19-02-2013, 10:58 PM
Right, bit of a rant.
I've been saying for a while that I really dislike modern cars, and I think I've figured out exactly why...
First of all, complexity and the associated expense. Everything is computerized, so there are far too many things to break. DPF, DMF, swirl flaps, EGR, wheel speed sensors, traction control issues, limp modes, all common problems on new cars that cost the f*cking earth to fix and are completely impossibe for DIY people like us. Also, newer cars all have huge tyres, huge brakes, complex double wishbone suspension with shedloads of bushes, 8 different filters and 46835 sensors, so even service/wear and tear items break the bank.
Secondly, driver involvement. Electric power steering, overly soft suspension, driver aids, fly-by-wire throttles, silly flappy paddle gearboxes with no clutch pedal and active suspension all combine to prevent the driver having any real connection with the road. There's no feedback or feel, and every time you try to explore the limits the electronic nanny stops you! All in the name of "refinement"...
Thirdly, distractions. My mates new Focus has electric windows and AC, that's fine. It also has a DVD player and TV built in to the dash with a bluetooth-activated built in phone with voice commands. Who the f*ck needs that shit? I'm driving, I don't want to watch TV and phonecalls can wait until I'm not busy... Just more unnecessary weight...
Fourth and final, and this will surprise you. Modern cars have too much power. No, really, hear me out. Supercars have always had daft amounts of power that you can't use without dying or going to prison for the rest of your natural life, but now, so do Vauxhall Astras. 276bhp from the latest Astra VXR. I didn't enjoy driving the Skoda because I couldn't really use it's 200bhp except for a quick blast up to 70 on a dual carriageway. To me, the fun of fast driving is driving a car hard, feeling the limits of grip and putting my foot flat to the floor, really making the best of a twisty road. On the average british B-road, you'll struggle to get over 70mph without really risking life and limb. How much of that Astras power and grip can you really use? Very little, your not even scratching the surface. All the extra power, and therefore expense, is pointless....
My question is this. Would you rather hammer along a back road in a small hot hatch or RWD sports car with 100-150bhp, testing the limits of grip with a torsion bar beam axle, no traction control interference, lift off oversteer, sharp steering that lets you feel the road, while bouncing it off the limiter and racing up and down the gears, or would you rather use 1/10th of a Focus STs power while getting nowhere near it's grip limits in any bend, and all the while not being able to tell what the tyres are doing?
F*ck the 250bhp super hatches, give me a 205 GTI!
I've been saying for a while that I really dislike modern cars, and I think I've figured out exactly why...
First of all, complexity and the associated expense. Everything is computerized, so there are far too many things to break. DPF, DMF, swirl flaps, EGR, wheel speed sensors, traction control issues, limp modes, all common problems on new cars that cost the f*cking earth to fix and are completely impossibe for DIY people like us. Also, newer cars all have huge tyres, huge brakes, complex double wishbone suspension with shedloads of bushes, 8 different filters and 46835 sensors, so even service/wear and tear items break the bank.
Secondly, driver involvement. Electric power steering, overly soft suspension, driver aids, fly-by-wire throttles, silly flappy paddle gearboxes with no clutch pedal and active suspension all combine to prevent the driver having any real connection with the road. There's no feedback or feel, and every time you try to explore the limits the electronic nanny stops you! All in the name of "refinement"...
Thirdly, distractions. My mates new Focus has electric windows and AC, that's fine. It also has a DVD player and TV built in to the dash with a bluetooth-activated built in phone with voice commands. Who the f*ck needs that shit? I'm driving, I don't want to watch TV and phonecalls can wait until I'm not busy... Just more unnecessary weight...
Fourth and final, and this will surprise you. Modern cars have too much power. No, really, hear me out. Supercars have always had daft amounts of power that you can't use without dying or going to prison for the rest of your natural life, but now, so do Vauxhall Astras. 276bhp from the latest Astra VXR. I didn't enjoy driving the Skoda because I couldn't really use it's 200bhp except for a quick blast up to 70 on a dual carriageway. To me, the fun of fast driving is driving a car hard, feeling the limits of grip and putting my foot flat to the floor, really making the best of a twisty road. On the average british B-road, you'll struggle to get over 70mph without really risking life and limb. How much of that Astras power and grip can you really use? Very little, your not even scratching the surface. All the extra power, and therefore expense, is pointless....
My question is this. Would you rather hammer along a back road in a small hot hatch or RWD sports car with 100-150bhp, testing the limits of grip with a torsion bar beam axle, no traction control interference, lift off oversteer, sharp steering that lets you feel the road, while bouncing it off the limiter and racing up and down the gears, or would you rather use 1/10th of a Focus STs power while getting nowhere near it's grip limits in any bend, and all the while not being able to tell what the tyres are doing?
F*ck the 250bhp super hatches, give me a 205 GTI!
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