Money for Nothing

More money spent than since our last house purchase ! We have bought a car capable of hauling the caravan around the great Western Highway.

I have always disliked spending money on cars. On reflection, I think that this dislike arose because:

(1) the car was a symbol of subservience to a value system that enslaved people to the life long pursuit of non-essentials. Cars are made more and more expensive - not for functional reasons such as efficiency, durability, safety etc. but for signaling social status and group identity
We recognised this by owning cars that were cheap and a bit disreputable, and therefore identifying ourselves with student rebellion in general. We further advertised our rebellion by stickers and even used them as billboards. I remember how proud and rebellious we were when we painted our cars with slogans such as "Lynch Fraser" etc.

(2) the car is a perversion of engineering. The immense investment of energy and talent that they represent has, in large part been diverted from useful ends such as ensuring that repair and replacement is infrequent and cheap for the owner and the planet. Instead, we have a range of silly gimmicks that advertising has taught us to value: sleek lines with moulded body parts that are expensive, easily damaged and not interchangeable, central locking, multifunction controls cf. cheap reliable switches, power steering, the non user serviceable electronic fuel injection etc. etc.

I wish that they still made the old 1980's or even 70's Commodores or Fords for the Luddites like me. Trouble is the surviving ones have done so many k's that they need replacement of parts that are now outrageously expensive ! Can't get out ! Cornered !

So. . . . . . I have just paid far more than I ever thought possible for a vehicle on the basis that I have bought reliability and enough power. Please let it last me the next fifteen years ? #* !