[Mgs] Savvy Shopping: Park assist, pick-ups and MGs

[derek at vandivere.net]

Similarly, here in Holland I've heard that using a nav system is about to
be part of the driving test. I wonder how they'd react if you just pulled
over at a gas station to ask directions? I have noticed that my fiancie,
who's never driven in Amsterdam without our TomTom, is absolutely hopeless
without it - they really shut off part of your brain.

Going to see the B this afternoon - turns out the engine is completely
shot, almost certainly my fault. Looks like there's a few engines
available for about EUR 900.

Since the B needs a new front bumper (still waiting on the insurance
payment) and I was half-planning on converting it to chrome bumpers next
year (around EUR 4,000), I was thinking about just stripping this one for
parts and importing a CBB from the States (might end up being cheaper in
total, since I have a convertible-freak father in the States who'd be
happy to help with logistics). Anyone have any words of wisdom on that
potential plan?

Derek

> Ironically parallel parking has become part of the UK driving test in
> recent
> years.  But I'm right with you on your first sentence, park assist is just
> pure laziness, so many other 'driver aids' may well have safety
> implications
> but they each remove the driver another step from being responsible for
> their
> actions and reduce the driving experience to little more than sitting on
> the
> couch watch TV, with all the lack of attention that implies.  We can't be
> that
> far away from a driver suing a manufacturer because his 'lane wander'
> warning
> system didn't wake him up in time to avoid an accident.
>
> PaulH.