New cars aren't necessarily impossible to work on. Sure, they take
different skills. But I've been modifying and maintaing several 1990 Miatas
for years. Now, they're between 11 and 12 years old. Electrical problems
can be identified and fixed with a good wiring diagram. There are many test
procedures in the manuals that can be done with normal electical tools to
identify what's wrong with the part and what can be done. I've never had to
replace an electronic doodad although I have repaired a couple. I've also
learned how the engine computer works by installing a programmable one and
playing with it. There's no mystery.
The Rover, on the other hand, takes a totally different set of skills.
Right now, I'm far more competent when the Miata starts to misbehave (once
every couple of years). The Rover still mystifies me because it uses very
different technology like carbs and distributors. I'm learning - but I
wouldn't say that the Miata (ie, a modern car) is any less maintable just
because it uses different systems. All that electrickery means that the car
runs cleaner, gets better mileage, is more reliable, develops more power
and starts easier than a stone-age Rover.
What will the situation be in 23 years when the Miata is as old as my Rover
is now? I can't say. The plastics on the interior will be harder to repair,
but the SIII already has this problem. Some of the computer bits might be
harder to get but it will also be possible to make our own, the same way we
can machine a part that's NLA for a Rover. The car will probably still run
as well as it does now, with suitably long maintenance intervals.
Keith
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Keith's page de home:
http://keith.miata.net
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jul 03 2001 - 15:17:17 EDT