Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer says cars are getting 'harder to fix' as one is 'almost impossible' to repair

Daily Mirror

30-07-2025

Mike Brewer, who is best known for hosting Wheeler Dealers, has slammed modern cars and says they are becoming increasingly difficult to repair as he names one vehicle that is 'almost impossible' to fix
Wheeler Dealers favourite Mike Brewer has singled out one motor that is "almost impossible to fix" whilst taking aim at today's vehicles. The telly star has built his reputation by snapping up second-hand cars and restoring them for profit.
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Yet Mike reckons contemporary motors are becoming increasingly tricky to mend. He claims the troubling trend kicked off with the Audi A2, where drivers were unable to lift the bonnet, being limited to just a "service hatch" instead.
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Mike reckons we're now stuck in a "disposable society" and suggests drivers are more likely to trade in their motor rather than keep it running, reports the Express. He argues people no longer show their cars the "respect" they once did.
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On the Talkin' Shop podcast, he said: "Back in my day or your dad's day, when you bought your new car, or your nearly new used car, you would wash it every weekend, you would, every three months, change the oil, change the filter, and hoover it out, and clean it.
"We sell cars at One Automotive that are six months old, one year old, and they might come back six months later and it's never seen a car wash. Never had an oil filter, never had the screenwashed."
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However, Mike reckons manufacturers have deliberately made it tougher to service vehicles. He explained: "I think Audi started it with the A2 when they made that car deliberately with no bonnet.
"All you could do was put water in it at the front for your screenwash. It was almost impossible to service the car yourself and then other manufacturers followed suit."
Mike claims that many modern vehicles have become a "sea of plastic coverings" beneath the bonnet. He continued: "The manufacturers are saying, 'Don't touch it, leave it alone, bring it back to us and we'll charge you' or 'Don't touch it and wait for it to die'."
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The television specialist maintains that motors can "go on forever" if they are "looked after right". He referenced lorries which routinely clock up higher mileage as proof of longevity.
Mike revealed that vintage automobiles can frequently outlast their modern counterparts when restored with contemporary components.
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He elaborated: "Today we have different gasket compounds, we have different water compounds, we have different rubber and viscosity in rubber, so the chances are, if you're restoring a car today, the chances are it will run much better and much longer and last forever than it would have done when it came out of the factory."
The automotive authority launched his broadcasting journey on Channel 4's Driven - created to compete with BBC Top Gear - before transferring to the Discovery Channel with Wheeler Dealers.
He presented 18 series of the programme. Mike has also presented programmes including Wrecks to Riches and Auto Trader.
He currently presents the British Rally Championship on Sky Sports.