Worst trade deal ever

Let’s say I want a new car. Compared with my old one, it will cost twice as much, go half the distance, weigh 50% more, have no spare wheel and take half an hour to refuel. Every long drive will require extensive planning. I will suffer from software issues and if I put up with it for long enough, its ‘tank’ will keep shrinking. Oh, and I won’t be able to tow anything far.

Such a downgrade wouldn’t be acceptable in any other industry, so why are people accepting it in cars? Phil Thexton

Via email