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Fifteen years ago, during my first visit to the US, was discussing with US colleagues about the basic functionalities of a car.
Coming from the 'third world', I said three things - 'Should safely go forward. Safely go backward. Safely stop'.
This was vehemently argued upon, and my US counterparts said that a car has many more items in its functionality list.
Looks like modern car manufacturers are forgetting these three simple requirements. Bells and whistles are more important than basic functionality.
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I guess basic functionality is taken for granted.
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You know, it seemed like the relative quality of American cars was improving.
Now, I realize the true key to understanding this is the word "relative".
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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You know, there are many American cars on my wish list.
Amongst others:
Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz '59
Hudson Eight.
Pierce Arrow, any.
...
But the youngest one on this list is probably the '65 Mustang.
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Jörgen Andersson wrote: So, any suggestions for what brand to buy now?
American. 
Don't forget, VW was created by Hitler.
Marc
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I'm seriously looking at Ford now.
I mean, you know for sure it will break down, but you don't feel as raped when it happens.
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I drive a 2012 Ford Focus with a 3 cylinder 1 liter engine.
Has proven itself reliable, and I drive multiple thousand kilometers a month.
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I was a happy owner of several Fords in my youth.
But that was a time when you could fix everything yourself.
I actually changed the clutch on the Granada in 2.5 hours, on a modern car you would have to lift out the engine.
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Jörgen Andersson wrote: It has a timing chain AND a timing belt
I've been tinkering with VW's for ever and never heard of this.
What car / engine do you have?
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Passat 2.0 FSI.
Apparently there's a belt between the driveshaft and one camshaft on the front of the engine, and a chain between the two camshafts on the rear of the engine.
They have supposedly fixed this on their engines from 2012 and forward (no chain), while the 2.0 FSI has been dumped completely.
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For years I've been buying cars for about a grand with a year's MOT (test done by garage to prove road worthiness for a year) with the expectation that it will last a year without needing anything done.
When it needs a new MOT I weigh the cost of getting it to pass for another year against the cost of a new car.
My current car (a ten year old Vauxhall Vectra I paid £800 quid for) is due next week. Since buying it I've had to spend £160 on the breaks.
Previously I had two Ford Mondeos, the first written off in a crash I got my grand back from the insurers, the second I flogged for £400 after buying it for £800. Before that a Ford Focus I bought for £950, had for two years, flogged for £250. Then a Ford Fiesta I bought for £650 and flogged for £200.
None of them ever needed anything other than tires or breaks.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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That would be working for our second car, but the main car needs to reliably take us to and from mainland Europe several times a year.
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I've done nineteen thousand miles in the Vectra this last year.
The beauty of older cars, which I am sure I will stop seeing soon, is that they never stop working or refuse to let you in because a computer throws a wobbly.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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Get breakdown insurance, and with an old car, make sure the cooling system is maintained well, as in, make sure its flushed, and that the pipes are in good nick. That way it will cope with long summer journeys.
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I bought a VW once. I swore never again.
But a culture of cheating is unfortunately spreading spread within a company.
Charlie Gilley
<italic>Stuck in a dysfunctional matrix from which I must escape...
"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
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Dacia.
Just so you'll have the only Dacia around.
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Interesting suggestion.
But I wouldn't be the only one, my brother (the original hipster, everything hipsters do today, he did ten or twenty years ago) owns one.
And, my wife wants one because it's cheap. That's a surefire sign that it will break down.
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My wife says the newer ones are MUCH better than the older ones. Maybe after partnering with Citroen (?).
They certainly look nicer. 
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How come there's a fifty per cent chance that any car doing a stupid/dangerous manoeuvre happens to be a white delivery van?
And the majority of the rest are Audis.
I have only my good reactions and a load of luck to thank for being able to write this at all today.
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Jörgen Andersson wrote: I have only my good reactions and a load of luck to thank for being able to write this at all today.
Exactly what these folks expect, if it wasn't for defensive drivers like you and I there would be at least 2,000,000,000,000 "accidents" on the road per day.
As long as the rate of defensive vs aggressive drivers is maintained at 1:1 or better its all OK.
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Display Name Taken wrote: 2,000,000,000,000 "accidents" on the road per day.
If that was the case, it's a problem that would solve itself in a single day.
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I think I remember a story where a searcher was about to prove this fact, but has been crunched between a white van and an Audi before having time to do so.
I never finish anyth
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Interesting... It seems in this part of the UK the White Van is also a preditor to be be feared as well, though the spieces has change from Ford to Renualt now seemingly going to Mercedes , the Audi is a growing predator but yet to eclipse the BMW. (May be I am watching too much Animal Channel)
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glennPattonBackInThePUB wrote: (May be I am watching too much Animal Channel)
Nope. It seems it is just the right amount. 
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde
Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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Always used to be White Vans and Volvos.
Mind you in the 80's two women in a Mini was something to avoid - it's frightening how long they would maintain eye contact while talking and "driving" at the same time. (Not seen that for decades, thankfully)
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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