read my comment about the GTI. I think for some VWs, forget which ones, they also went from a metal oil pan to a plastic one. So, if you are unfortunate and bottom out on something , it’s no longer just denting your oil pan…..
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I don’t know. My cars are babied. I’ve got a 16 yo car that doesn’t have a drop of oil on the bottom side. My mechanic called me out to the shop floor to show me that – he couldn’t believe not a spot of oil, tranny fluid, nothing.
I’ve been driving cars for 4 decades now and only once have I had a major problem with my car – a bent valve on a 1970 car when I had it during the 1970s. And I bought that with 87K miles on it so who knows what it went through before I got it.
Every other car, the worst I’ve had is alternators, water pumps and once a radiator. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but it has made me pretty brave when buying cars.[/quote]
I accidentally deleted the comment about the oil pan. oops..
I think you and I are probably not the majority of the car owners who baby their cars. I change my oil after 2 autocrosses or 3000 miles, my “lifetime” transmission and diff fluid regularly and brake fluid regularly.
The majority of car owners, in this country at least, treat their cars like maintainence free appliances. I think maybe why the same cars in Europe seem to last a lot longer than here is because they maintain them better maybe? Don’t know
I think for me I want a fairly reliable car that I won’t be afraid to tinker with.tinkered Tesla’s are nice cars, just not something I would enjoy because there’s not much you can do to tinker with it.
