I've come to notice you can't buy a new plain car. 

Almost all new cars are filled with all kinds of complicated stuff that the driver no longer controls.  Headlights come on automatically, or sometimes are always on when driving.  Interior lights come on before you even open the door, then turn off after you leave.  Radios stay on after you turn the engine off, then shut off when you get out.

Whatever happened to the basic car.  One that the interior light only comes on when the door is open, or is switched on.  One that you have 100% control of the headlights. 

Ok I'm done ranting, I just don't understand why manufacturers find it necessary to complicate cars over such needless items.

Much of that stuff is controlled through relays. Find those relays-problem solved.(or just wait for the fancy gizmo to go toes up) 

They're not all useless.   I drive a Citroen Berlingo van for work, the windscreen wipers automatically go from full to intermittent when the rain eases off.
Saves that annoying "grinding" noise of wipers scraping a dry screen 

Part of it is so that every time something little goes wrong you have to take it back to the dealer to get it fixed...just more money in their pockets   New vehicals have became so complicated that its hard to even do routine maintenance on them.  My friend just bought an 04 Silverado, nice truck but way to many computerized things and sensors.  Part of it makes an engine thats normaly quite spacious become so compact that you need very small hands or special tools to even work on them.

I'm looking for a new truck...but new to me is going to be nothing past a 99 Silverado or Sierra.  I like to be able to work on my own vehical insted of having to take it to a shop everytime it needs a simple tuneup.  Newest thing I've owned was a 92 F150.  So much easier to do major repairs on then the new trucks that you have to have some computer reset everytime you change a part   Who really needs sensors to tell them everytime something little goes out.  To many times its the sensor malfunctioning insted of the problem it tells you.

Theres new cars that can litteraly parallel park themselves...honestly...if you cant parallel park then you probably shouldnt be on the road   Plus...what if that little self parking feature goes haywire...hope you have REALLY good insurence

Basically...dont give me anything newer then a 99 and ill be happy.  I'de rather put 500,000+ miles on something old and fix it when need be then get a newer vehical I cant even work on myself.  Sales people hate me when they cant talk me into their new line of crap

DaveSims wrote on Mar 28^th, 2007 at 12:48pm:

Stop whining and get a Lada Niva

Quote:

My Saab has the light switch hotwired over fuse #15... removing it will take care of the daytime lamps but i rather keep them active. For the rest it's CANBUS on wheels, they even got rid of the blinker relay (sound is from the speaker inside the car computer, not from the mechanical parts)
Basically anything you need for passing current MOT on minimum levels is still directly attached to the corresponding mechanical part. the rest is on the computers

TSC. wrote on Mar 29^th, 2007 at 4:19pm:


One for left, one for right, and one each for forward, backwards, up and down..   

Mushroom_Farmer wrote on Mar 28^th, 2007 at 7:23pm:


The daytime-running-light circuit on my '96 Tracker has a switch built into the handbrake mechanism for some reason...easy to undo, although I have to restore it for inspections.

In my dad's Passat, the lights go on as soon as he unlocks the doors via the remote control.

Talk about details...the automatic hand brake is nice 'though. Kicks in when standing and kicks out as soon as the car starts moving.