On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Ed Lloyd <elloyd10@comcast.net> wrote:
> I too have been living the Vanagon Experience during my 20+ years of driving my 87 Westy, and before that a 76 Westy.
>
> My daughter just bought a sporty little 20004 Mazda 3, and I looked into the Driver's Manual, and did a double take on this:
>
> "Front Turn Signal Lights - Due to the complexity and difficulty of the procedure, the bulbs should be replaced by an Authorized Mazda Dealer."
>
> Same for the Fog lights, and side marker lights.  They do show pictures and procedures, which amount to unscrewing the plastic housings and gently twisting and pulling out the bulbs.  Installation is the reverse.
>
> Low beam Xenon bulb may be more of a problem.  "You cannot replace the low beam bulbs by yourself.  Must be replaced at an Authorized Dealer."  OK, there may be some high voltage and disposal risk here.
>
> Oil change, and perhaps Air Filter, and that is the complete list of what an owner can do by themselves!  Everything else is Dealer.
>
> I also noted that the Windshield washer reservoir has a light on the dash board to tell you when the washer fluid is low.  I have never found this to be a problem in my Vanagon.  When it starts to dribble out, then you just add more!
>
> this is a sporty car for young people, not a big "Luxury" car for pampered fat cats.  Her friends all seem to know how to work the CD player and electronic gadgets installed, but seem clueless about the mechanicals.
>
> End of Rant by crusty old guy.
>

Would you feel comfortable replacing your computer's RAM, hard disk,
CMOS battery, cabling, expansion cards, operating system, etc etc? The
situation is similar in modern cars as it is in modern computers:
people expect them to be "black boxes" that just work. For cars and
computers that are extremely well-built, this isn't an issue.

I suppose not knowing how to fix your own stuff plays well into the
modern disposable mindset.