Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article <xZydnWiar5SOLJXVnZ2dnUVZ_rGhnZ2d@texas.net>,
> Steve <no@spam.thanks> wrote:
>
>>> At any rate, now we know what your ACTUAL complaint is. You can't find
>>> a car to suit your particular tastes.
>>>
>>> Ain't that a bitch.
>>>
>> Again, its not MY problem, I'm just commenting on it as a symptom of how
>> ignorant of how a car works the average driver has become.
>
> No, it's a symptom of how appliance-like the cars have become--which
> depends on, and also feeds, the fact that auto transportation has become
> a necessity--not a hobby, not a luxury.

Really? The media keep telling us just how unnecessary it is. Live in a
high-rise. Take the bus. Ride a bike. Its the new urbanism. </sacrcasm>
>
> When the Model T came out, you had to know everything about the car and
> be your own mechanic. Of course, that was OK back then. Now imagine
> the Model T being the primary source of transportation today.
>
> Face it: technology starts out in the labs, then hits the early
> adopters, then eventually becomes mainstream--and appliance-like.

Cars were already appliance-like in 1940, but they still had real
instrumentation. And appliances can be either versatile equipment with a
good operator interface, or cheap crap from Target too.

I
> don't have to know how a computer works just to be able to take and send
> pictures on my cell phone.

But it damn sure helps if you have a clue. It lets you do more, do it
better, and be more productive than the appliance-user. And knowledge
prevents you from being dependent on a sysadmin somewhere.
>
> You don't like that technology becomes an appliance. Tough shit.
> That's how life works.
>

Fortunately there are still plenty of cars for people who ENJOY cars
out there.