Cars for simpler times.

[Robovac rider]

Irish Times 14th October Business Ireland Supplement.

Cars are becoming more and more complicated and more difficult to maintain and repair. The cost of high tech components are astronomical.

Mechanics, even those employed by main dealerships, are increasingly unable to properly diagnose a fault. They are likely to start exchanging components on a hit or miss basis to repair your car. This results in huge repair bills.

I will be hanging on to my basic model Hyundai i10.
Manual gearbox, no touchscreens, minimal electronic gimmicks.
Relatively easy to repair.

 

[RichInSpirit]

Love your I10

 

[Sarah Ryan]

So far encountered two indy garages I use are starting to state they are specialising in a particular group of car, ie German only cars. They will take care of existing customers with different brands, but new customers German only cars.

 

[getting_on]

ie German only cars

An interesting move at a time when the reputation of German cars is not what it was.

 

[DazedInPontoon]

Some parts are getting more complex due to computerisation, but on the other hand getting rid of the entire engine and traditional gearbox etc for an electric car is removing loads of complication.

 

[Robovac rider]

but on the other hand getting rid of the entire engine and traditional gearbox etc for an electric car is removing loads of complication.

Maybe not.

Car Mechanics magazine October 2026 edition has a good article by a specialist EV repair company which is a very interesting read.

The magazine can be downloaded free on library Borrow box.

 

[Chelseablue]

I remember the first car I bought with electric windows,
I thought this was great. My father(RIP) who was a mechanic said
“the more electrics you have in a car the more that can go wrong”. How through that statement is now

 

[Firefly]

I remember the first car I bought with electric windows,
I thought this was great. My father(RIP) who was a mechanic said
“the more electrics you have in a car the more that can go wrong”. How through that statement is now

I agree.

It's hard to see anyone driving a new car today, in 20 years time...just too much "dead tech" which won't be maintained.

 

[patfert1]

I remember the first car I bought with electric windows,

The damn electric windows drive me crazy. First, you have to have the engine on to open or close them. Second, it's a damnation to open them just 1cm to let in a little air.

 

[Des Pondent]

“the more electrics you have in a car the more that can go wrong”.

Very true, I would not be a fan of modern Citroen's, but the older ones had the right idea.

 

[Duddaa]

Sorry, I like electric windows. Having the ability to open and close a rear window for a child in the back while driving is very useful. I’ve also never had one fail. Child locks on doors, a warning if they take off their seatbelt are good safety extras traveling with kids. Heated seats on a freezing cold wet day too are a nice luxury. Curse control is also great on long trips (once you get used to it, wife hates it). Headlights that dip automatically. The more I think and type the more I like tech in cars. Having a seat that moves electrically with a push of a button I don’t find necessary.

I did have a very slow leaking air valve on a car tyre a month ago (large pot hole) and as it was a smart air valve where a light comes on in the dash if the pressure is low. It was slightly more expensive to replace than a standard non-smart air valve. Nothing massive or highly inconvenient though.

 

[JoeRoberts]

The sad thing will be the loss of enthusiam for cars that kept a lot of young fellas interested and motivated with a sense of achievement fixing things. Great skills lost.

 

[mathepac]

Curse control is also great on long trips

So good the mods even installed it here! Sorry.

 

[Buddyboy]

Well, the 2CV is back, fully electric, and as simple as they can make it. except for the fact that I have a 2 year old VW e-UP, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Cheap and cheerful.
https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/12/citroens-iconic-2cv-returns-as-an-all-electric-model

 

[Sarah Ryan]

kept a lot of young fellas interested

Ahem and women!

 

[ClubMan]

Ahem and women!

I was very proud as a kid in the 70s when I won second prize in some road safety art competition (possibly part of the Texaco art competition?) and got to go to the prize giving ceremony in the Mansion House to meet the Lord Mayor and rally driver Rosemary Smith.

 

[JoeRoberts]

rally driver Rosemary Smith.

But could she change brake pads...

 

[ClubMan]

But could she change brake pads...

Not sure, but...

‘Goodbye Rosemary, thank you for your friendship - what fun we had’: Ann Ingle remembers Rosemary Smith

Ann Ingle, author of Rosemary Smith’s memoir, remembers the driver as an ‘incomparable woman’

www.irishtimes.com

Due to piston trouble, she once went up the Khyber Pass backwards. On at least two occasions when the fan belt went on her motor she had to use one of her stockings as a replacement, much to the delight of the British tabloids.

 

[Fortune]

enthusiam for cars that kept a lot of young fellas interested and motivated with a sense of achievement fixing things. Great skills lost.

Yes, but there'll be less rubber on our crossroads.

 

[Sarah Ryan]

Mansion House to meet the Lord Mayor and rally driver Rosemary Smith.

That's class!!!

The rally school day out up in Monaghan is a great day out!