Does anyone else have any trust in modern cars?
Had a horrible experience driving back from a camping road trip yesterday, where the computer that controls the transmission and gear box on my 3yo VW Tiguan All Space (mid range model) packed it in while driving an undulating country highway with no feasible pull off space. Car has 50,000 on the clock. Very dangerous. Was towing a small flip out caravan that was only around 50% of the tow capacity of the car. I’m very conservative like that, very safety conscious, wouldn’t tow anything much bigger for this particular car. Having a trailer behind the car (and having my two young kids in the car) adding an extra layer of danger to the situation.
Second time in two years something like this has happened. Driving the a similar road on a summer getaway, I was driving a 8YO 2.0 turbo diesel Kia Sportage and the engine had catastrophic failure. Crank shaft disintegrated through the entire engine. Car had about 98,000 on it. Very dangerous on a highway with not a lot of turnout space. Was towing a small 6x4 trailer with 3 bikes and some sports gear in it. Not a big load.
I don’t drive many miles a year. Only about 8-10 thousand kms. Have my cars serviced to the book. Probably over serviced actually, given the low mileage. Drive quite conservatively to look after my cars and to be safe (with Mrs and kids in car). Don’t push them at all really. To give an indication. I have never had a ticket of any kind in 25 years of driving.
Generally buy my cars about 2-4 years old with 20-50 thousand on the clock.
Now have zero trust in the robustness of modern technology in cars. Will now find myself on any road trip anxiously looking for turn out bays imminent preparing for the worst at any moment of a car trip. Dreading any climb (“Will this be the climb where the car packs it in?”). Not the ingredients to really look forward to weekends or holidays away. Actually now hate the thought of road trip getaways as it fills me with dread.
Had a horrible experience driving back from a camping road trip yesterday, where the computer that controls the transmission and gear box on my 3yo VW Tiguan All Space (mid range model) packed it in while driving an undulating country highway with no feasible pull off space. Car has 50,000 on the clock. Very dangerous. Was towing a small flip out caravan that was only around 50% of the tow capacity of the car. I’m very conservative like that, very safety conscious, wouldn’t tow anything much bigger for this particular car. Having a trailer behind the car (and having my two young kids in the car) adding an extra layer of danger to the situation.
Second time in two years something like this has happened. Driving the a similar road on a summer getaway, I was driving a 8YO 2.0 turbo diesel Kia Sportage and the engine had catastrophic failure. Crank shaft disintegrated through the entire engine. Car had about 98,000 on it. Very dangerous on a highway with not a lot of turnout space. Was towing a small 6x4 trailer with 3 bikes and some sports gear in it. Not a big load.
I don’t drive many miles a year. Only about 8-10 thousand kms. Have my cars serviced to the book. Probably over serviced actually, given the low mileage. Drive quite conservatively to look after my cars and to be safe (with Mrs and kids in car). Don’t push them at all really. To give an indication. I have never had a ticket of any kind in 25 years of driving.
Generally buy my cars about 2-4 years old with 20-50 thousand on the clock.
Now have zero trust in the robustness of modern technology in cars. Will now find myself on any road trip anxiously looking for turn out bays imminent preparing for the worst at any moment of a car trip. Dreading any climb (“Will this be the climb where the car packs it in?”). Not the ingredients to really look forward to weekends or holidays away. Actually now hate the thought of road trip getaways as it fills me with dread.
Last edited: