Re : The ECU. Oldish car. One of the first IIRC (remeber this was 98) The bracket that holds it in broke. So like you say normally clocks out. But when the bracket breaks, you cant get a screwdriver (even a stubby) in to undo it. So we had the entire dash out to change a stupid bracket.

Oh and dont get me started on their in-ability to keep rain water outside the car.

You're very defensive about these heaps of crap. Do you work for VW? We were forever saying "Stupid Ford design" and the guys down the road at Fords were probably saying "Stupid VW design"