20-02-2013, 10:30 AM
(19-02-2013, 10:58 PM)THE_Liam Wrote: 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.
But surely you can see these things do have a benefit? And they're not nearly as complex as you might think! It's just sensors and actuators at the end of the day, the only complex part is the ECU's. Same as people really - you touch a hot oven, your hand senses it, your brain process the info, your arm actuates the pulling away motion. Its as simple as that.
The DPF is there for emmisions purposes, which HAS to be in new cars so they meet emmisions regs set by Europe, none of us can change that. Granted it's expensive when it fails, its one of few modern things that I don't like - but it has a purpose.
The DMF is 'nice' when it works, and serves a dual purpose to damp the engine vibrations (reducing engine wear theoretically) as well as reducing the noise inside the cabin. I know people that have changed to SMF's on new cars and have caused engine damage.
Swirl flaps give you a wider powerband, making a diesel drive a little more like a petrol - which again is what the majority of people want, the 'power' band in the HDi is terrible after you've experienced newer diesels. These are only controlled by a motor that pulls an arm, not exactly complex, and the only reason they break is because of bloody EGR sludge which is the other newer thing I can't stand.
EGR is again there for emmisions regs which we can't change. It does more damage than good in my opinion - and should be blanked/removed instantly on any car that has done a few miles. But again its not complex, they're actuated in different ways, but the common VAG way is just a vacuum pulling the plunger up - again really not complex.
Wheel speed sensors/ABS/TC are all linked, and Im sure I don't need to explain the funtion of those lol, but again, its all just sensors and actuators which can be swapped about, just a pain on old 306s etc where they rust into the hub.
And limp mode is a bloody good idea - if something goes slightly wrong in your XUD, you just turn the radio up and keep pushing it until a rod falls through the block. Granted if it happens without a fault then its annying, but its a bloody good safety feature tbh.
So which of those can't you change/fix yourself? The only one is topping up the DPF with Elloys fluid, the rest you could change yourself.
And the newer cars have bigger brakes....how is this a bad thing!?Yes they cost more, but I'd rather that than have 200bhp and say solid 247s like 106's have.
And the bigger tyres are for economy/emmisions again, which is what everyone wants these days as tax is done by emmisions, and obviously fuel costs a bomb these days. Wasn't an issue back when 306's were built.
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"...
I don't like electric PAS, I agree with that one, however, think of elderly people or less strong people, shouldn't they be allowed to drive an 'easier' car?
Soft suspension is nice for cruising, most models come with a 'sports' suspension optin if you like a broken back lol.
FBW is the only way of controlling a common rail, so thats kinda useful, seeing as mechanical diesels don't meet emmisions regs. I dont have a problem with FBW though, as long as its weighted like the Golf one was.
Active suspension would be nice, again for comfort, and it'll probably come with a 'sports' option if you wanted a firmer ride.
I agree the ECU doesn't allow you 'everything' even under full throttle, but again thats for emmisions, something that we can't control, but personally I never have found it a problem.
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...
You don't take calls in the car I guess, nor do I. But people with company cars do all the time, they've gotta be on the phone all day organising things, sorting things etc. I expect Nialls C'eed has bluetooth handsfree stuff for his job. DVD players I agree are pointless because I don't even watch DVDs at home lol, but that doesn't mean everyone would agree. And TV's would be good, ever had to sit waiting for people, or in solid traffic? You've got a radio, why not a TV.
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....
Well this I agree with, yes really. I'll use the Golf as an example, regardless of what you think of it, it also had an unnecessary amount of power, which was only used for overtaking badly on B roads or acelerating on slip roads because there wasn't anywhere else to use it, a few seconds at a time was epic power, but that was it, and Im not fussed about top speed at all, took the Golf to 135mph on the sat nav and it felt like 90mph, wasn't 'fun' - acceleration (torque) is fun, not speed. However, I find the HDi is the opposite, always on the loud pedal trying to find some power, so needs to be somewhere inbetween the two IMO, around 150bhp in a 1200kg car I reckon is about right. However the difference is, I was satisfied on cruise control at ~45 through the national limit in the Golf, in the HDi I'm pushing to 70ish (no mpg reader or cruise to slow me down) but becuase its loud and uncomfortable theres still no satisfaction there.
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!
For me....the ST. But this is exactly my point - we all have different opinions, and just because you (the minority usually) don't like something, doesn't mean that no-one else does. Some things serve a purpose, some are there to make driving easier/nicer for the majority that dont rag around everywhere and some are for government emmisions regulations. Nothing is actually 'pointless' in newer cars, even though it may seem like it. Don't forget that MOST people don't care about cars, i've been looking long and hard for a replacement for my HDi - and i'm finding that most newer cars still have piss poor performance, take the astra for example, most are 1.7diesels - thats 75/80bhp and a 13second 0-60! But its cheap to tax and gets 65mpg - and this must be what most people want now, they don't care about power, just something to get them around as cheap as possible. Most don't even seem bothered by spec, judging by the amount of cars that still lack a lot of things that meridians had 15 years ago.