tech session report (long)

[Mike Arman]

>
>Given the wonkiness of the electrics in a 10+ year old Audi,
>I can't image the horror of debugging electrical problems of
>today's cars 10 years down the rode. And as for a replacement
>radio? Fuggedaboutit.
>--
>Kent McLean


Kent makes a *real* good point here . . .

The original idea behind most of this was to reduce wiring and complexity - 
but they seem to have gotten a really bad case of "feature creep" - I mean 
using a VAG-COM to adjust the tail lights for different regions? Watch that 
they don't set it up like DVDs that are region-specific. "sorry, can't use 
eurolights any more, they won't work in North America".

These cars are going to need psychiatrists instead of mechanics if this 
trend continues. 50+ "control modules"? What is this, a space ship? 
("Marvin, open the door, please . . . ")

This also drives up repair costs, parts costs, insurance costs (repairs are 
going to be vastly expensive), and everything else. What goes down is 
resale value - who will buy a ten year old car no one can fix when they can 
buy something brand new with a warranty for nothing down and only $XXX a month?

Prediction - in 2012, I will buy a cream-puff 2005 A6 V8Q for $1,000 
because it was within 500 feet of a lightning strike and now nothing works. 
With a few hours on the quattro list and some replacement low-tech 
home-made wiring harnesses, the car will run just fine. I can handle that ;-)


Best Regards,
Mike Arman