I suppose I'm just one of those anally retentive people who likes to do things by the book so if the schedule says to check the tappets every 25,000 miles then I'd feel uncomfortable not doing it at the prescribed interval.
The real blow will come though if, after stripping everything out to gain access (someone said 47 nuts and bolts have to be undone - gulp) I find that the clearances are all within specification. I'm now praying that they are in desperate need of adjustment.
I hear what you say about 'routine maintenance' that is not really necessary. According to the Vauxhall service schedule, my Astra G 1800 Convertible is supposed to need a cambelt change at 80,000 miles but the main dealers say it should be done regardless of mileage every four years including replacement of the water pump, belt tensioner and coolant because 'rubber belts deteriorate with age'. All that doesn't come cheap and a good old-fashioned timing chain would have saved a lot of hassle.
Cars nowadays are so much more reliable and maintenance free than when I started motoring in the 1960s. My Morris Minor, for example, needed greasing every 1000 miles; the Beetle needed an oil change every 3000 miles and I was forever changing points, plugs and condensers and setting tappets on Fords, Hillmans and Renaults throughout the 70s and 80s. By contrast, modern cars always seem to start first time and only need an annual oil and filter change so I shouldn't complain.
It's all swings and roundabouts but I'm a Yorkshireman and paying £6+ for what is basically a rubber bloody O ring really goes against the grain!
