1 camper van and 800,000 km and 164 countries in 24+ years

Alan_uk

A2OC Donor
Stumbles across this BBC story from 2014 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2014/newsspec_8703/index.html which I thought about in relation to the thread about the brake sensor repair https://www.a2oc.net/community/inde...abs-cable-repair-kit-8z0-927-904.43170/page-2

It's a 1/2 hour read so I skimmed it. It's about a German chap who took a 1988 Merc camper van around the world - 800,000 km and 165 countries over 24+ years. The German said you could not do it in a modern car as the electronics would not survive such a gruelling trip and roadside repairs would not be possible. Something to be said for the simplicity of the old cars - but not so good from a safety aspect.
 
Although much is said by manufacturers about the 'improved' safety of modern vehicles because of the airbags, brake wear and a host of other sensors, along with things like the lane guidance and snooze alert systems they install in order to impress potential buyers, I'm of the opinion that their concurrent installation of 'connectivity', effectively attempting to pursuade drivers that owning and driving a car demands no more attention than owning a washing machine, is at least in part responsible for the 'need' to have the safety systems.

If, as it was in earlier times, owners regularly maintained cars, rather than relying on a sensor to alert them to the oil or screen washer fluid needing topping up or the brake pads replacing, and they concentrated on the road rather than the multiple screens on the dashboard, perhaps driving would be as pleasurable to more drivers as it is to me.

And, it has to be said that, despite all the (unnecessary in my opinion) safety gubbins in modern cars, the biggest contribution to the reduction in traffic related fatalities in recent years has been brought about by fast responding paramedics and the equipment at their disposal rather than any of the safety systems in vehicles.
 
Although much is said by manufacturers about the 'improved' safety of modern vehicles because of the airbags, brake wear and a host of other sensors, along with things like the lane guidance and snooze alert systems they install in order to impress potential buyers, I'm of the opinion that their concurrent installation of 'connectivity', effectively attempting to pursuade drivers that owning and driving a car demands no more attention than owning a washing machine, is at least in part responsible for the 'need' to have the safety systems.

If, as it was in earlier times, owners regularly maintained cars, rather than relying on a sensor to alert them to the oil or screen washer fluid needing topping up or the brake pads replacing, and they concentrated on the road rather than the multiple screens on the dashboard, perhaps driving would be as pleasurable to more drivers as it is to me.

And, it has to be said that, despite all the (unnecessary in my opinion) safety gubbins in modern cars, the biggest contribution to the reduction in traffic related fatalities in recent years has been brought about by fast responding paramedics and the equipment at their disposal rather than any of the safety systems in vehicles.

I think the physical strength and controlled deformity in modern shells is incredible. A friend buys write-offs and pulls them out. He said modern cars are almost impossible to shift with the dozer. High strength steel, very high strength steel, boron steel, massive nugget spot-welds, custom blanks and I believe hot formed parts, lift modern shells to levels simply not possible before.

Anyway, my personal gripe is touch-screens: how utterly ludicrous are those? They 100% guarantee you need to look away from the road to adjust something, let alone if it involves a menu. That inbetween stage of a decent screen coupled with physical controls (ideally twist rather than keep pressing) seems the ultimate to me. My departed V70 was excellent in that regard.
 
I remember reading this when it came out and thinking what a wonderful adventure. I think you could still do it with the right modern vehicle, but you would need to be comfortable with plugging in a laptop and diagnosing electronic issues, as well as mechanical ones. In truth, the mechanical issues are becoming much fewer on modern vehicles and a lot of electrical problems are caused by sensor faults or damaged wiring. Preventitive maintenance also counts for a lot.

Before my A2, I had a CB500X (2013 vintage) motorbike for 5 years and despite running it year-round, it was the most reliable bike I've owned and never let me down. It's not a bike overloaded with electronics, but does have EFI, ABS and a digital dash. Quite a few of them have now been used for big overland trips and proved remarkably reliable. I think it's about getting the basic design right, having good build quality and then building on that.

I met a couple on Arran a few years ago, who were working their way round the world in a converted Fuso Canter - it was quite a bit of kit:

IMG_20180928_132712835_BURST000_COVER_TOP-01.jpeg
 
I think the physical strength and controlled deformity in modern shells is incredible. A friend buys write-offs and pulls them out. He said modern cars are almost impossible to shift with the dozer. High strength steel, very high strength steel, boron steel, massive nugget spot-welds, custom blanks and I believe hot formed parts, lift modern shells to levels simply not possible before.

Anyway, my personal gripe is touch-screens: how utterly ludicrous are those? They 100% guarantee you need to look away from the road to adjust something, let alone if it involves a menu. That inbetween stage of a decent screen coupled with physical controls (ideally twist rather than keep pressing) seems the ultimate to me. My departed V70 was excellent in that regard.
My problem with touch screens is that, in order to read them, I need to remove my distance specs, put them somewhere convenient, open the case to put on my reading specs, have a look at the screens, adjust anything that needs adjustment, put the readers back in their case, retrieve the distance glasses from the passenger footwell, or wherever they've fallen, before putting them on again and having a look at the road!
 
I remember reading this whilst on my way to São Tomé (one of the most inaccessible countries in the world), wondering how Gunther was going to get the Merc to such a remote place. Just getting myself plus my adventure kit onto a tiny island in the Gulf of Guinea was challenging enough! Towards the end of the article, there's a list of three countries that were deemed too awkward and expensive to visit with Otto, and São Tomé is one of them.
Those who have been members of A2OC for a while may remember my thread about the trip, which can be read here...
Whilst on São Tomé, I remember asking the locals how cars had arrived on the island. After all, the Suzuki Jimny that I hired wasn't made there! The answer is that a few container ships depart for São Tomé from Lisbon (Portugal) a few times a year. I imagine that the cost is astronomical.

Cheers,

Tom
 
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