I seem to recall that older Jags suffered from stored in the barn syndrome, especially with perished oil seals.

New vehicles over here are fitted with all the modern tech you describe such as parking sensors, rear view cameras etc which has produced a slew of drivers who have zero idea of how to parallel park their oversized tanks without these aids.

I have a neighbour who drives a small baby Fiat and to watch her take anything up a dozen in and outs trying to park the damn thing in a space a Greyhound bus driver (sorry for the ancient reference) would call roomy is a joy to behold.

My own motor has been shunted up and down the street five times last month by morons backing into either the front or rear of it such is their lack of spacial awareness when reversing their tank, an oversized lump whose only function is to drive its owner to work or to carry a bag of shopping in it's cavernous boot. Such is the keep up with the Jones mentality which compels them to go into debt for a car far to large for their needs but because Fran and George have one then so must they.


My Brother in law has a company car which has the full Monty tech wise including a digital dash board. It has spent the last few weeks at the dealers as a sensor failed which took out the whole dash board and when it did intermittently flash into life the damn computerised gubbins refused to release the electric handbrake which was somewhat galling as he was in central London at the time!

One peculiarity over here at this time is dearth of second hand vehicles which has drove the price of said items sky high being as they are a premium at the moment, so their is hope for my sixteen year old Skoda yet! (laughs)

I do foresee a day and possibly a need for an older style of vehicle tech wise. One that the owner can, should they wish, do something with maintenance wise. Gone are the days when every Sunday dads everywhere would have the bonnet of the car up to tinker with something or other then nip to the local garage to buy parts at a reasonable cost and finish the job.

India had the right idea with the Hindustan Ambassador, based on the old Austin Ambassador.
I personally would like to run what is now referred to as vintage over here (30 odd years plus in age) as there is no road fund licence,MOT to worry about as well as cheap classic car insurance.

Sadly prices even for barn find wrecks are astronomical so that's yet one more thing crossed off my dance card.

My late father was a heavy goods lorry driver and, due to a quirk in UK motoring law which allows any commercial vehicle registered before 1960 to be driven on an ordinary car licence, I did think about buying an old twenty ton lorry. Prices for these are not as steep as classic cars so the idea seemed somewhat meritorious till the realisation hit me that the damn things had a road speed not much above that of a push bike and only averaged five miles to the gallon on a good day downhill with the wind behind it!!

Ah well back to reality. (frowns)