Club Arnage

Although he does make a few valid points, Dominic Sandbrook falls for every cliché, stereotype and misconception regarding the demise of the British car industry.

"Das Auto: The Germans, Their Cars and Us"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03866cj/Das_Auto_The_Germans_Their_Cars_and_Us/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03866cj/Das_Auto_The_Germans_Their_Cars_and_Us/)

So long as you bear in mind its limitations, I found it quite enjoyable.

I thought it was good as well. No rose tintied glasses, and if we were that good at making cars in those years past, we would have a bigger and stronger car/truck industry today

But we are still brill at technology, design and engineering - F1 cars and that stuff - (also last time I peek are film industry was good)

But things change and we have to adapt and evolve

Not going into which side was to blame, but all I can say is a bit sad really.

Oh well at least we have a good strong financial industry  ;D

It did point out that the car industry had done well in the 1950s, then when the Germans have gone from the expensive and poor spec but well made Beetle to the Golf, we've got the Allegro, plus a string of German designed Fords and Vauxhalls.

I don't think it was meant to be technical or accurate

It was billed as ; "Documentary examining Germany's automobile industry". What it turned out to be was a glib and rather superficial "Hey, wasn't British Leyland really cr*p".

But the interesting angle was reflecting this against the German take on the business of car making.

I was of course bitterly disappointed they didn't include the Rover 800 Fastback TV advert...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ-DEi1LP50

Britishcher architect? Yes, and a Japanese car designer, from Honda. That, for me, summed up the inferiority complex rife at the time.

This is the way to make a documentary about an industry that underwent a major change.

"The Box That Changed Britain".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00scpzn/The_Box_That_Changed_Britain/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00scpzn/The_Box_That_Changed_Britain/)

I watched that - was really interesting.

F

the box that changed britain
margaret thatcher

Did anyone see the last 15 minutes of Top Gear at the weekend - certainly modified my view of Britain's contribution to the motor industry - I would recommend it if you missed it. 

Yes, I agree. It was good to see the British automotive industry being celebrated rather than rubbished!

Here if you missed it tinyurl.com/mhsmafm (http://tinyurl.com/mhsmafm)

Thanks for sharing Smokie.  :)
What a great piece.

Dx

Well, as one who lived the terrible years and one who lived not far from Jaguar, plus one who suffered those absolutely awful cars as a company rep, I well remember the first time I bought a Golf in 1978. It was a revelation, a car that had a silky gear change, that was well built, would never let you down, and so I continued buying German until, for my 50th, I bought a new X300 Jaguar. Two new sets of wheels in the first year due to the lacquer falling off, a suspension that collapsed, a window that went down and refused to go up, and a gearbox that forever went into "limp home" mode. In the last 20 years I've had two cars, both Mercs, both doing over 150,000 before changing and indeed the last now kept as an everyday smoker. I just hope the 2012 CDi200 will be just as reliable, but somehow with all the technology in it I doubt it. But of the 70's I remember the first Marina, drum brakes and no servo, wipers set up for LHD and a dangerous car. The second was delivered with a seized gearbox. A Toledo that wouldn't go over 30mph and which the dealer said "was due to a tight engine that needs running in". Needed a new carb, that's what. and please don't get me going on the Maxi that preceded the Golf.

In contrast, I had a Mini from 1974 to 78 that never let me down once. I then got a second hand Golf GTi in the 80's that was an uncomfortable noisy sh*tbox that tore up front tyres in less than 3000 miles. I then drove a Pug 1.9 GTi that was very much better behaved.