Thank you for an article…
Thank you for an article which is both informative and enjoyable to read. I am a 69 year old gearhead whose father taught high school automotive mechanics and who has personally owned over 50 cars. Amen to the fellow reader who observed most drivers today don't know how to maintain their vehicle, or even how to to have someone do it for them. I am yet to experience my first catastrophic engine failure and strive to ensure that it never does happen to me. When I write "strive" I mean staying aware of my vehicle's fluid levels and the status of "wear and tear" items ranging from wiper blades to tires, mileage since last oil change, always using premium oil and grade of gasoline, and quite simply listening to how the engine sounds at idle when warmed up. The vast array of "convenience" features now standard on almost every new automobile have made cars easier and more comfortable to operate, but also make the driver increasingly detached from their vehicle and less aware of it's true condition. Operation and maintenance of one's vehicle were once synonomous but modern drivers increasing display a "get in it and go" mentality. And that's convenient....till it won't go no more. Owning an automobile is like a lot of other aspects of modern life, where one's acceptance of personal responsibility and recognition of the importance of situational awareness dictates the level of success one may rightfully expect. Unfortunately, an increasing number of motorists are only interested in "are we there yet"?