Future Proof Cars

The You Tube Channel that changes Motoring Forever

Here is the funny thing. Come up with a word that describes something. Perfectly. Then luxuriate in the warmth of the success and acclaim it brings. Bangernomics.

I must say that readers have said some immensely kind and flattering things to me over the years. It has been worth the bother. I did get some work as a result of all, but I’ve been fairly terrible at exploiting it to any real life changing degree. Just at the moment apart from this Substack you’ve been suckered into, the only place you find the word Bangernomics is propping open a marketplace section of a crappy classic car magazine without any appreciable nod of acknowledgement, simply to goad me I suppose. Despite that medium order moan, I am past caring at this point. It’s time to do something different. Even if it is strangely similar. Welcome to Cars that are and will be forever Future Proof. https://www.youtube.com/@futureproofcars

This has all been festering for some time. It goes back a couple of years when I wrote an article on the subject and then began planning a book of the article that few would buy, but many might be influenced by, a bit like Bangernomics. Except that my mate Bradley Mitchell came up with a suggestion that we just might businessatize the whole thing.

For some time I took it down a proper ‘car care’ route with warranties and area sales managers and all sorts serious meetings. Then Bradley reckoned it would be better if we just did the whole car channel thing. I was not convinced especially as my low rent, low wattage Bangernomics one had only amassed 599 followers in over a decade, to the point where I could barely be bothered to make them any more. There were some very loyal viewers but really I never understood how to do You Tube properly like my old mucker Geoff Buys Cars.

Not sure that I really have to explain the concept, but I will have a go. Vehicular obsolescence can come courtesy of government legislation (see further Low Emission Zones and the 2030 petrol and diesel ban) as much as an inability to find spare parts and mechanics with the skills to fix them. The thing is, there certain makes and models which are more suited than others to lasting longer. Bangernomics conclusively proved that constantly buying new cars or renewing PCPs was the best way to lose money and squander the earth’s resources. What we have here then is a proper car care programme called Future Proof Cars.

This You tube channel is going to be a guide to not just making a car last longer but also choosing the right one in the first place. It may come down to the engine as the number of emission zones now dictates which EU rated engine you choose (6 diesel, 4 petrol). Long term it is a close run thing as to whether a petrol or diesel is the more reliable. Both when looked after can cover colossal mileages. Certainly the view is that a petrol engine is less complex and simpler to fix than a modern diesel, and more easily complies with emissions regulations. A sorted, possibly chipped diesel will do an infinite of miles to the gallon and you may possibly never have to fill the tank with Derv again. Indeed, certain additives can make an incredible difference, clearing clogged fuel injectors, carbon build up reducing wear and tear.

We also believe that a looking after your car properly is the key to the longest and happiest life. Oil is the lifeblood of your car and needs to be changed regularly for the best health. Also preventative maintenance and spotting problems early means there will be less downtime, so your futureproofed car will be more useful. There are lots of boring tips to drone on about, but let’s get to the fun part, choosing some future proofers from the classifieds.

Volkswagen Golf: Still impressive after all these years and the mark 5, 6 and 7s still deliver that old fashioned ultra reliability in either the petrol or diesel format. Owners that fit performance chips to their TDIs seem to get the best of all words apart from access to an ULEZ. You can thrash it all day and get 60mpg without really trying too hard. Rather liked the look of this 2012 1.4 TSI GT with 100,614 miles at £3,999 from Auto Atlas Limited. Five Slogs.

Mazda MX5: Any Mazza is future proofer with a wonderful record for build quality and utter reliability, but the 5 is in a class of its own it comes to sports car solidity. It is the best selling roadster of all time for several reason, but the good driving vibes are value are just a couple of them. These should last forever. I’ve gone for one of those slightly complicated coupe/co.nvertible but a 2010 example with 74,830 miles £5,795 from Precision Auto Group Ltd. Five Slogs.

Not all future proofers are off roaders, but it can help because they are generically tougher and the Toyota Landcruiser is the thinking buyer’s 4×4 with legendary levels of dependability. Here’s a 2009 3.0 D-4D Invincible Diesel Automatic, which seats up to 8, that’s had just two previous keepers and covered 123,123 miles at £8,995 from My Next Car. Ten Slogs at least.

If you want to be comfortable, then a Lexus LS is the clever way to do it. An alt-universe Mercedes S Class which is still expensive to fix, but a looked after one won’t go wrong very often. Quite an old barge now, available from just a few grand. Rather liked this 2007 460 V8 SE Auto with 77,000 miles at £6,995 from Press Cars Edgware. Still 5 Slogs at least.

Just for your information Future Proof Cars have a Golf, a closely related SEAT Leon has recently been added to the garage, oh and we’ve bought a Lexus IS250, there is also a decade old Mercedes, 24 year old BMW and loads of classics. We drive what we preach about. We make videos almost every day, if not much more often.

https://www.youtube.com/@futureproofcars

So is this just another You Tube channel with a couple of idiots droning on about cars? Almost certainly, but no one else seems to be championing motors that are for the long term and that can be bought for marginal amounts of money. Giving advice and opinions that you won’t find anywhere else. Give us a sub over at Yoof Toob, you are unlikely to regret it and is completely free, a bit like this Substack.

I tell you what, it will also be quite funny.

See you next time.

Please note that all images are copyright of the selling garage, no recommendation is made for any vehicle featured and ideally it is best to go and check for yourself.

Just reading my stuff is very much appreciated, which is why it will always be free. I would be grateful if you would buy the odd book. If you want real ones that you can have and hold then it is the Evil Amazon empire which has them.

For a really cheap PDF and some physical books go to my Flyscreen site which has a proper shopping cart. https://www.flyscreenqueen.co.uk/special-offers/bangernomics-books.html

If you have read all the books and do want to donate then that is very kind and do so here: https://jamesruppert.substack.com/donate.