Thanks for the helpful post. Are these problems likely or just possible ? Not accepting stratified injection does limit choice of car.

How does it compare with likelihood of normally aspirated engines having problems ?

Apologies for being a bit dense but they appear to be very beneficial in some respects. I don't want my suspicion to cause me to miss out.

The Abarth 500C came up by accident - I meant any !

Thanks skidpan. Its valuable to hear from an experienced driver who has driven them. Seems like I should liberate myself from suspicion of anything non traditional. I think I have been confused by twin charged problems. However, never going to accept electric handbrake.

Thanks again. I think I have OCCM syndrome ( obsessive car maintenance syndrome ) still had problems with C30 - suspect first 4 years not looked after so carefully. When I saw how the car had been handed in, before sales valet, I should have guessed. There was rubbish in car and boot and clearly not cleaned on a regular basis - live and learn.

Thinking of increasing initial spend and getting car one or two years old and changing after warranty finished. Another thread for pro's cand con's ? Probably already been several related.

However due to the recent facelift model having electronic handbrake you'll have to settle for one 6 mths old at best.
An answer to a problem that never existed!

In the past I have driven 2 cars with electric handbrakes and was far from impressed. They worked OK but the location of the button in both was stupid to the point of being dangerous. In the Toyota Avensis is was on the dash under the steering wheel to the left and in the Volvo V70 it was again on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. Both are locations that are difficult to access and neither is where you automatically reach for the handbrake.

When I test drove the Skoda Superb I was immediately comfortable with the location since logically they put it where the hand brake should be. But having had the car for 3 months now I am truly sold on the feature especially since it has an automatic feature. When this is selected the handbrake is applied as soon as you stop and it releases as soon as you move off, simply brilliant. The only aspect that annoys me is when you try and reverse with the door open to check for obsacles, it will not release until you cancel the auto feature but its not a deal breaker.

My experience with electrics is such that I would not trust it. I am sceptical of new developments in cars and if possible will get something as traditional as possible.

We have never had it so good and cars have never been more reliable. Back in the 70's and 80's when cars were simple clockwork devices they would fail to start, break down regularly, rust away etc etc. Exhausts would last 2 years if you were lucky, clutches 40,000 miles and by then to boot would be full of water.

Embrace the present and the future. Would you want todays cars to be as bad as cars of the 70's or earlier were.

I certainly don't.

Edited by skidpan on 23/05/2017 at 19:34

Car bills are ineveitable. I have my cars maintained by a trustworthy garage with hihg standards. I ensure any car I drive is as safe as possible.

Not worried about repairing epb : I'm worried about it misfunctioning in a driving situation, e.g just coming on on failing when car needs to be held.

Improve things please - don't just add gimmicks.