Cars

I'm starting to hate cars, not because I hate driving or other drivers, I hate cars because they are now a money trap. When I was young, I used to do all my own servicing, even down to stripping an engine out of the car and doing a total rebuild. Such matters as changing a starter motor or alternator were childsplay. Modern cars though, the first thing you notice is that the modern car engine fits almost precisely into the engine compartment, no wasted space at all (and no way to get at anything either, not without stripping something like the radiator. Even on a Mondeo like mine changing the passenger side headlamp bulb requires pulling the light housing out as you can't get at the bulb holder due to lack of space. Try to look at anything underneath and there's a drip tray in the way and again not a lot of room to get at anything once that's removed. No wonder garages use ramps, it's the only way to get at anything. As for the engine management system, it makes the car go great, until it goes wrong and then you have no chance. You require a laptop, a connector and propriety software to diagnose any issues (yes I can get a pirate version of the software but that's not the point) Modern cars have been designed to take servicing out of the hands of the amateur and into the clutches of the professional, and not all professionals either.
The other day my starter motor started acting up, sounded occasionally like a grinder on metal, other times fine, but disturbing as hell when it happened. Easy enough job I thought until I found where it was mounted, front of the engine, underneath the power steering pipes and out of view unless you strip out the cooling system, even then the bolts holding it on are a sod to get at and I wasn't able to do it. So, a few phone calls to local garages later, I found out that most wont touch diesels and or didn't want to get involved at short notice. Still my usual service place took it in. Later I gets a call, "It's the starting motor" My reply, "yes I know" back to them "It needs replacing, £272 cos we need to strip out the cooling system to do it and it'll take a while" Me, "OK" The garage, "But" Me, my wallet smarting already "Oh?" Them, "We need also to check that the double helix flywheel hasn't been damaged, if it is, it's an engine out job, cost you over £1000" Me, "Just change the starter, if it's the flywheel I'll sell the car part ex and get a new one." Garage, "Don't blame you."
It's not the garage's fault either, modern cars are more efficient, better designed, but definitely not designed to be worked on easily or cheaply, part of the £272 is the cost of a new starter (£120).

But I hate cars now, this year mine has cost me a fortune, it's probably going to go as soon as I can persuade my good lady that we need to. It'll be a 4x4 as I know global warming is a myth and I need the 4x4 to get out of my street in snow. It'll also be low mileage and reliable.
It'll still be expensive as hell to fix and run though.

I really hate cars now.