The thin edge of the wedge for me was when I noticed that new vehicles (some time ago) came with a big plastic cowl over the engine. A local mechanic at the time told me that this was due to the engine maintenance, repairs and other sundries now being "dealer only."
The term mechanic slowly faded from view to be replaced by the sobriquet "technician."
In reality I discovered that this amounted to little more than someone bereft of any product knowledge and almost totally reliant on what the mini PC plugged into the engine management system told him, whilst at the same time replacing parts ad nauseum till the fault was rectified rather than showing any mechanical aptitude.
I recall having the electric window on one particular vehicle in my care suffering with the drivers side window going up and down unprompted.
I took this to the local "stealer" and thought it would be something they have come across before and would be able to pinpoint some common fault.
I could not believe the verbiage that gushed forth from "technician Ted's" mouth.
"Well first we'll replace the motor, if that don't work then the harness and if not that the switch gear."
Whatever happened to experience? Any soft sod can replace parts ad-lib plus the upshot was I would have to pay for everything replaced whether it cured the problem or not!
I honestly believe the need for a return for something far simpler car-wise. Something that can be repaired/maintained by the average Herbert, something that one can have a pride investment in and not just a fiscal one.
The days of lads everywhere having the bonnet up on a Sunday afternoon for a spot of tinkering, now belong to a bygone age.
There's an old kid who lives somewhere in the area who can be seen from time to time tootling along in his old Morris 1000, juniper green in colour and whenever I see him he seems to have a mile wide grin on his face, almost as if he knows something we don't know! (laugh)
My next motor car I think will be what is now classed as vintage (over 40 years old.)
No tax to pay, no MOT required albeit it must be properly maintained and classic car insurance so monetarily it's an interesting proposition but more importantly easily reparable and more fun into the bargain.
The only shortcomings are the "drop-kicks" who delight in either stealing or disfiguring anything that they think other people place a value on so a secure lock-up would be essential.
I did consider getting a vintage 20 ton lorry like my late Father used to drive as any commercial vehicle in the UK registered before 1960 can be driven on an ordinary car licence.
Something like an AEC Mammoth Major with a 12 litre 6 pot diesel, Eaton 2 speed axle so not exactly a slouch (65 mph on the level.)
I then remembered that the bugger my old man drove for a living, did something like 8 MPG and nearly as much in oil so the bubble of this fond reminiscence quickly got burst!
I can but dream. (sigh)
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