If S&S doesn't work then all that happens is that your car drives like it always has
As discussed, the reason for SS has rather more to do with Government figures and the perceived additional sales from reduced RFL than sound environmental thinking. How much extra are we paying in the price of a new 500 for the uprated components and additional widgets that make SS work? Offset that against the supposed savings and where, on average, does that leave us?
Until recently I ran a Morris Minor and old-skool Mini City, they were somewhat lacking in any form of technological nannying, and were none the worse for it.
I think everyone should learn to drive in a Moggie.
BJM
Your argument makes no sense, in reality...
My point is - you think of dear old cars now with rose tinted glasses, but at some point, they were state of the art.
We should be grown up enough not to need toys, and mature enough not to want them.
BJM
all good points - especillay the "minor!,
my neighbour had 1 until recently.. most entertaining when the throttle return spring failed,
it went from 65mph to 95 mph in a quicker time that you'd imagine,![]()
then came the fun of coaxing it to a stop without wrecking things,
they didn't teach that in ANY test![]()
And that is 60% of the reason why BMC (and then BL) went bust. Alec Issigonis was a genius, but the fact of the matter is, your view of a car being a utilitarian appliance for carrying people with no thought for comfort, or other practical desires doesn't align with a great number of people.
I forgot to ask, do you actually own a 500?
If I'd wanted a "utilitarian appliance...with no thought for comfort" then I'd have probably just plumped for a Panda. My wife and I love the 500's design, and it's every bit as easy and fun to drive as the Mini. Plus it's a whole lot more comfortable and practical...and very easy to find in Asda's car park:
BJM
The Minor and the Mini remained virtually unchanged throughout their production. Admittedly, this had a lot to do with the management of BL in all of its guises, but Issigonis would have nothing to to with unnecessary additions to his cars - not even a radio. When challenged about the Mini's vulnerability in a crash, he simply replied "I don't design my cars to have accidents", by that he meant that the cars were inherently safe and bells-and-whistles weren't needed.
FIAT's gone down the same marketing alley as BMW did with their MINI - they've forgotten the message and worship the creed, if I might borrow a line. The car's basic design and engineering are sound, built as they are around the architecture of a 10-year old floorpan and power train. FIAT shouldn't pander (ouch, stop it!!) towards being state of the art.
We should be grown up enough not to need toys, and mature enough not to want them.
BJM
The thing with start&stop is that if it doesn't work then all that happens is that your car behaves EXACTLY like an old Mini or whatever you used to have. The failsafe for S&S is that it behaves just like every car used to...... how can you complain about that?
Speaking as an Australian, the rest of the world laughs at the Minor and the Mini only has cuteness value.
To get sales. Why wouldn't a business try and get sales, and therefore turn a profit. As I say, times have changed, cars will *never* be designed in the same was as Issigonis designed ADO15.The Mini and the Minor were built to do the task for which they were designed and nothing more.
Start & Stop, and DPF in diesels, seem to me (regardless of marque) to be very cynically designed devices which cost a car's first buyer very dear. As I said earlier, their intended function is to shoe-horn the car into the lowest possible RFL bracket.
I wouldn't have a common-rail diesel car thrown at me, largely because of the woe that a DPF can cause.
BJM
The Mini and the Minor were built to do the task for which they were designed and nothing more.
Start & Stop, and DPF in diesels, seem to me (regardless of marque) to be very cynically designed devices which cost a car's first buyer very dear. As I said earlier, their intended function is to shoe-horn the car into the lowest possible RFL bracket.
You have just shown your lack of knowledge, as someone with only very mild Asthma, I am quite happy about DPF's thanks.
If they ever work out time travel, please go back to the past and stay there, cheers.
I'm actually wondering where BJMs argument is here. It's as though you're a critic of the 500 (or any other modern car), yet you actually own one and seem to like it?
So, errr, why don't you sell it and buy a little old Minor or Mini instead?