Modern hire car horrors

[missfire]

What it comes down to is, we like them better. But they're not better. Have any of you watched any of the NCAP videos on older audis? Old cars are not better. Just as cranial electrocution of autistic people is not better than today's approach.

Old audis have a reputation of being built to last because they were galvanised, plain and simple. Where are the droves of older volvos and mercs these days? In the crusher, because if not garaged, the are rotten.

Yep old volvos, audis, mercs, could do over 200k miles! A big thing in the day. A fokin vauxhall insignia will do 200k in thee years now without batting an eyelid. Things have changed and they will keep changing.

[missfire]

Not an audi, but can't be far off the experience in a type 43! Lovely.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C52kyLzquW0

[missfire]

Type 44 -

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ja5Me_CaJjA

[missfire]

Shitty modern car -

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cTPWykpKxmQ


As I said, not bad for moving kids around, while I'm at work.

[John.]

Originally Posted by missfire

20k mile service interval? That's down to improvements in engine oil is it??

Maybe? I still think changing the oil frequently is the best thing you can do for an engine.
The problem with long service intervals is that if they coincide with an MOT then there's scope for other things to fail in between and not get picked up until they fail.....tyres are probably the no.1 issue, "I've got a puncture.......no you've not, there's a hole worn through on the inner shoulder of the tyre, it's knackered, where's your spare? Don't have one-it's a 7 seater.......well have a pleasant wait(2 adults, 2 Grandparents, 2 toddlers and 1 babe in arms) for recovery from this very busy dual carriageway!"

Missfire, I know you're not the average Joe but there's lot's of them out there.

The Kia shouldn't give you grief, and like you say ideal for carting bairns.

[leggy]

So basically missfire, you own a Kia, which by all accounts is not even your own preferred choice of daily, let alone something that you drive here there and everywhere just for the pure enjoyment of wanting to drive it, but rather you have bought it as a workhorse for the mrs to ferry the kids about…kind of sums up the modern cars of today really, convenience tools and nothing more!

As for your crash test video selections, all this really confirms is that the tests themselves have changed over the years, with them being more controlled nowadays. Strip the airbags out of your Kia, take the rope off the back, and drive it under the same conditions/speed as your type 43 comparison, in to the same solid white wall, and if it fairs better than the type 43 comparison, well you have a point.

Talking of airbags: well they may save lives, but there are also many reports of them causing injuries, knocking passengers out, and in worse case scenario’s, they have also been known to kill; by the looks of that Kia video, they pretty much hinder any route of escape too. Personally, I’d rather have a few injuries and/or a bit of whiplash, than to have my chances of escaping a crushed and possibly flame engulfed vehicle hampered by an expensive to replace airbag; albeit that the insurance company would probably write the car off without even considering there replacement!

I also prefer the bigger cars for a reason, they at least offer more freedom of space to manoeuvre and to escape if/when involved in an accident, hence my not being in the slightest bit interested in the Kia, or any other small car for that matter. My main reason for opening this thread was to express my sheer disappointment however with the bigger cars of today, and as has been agreed by most here excluding yourself, the modern cars of today are just soul-less pieces of c*** offering no personal enjoyment for driving them what-so-ever!, etc etc etc

[Hanuman]

Originally Posted by John.

The problem with long service intervals is that if they coincide with an MOT then there's scope for other things to fail in between and not get picked up until they fail...
:

That's generally carelessness, in my book. I've been doing some research for a couple of my projects and keep coming across things which I consider should be part of a car owners obligation, but which people seem happy to leave to someone else.
Catastrophic failures of other components aside, the following should be basic knowledge, not tick in the box.

Oil.
Seriously? I know my uncle scrapped two cars because the engines ran out of oil. (That was over 30 years ago, but he's managed to utilize other methods of murdering cars over the years.)
If you can fill the washer bottle with fluid, checking the oil should be possible. And if filling the washer bottle is outside of capability, then driving a ton of metal should be left to Ghaffar chauffeur.

Washer fluid. See above

Coolant.

Petrol.
Beyond subtle gauge failure, fuel leaks caused outside of your control, petrol shortages, should running out of fuel be such a frequent event?

Tyres.
Maybe there should be some legal obligation on the owner/driver to be responsible (insert 'sarcastic' smiley)


In addition. If you are willing to mess around with cars to a greater extent, like fast cars, classic cars, etc;

Brake pads and discs.
I think I've come across 5 forum topics recently (not on C-A, thankfully) where someone has had a problem, and pads down to metal have featured.
It's not that difficult to have a look.

[missfire]

Leggy.

That's what it is yes, a tool for carting people around. And it's a damned sight bigger than that toyota you've hired.

As for the crash videos, come on.. compare these then, same test, 'same' car. Look at the deformation of the superstructure, dashboard leg amputation etc. especially from above. Things move on quickly -


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ELl5tN9zexM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3vuoBJQiHFE

Old cars have more personality, originality and character no doubting that. I've been passng cars on the road recently and thinking, there's a kia! No, it'a Ford. There's a Kia! No, it's a Vauxhall. Etc. They're all the same now. But my main concern, (aside from not having time to keep an old car tip top as a daily at the moment) when I'm not driving, is safety. Sad reality, but if you hit any modern car bigger than a Fiat panda, at any speed in your 80, you're dead, end of story.

[John.]

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

That's generally carelessness, in my book.

It happens. Fully agree with what you've mentioned.
Maybe people should get a questionnaire/test with their MOT and if they're deemed thick as $h1t then the car stays put?!

[missfire]

The driving test now covers basic maintenance, fluids, tyres etc. You don't get a licence now unless you pass that part of the test. (Unlike ye oldies who only had to start stop and turn a corner) Whether people remember it beyond the test is another story!