just the stuff you absolutely need, a bog basic supermini isnt needlessly overweight and laden down with stuff, I am sure you could pare one back but not sure how much difference it would make, with the example of the C1, maybe 30 kilos ?
The tech should in some cases make the car lighter, the C1 has a digital fuel gauge, that should be lighter than a traditional gauge, tiny but a few grammes here and a few there makes adifference, a lot of cars have multiplexed wiring so potentially that is weight saved on kilos of extra wires.
I dont think the tech is making cars less reliable either, I remember when ECUs started coming in and were regarded with suspicion but I have had loads less hassle with cars with ECUs than old ones with points, condensers and all that.
My wife briefly had a mk1 Ka as a stop-gap. I found it to be a great little thing. Nothing extraneous, and an engine you could look at, work out what was wrong, whack with a hammer, and it'd go again. Went OK. Handled OK.
Not sure if I'd want to be hit by something big in one, though...
Not sure if I'd want to be hit by something big in one, though...
datum77 said:
I have questioned for some time why car manufacturers don't build a car that has all the unnecessary "junk" removed, making it lighter, only does 60-65mph maximum, (therefore achieving 90+mpg), and market it as the only one of it's type.
Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
The issue is most of the techy stuff isn't heavy at all. The weight in new cars comes from the (mandatory) safety standards for chassis reinforcement, airbags, rollover protection etc etc. My bet would be most of the gizmos run off of a couple of ~200g pcbs and are added nowadays because there is a demand and they are cheap. Smart tried it with the 4/2, but mostly failed because people at the top poked their noses into the development.
The manufacturers would probably argue that their customer base demands all this pointless,(and weighty, and expensive, and complicated), technology into their product. The manufacturers ONLY interest is to sell brand new units. They have no vested interest in it all going wrong 5 years down the line.
The mobile phone manufacturers are guilty of the same thing. Why a manufacturer doesn't market a phone that JUST sends/receives calls and texts, but does nothing else, beats me. I have no need of a smart phone with all the attached and complicated technology, (I also don't want to look a jerk staring at a piece of plastic while out in the world).
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