I grew up in an era when cars were easy to work on for anybody who had some kind of mechanical skill.
However, I remember reading a road test done on a BMW 733i in which the main criticism levelled against the car was that it had too many things which could go wrong. This comment formed my opinion on BMW for the rest of my life, and made me realise that technology is not always an advantage. I had trouble in accepting fuel injection, and my first new car, which I took delivery of only seven years ago, was the first car I owned fitted with it.
When I bought my current car, relatively simple technology was a prerequisite, because I was afraid of high running costs in the long run. A few years ago, a distant relative told me that he had to pay several thousands of rands because the turbocharger fitted to his popular diesel-powered car had blown. He was able to do so, but he has since sold the car. I wanted to avoid a similar situation, so I settled for an inexpensive sedan with only an eight-valve engine and very little as far as cutting-edge technology is concerned. I did my homework before making my decision, and I made sure that regular service costs would be as low as possible.
Therefore, I would avoid these puny turbocharged engines European manufacturers insist on fitting to their cars because of emission requirements that are also rammed down the throats of those living elsewhere. Some cars in the C-segment are thankfully still available with 1,6 litre normally aspirated engines, but even these are getting scarce, and they will probably not be around for much longer. I know of at least one that will go the all-turbo route very soon. I have already given my opinion on the sophisticated technology fitted to what are supposed to be work-orientated vehicles, but all I stil want to say, is that there are only a few back-to-basics “plaasbakkies” left, which is a shame.
However, it is not only mechanical technology that irks me. Many new cars come with excessively sophisticated “infotainment” systems, which include the ability to make and receive calls via Bluetooth. This is unnnecessary, because you are supposed to keep your cellphone switched off while driving. Some luxury manufacturers have fitted their cars with sophisticated systems which need computer mouse-like controllers to operate. Needless to say, these add to the price of the cars, most of which have options lists that make their prices spiral out of control. This makes no sense whatsoever.
Another trend that is rearing its ugly head, is the omission of CD players in modern sound systems. At least two B-segment cars come without CD players, which means that you have to download your music on a flash drive, or connect an iPod to your sound system. In other words, you cannot listen to your own music until you have done so. Getting back to my car, its radio, fitted as standard equipment, does not even come with a USB port, so I have to take original CD’s along if I want to listen to anything else but the radio.
I must be honest; I prefer it that way. Having said that, thank goodness we are no longer forced to accept something like the overly-simple Sanyo Rally radio that was so popular in the 1970’s. In fact, the only piece of “infotainment” that is really useful, is a trip computer, which gives all kinds of information. On my car, these include fuel consumption and the distance you can still drive on the fuel that is still in the tank. This last feature is something I never want to be without again. One of the most popular options on luxury vehicles is satellite navigation, which costs several thousands of rands. If the car you are interested in, does not come with it as standard equipment , it’s a lot better to buy a far less expensive aftermarket system, especially because factory-fitted systems cost a fortune to update.
It’s a real pity that modern cars have become so sophisticated, because real enthusiasts, who prefer to maintain and service cars themselves, are no longer able to do so. Moreover, technology costs a lot of money, and not everybody can replace their cars when the service or maintenace plan expires. Some manufacturers offer extensions to these plans, and if you are going to buy a product from a manufacturer that offers this option, it would be best to extend your plan for as long as possible. Otherwise, you are going to have to save for the maintenance costs that will definitely rise as the kilometre reading increases, or run the risk of having to drive your car until it falls apart.
