p38arover
7th July 2015, 10:27 AM
I was reading Unsealed 4x4 TOP 6 ENGINEERING FAILS - Unsealed 4X4 (http://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/top-6-engineering-fails/)
and it's all the fault of the P38A.
What am I talking about? The number of computers now in 4WDs.
WAIT, HOW MANY COMPUTERS?
You remember that old joke about the space-race, when the Americans spent millions of dollars developing a pen their astronauts could use in the vacuum of outer space, while the Russians simply used a pencil? I kind of feel that way about the abundance of computer-controlled electrickery in modern 4X4s.
No, I'm not suggesting we all go back to leaf springs, carbies and manually cranking windows, but when you need eight separate computers to operate the reclining mechanism on the seats I feel like we've crossed the line into technological overkill. It's fast becoming "because we can" instead of "because we should".
Worse still, computers are often mounted in places that are susceptible to damage off-road from dust and water - just look at the cause for most vehicle-on-a-tow-truck stories during big trips. More often than not it's due to a faulty sensor or dust-filled control unit rather than mechanical failure.
Fuel injection, climate control and in-car entertainment are all great things, but the increasing reliance on electronics to be able to do just about anything (including drive) with our vehicles is a real worry.
Personally I blame the P38 Range Rover for starting the madness. Just ask anyone who's owned one - there are more computers in those things than in a stealth bomber, and many modern four-wheel drives are trying their best to emulate it.
and it's all the fault of the P38A.
What am I talking about? The number of computers now in 4WDs.
WAIT, HOW MANY COMPUTERS?
You remember that old joke about the space-race, when the Americans spent millions of dollars developing a pen their astronauts could use in the vacuum of outer space, while the Russians simply used a pencil? I kind of feel that way about the abundance of computer-controlled electrickery in modern 4X4s.
No, I'm not suggesting we all go back to leaf springs, carbies and manually cranking windows, but when you need eight separate computers to operate the reclining mechanism on the seats I feel like we've crossed the line into technological overkill. It's fast becoming "because we can" instead of "because we should".
Worse still, computers are often mounted in places that are susceptible to damage off-road from dust and water - just look at the cause for most vehicle-on-a-tow-truck stories during big trips. More often than not it's due to a faulty sensor or dust-filled control unit rather than mechanical failure.
Fuel injection, climate control and in-car entertainment are all great things, but the increasing reliance on electronics to be able to do just about anything (including drive) with our vehicles is a real worry.
Personally I blame the P38 Range Rover for starting the madness. Just ask anyone who's owned one - there are more computers in those things than in a stealth bomber, and many modern four-wheel drives are trying their best to emulate it.