LEARNING FROM A PEUGEOT

As a lifelong subscriber and reader of CAR, I would like to share some automotive incidents I have had. During my high school days, I was exposed to the motoring industry by a good friend who assisted his father with vehicle repairs of various brands of cars. Out of curiosity, I joined in which kept us off the street and out of mischief.

I learnt how to replace exhaust systems, shock absorbers, spark plugs and ignition points, to name just a few of the jobs. The most notable, however, was overhauling a Peugeot 404 engine which suffered from wet sleeves. Peugeot was known for its durability and had won many global awards. It was a brand that also conquered legendary events such as the East African rally. The knowledge I gained working on such vehicles turned out to be very valuable when my father purchased a Peugeot 404. Fast forward many years and I find myself looking back in disbelief at how the motor industry has transformed. The most expensive car in 1978 was a Mercedes-benz 350SE which boasted an asking price of R19 800. Today, its equivalent – a Mercedes-benz S450 L – will set you back

R1 956 520! Of course, the level of sophistication has drastically improved over the last 42 years. Thank you for continuing with CAR with such dedication since its introduction in 1957. I am looking forward to good reporting and maybe now that a new editor has been appointed, some fresh views will be forthcoming. EF BORAINE Bloemfontein