We bought a second hand car. We went for lunch to celebrate. When we came out the battery was flat! No problem the dealer rescued us and replaced the battery but that meant we could not turn on the radio. Car radios have a security code, like your credit card has, and for the same reason. But the dealer did not have that code. I had to leave the car with them for a whole day to sort it out. Give me a break. When my old sprite had a flat battery I could push start it all by myself. Now, with an automatic, you can’t. And if you could you could not steer with its power steering, and if the car didn’t start you won’t stop it with out power assisted brakes. And you can’t jump start it either or you will fry the electronics. When the automatic gearbox started playing up we found it needed a new computer. Who knew a gearbox needed a computer? And this was no ordinary computer, it was a bloody expensive one. Now I can go up to Dick Smith and buy a computer that can do all manner of things and all for a few hundred. This thing cost $1500, a few more hundred to install, and you can’t even find porn on it! It just changes gears!! All 4 of them. Sorry computer, 5 if you include reverse, 6 if neutral is considered a gear. I did not realise what a computer wiz I was driving the old sprite.

I recently took young son Jack to a classic car show and showed him my young man dream car; the 1972 Ferrari Dino. Even today it will cost you $300,000 to buy one. You can get a new 488 GTB (the modern version) for only a little bit more. Have we really come that far since 1972? Here are some videos of the 1972 in action, listen to the roar.

and here they are side by side

1972 dino

40 years later. It is like the difference between Sophia Loren and todays runway models.