Games automakers play on best efforts basis!!!

Between 2010 to 2014, I was blessed to use an European make Sedan at India. My colleagues praised its features and merits over other makes!  I was initially reluctant to use the new car as it had some advanced features!!!!

As a seasoned Instrumentation professional, I always look for "field proven" makes and models!!!  I found the new European model car was not having any such records on Indian roads.

Car had very good suspensions and tubeless tires. I faced a couple of tire bursts.  I googled and  found these cars exhibited such  problems sporadically 

After sales service provided by car dealers was found very much lacking!   Technicians  at the garage, used a PC for diagnosis and their  interpretations of diagnostic reports always ended in changing  "modules" or "sub systems " . Many clients felt that this is to increase sale of spares!

The car was having a Computerized Display in the dash board with many graphic symbols.  I consulted  the company provided Owners manual to decipher the symbols and their meanings.

When I was driving on an over bridge, one such symbol in the shape of a "spanner" popped up and started flickering menacingly. Car went into "slow down mode" on its own.  My wife was sitting next to me at the front and she told me that the vehicle needs an urgent visit to service center, after consulting the owner's manual.  After many attempts, I got hold of a customer care executive over toll free line and she advised to drive the car as slowly as possible to a nearest service center! 

After reaching the service center, technician could not detect any fault and he finally tried the "time tested" act!   He formatted the computerized controls and reloaded the application. Then, he rebooted!  System started working without any alarm display! He conducted many tested and found system normal!

Such is the way computerized systems in the latest cars work. There is no wonder, VW had his own way of writing car monitoring and performance evaluation software to camouflage emission violations. 

Besides, the European auto maker employed only one service provider cum dealer for their iconic model. Needless to say that the service provider behaved indifferently to the needs of the clients!

After many such on road hardships, I sold the car . I drove the car for only 40000+ KM!

I learned lessons in the hard way!  

Go for field proven make and model, otherwise be ready for adventures on road!!!

For the inquisitive minds, the make of the European car I was forced to use --- SODA and ironically its model rhymes with "MAFIA"