Totally agree that a modern car is when it does go wrong is somewhat expensive due to computer diagnostics etc. I remember once paying £80 (this is quite a few years ago now) to get my fault codes read on the g40. The missus paid £60 the other month to get hers read as the EML came on on her 206. I dread to think about something like a beemer or similar.
What gets me is the basic things on some modern cars that the average joe on the street aren't able to do anymore i.e. headlight bulbs!! I think it was renault (may be wrong) that were charging £180 for a blown bulb change!!! No wonder ive seen loads of people this xmas driving around with only one headlight bulb working
American cars... in the USA. Cheaply built, plastic and crap! I spend 4-5months a year in the USA (California area), older cars are rusty buckets, newer dodge, cryslar (sp?) etc etc, cheap crap. Yeah the crossfire and more upmarket ones are alright but there cheap cars are just that, cheap! American cars in the UK... better. Saying that we had a Mazda 6 rental out there, great interior quality and body.. but the auto box screamed at you and a dodging grinding noise kept being heard every so often, lol. OK, we may rag ours to death but spaking to americans out there, they agree too.