When I upgraded from my midsized SUV to my ultimate urban assault vehicle, part of the reason was for the backup camera, proximity warnings, adaptive cruise control, heads up display, etc. I haven’t manually cranked a window since the 72 Beetle. Lane departure, meh. Seat belt warning is nice because DW frequently forgets. One thing I haven’t used is the automated parking assist. Voice commands are hit and miss and not do to a southern accent. Have to say key words but no where is there a manual on key words. Too much is touch screen which not enough is controlled by voice commands.
I think many car companies are reviewing how often things are used and some are starting to disappear. Saves a few dollars here and there.
I do not believe you can find any new vehicles that do not have actuators. And likely the same is true for crank windows.
Modern cars are much more complicated than vehicles in the past. That results in more repairs. Also the quality of engine parts such as plastic intake manifolds or more cheaply made timing chains require more frequent change out.
Vehicles are now made to just last just as long as the warranty guarantee; no longer. And I suspect, manufacturer recommended oil changes are based on the warranty also.
Personally I would change conventional oil at 3500/4000 miles & synthetic oil at 5500/6000 miles. Oil is much cheaper than an engine.
I definitely don’t think that. I now drive 5 mph less than the posted limit and try to stay in the right hand lane on limited access highways. I know my reaction time will be delayed. I’m the old geezer folks pass by as they are going at least 5mph over the posted speed limit.
I avoid driving at night as do most of my contemporaries.
A person that does not slow down in a school zone is reckless & irresponsible. They should have their license suspended on the first offense and revoked on the second offense.
I noticed the study picked the 1970’s when Detroit was turning out junk.
Which is when Japan made great inroads to US market space driving Detroit to improve their offerings.
Of course we know Honda & Toyota made in the 1990’s were practically unkillable.
Detroit bounced backed. IMO the GM H body platform was a quality product turned out in 1986 to 1999. Those vehicles lasted hundreds of thousands of miles if maintained properly. All powered by veritable 3.8 liter V6. And good pick would be the Ford Panther platform produced in 1991 to 2011 with the reliable 4.6 liter v8. The choice of police departments and taxi companies.
These vehicles were durable and cheap to fix.
This is so easy. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes:
Cars Built in the 1990's More Reliable than Modern Vehicles?
Cars from the 1990s generally had a lifespan of around 100,000 to 150,000 miles, though many could last longer with proper maintenance. They were built with sturdier materials and were often considered more reliable than cars from the 1980s, though modern cars have surpassed them in long-term durability due to advancements in engineering.
1990s vs. today
1990s cars: While some had a lifespan of around 100,000 to 150,000 miles without major issues, many were worn out at 100,000 miles and often required major repairs by that point. These cars were often built with sturdier materials and “over-engineered” engines, leading some to last longer with good maintenance.
I assume that is an AI generated response.
In all eras their are model that are long lasting and less durable models.
The panther & H platform vehicle lasted 200,000 to 400,000 miles if properly maintained and certainly are much cheaper to maintain.
It pays to do the proper research prior to purchase.
Methinks we find similar result of some modern vehicles not lasting as others.
Kia/Hyundai engines are an example lack of durability in modern Vehicles.
Of course, that’s why we use ‘the average”. I hope you’re not immune to data, because it tells a very different story than the one you’re pushing. Cars are lasting longer. (Yes, some of that may be that people are keeping them longer because they have to, then again, they couldn’t keep them longer if they weren’t still functioning. And why wouldn’t they have done so in years past if the cars were still drivable?)
So here is one of dozens, probably hundreds of articles on the issue. All you have to do is ask the machine “Do cars last longer now?” In any variety of ways and you’ll find actual research, actual data, which might (probably not) disabuse you of the stance that cars are now worse and “barely make it through the warranty period” (or however you phrased it.)
Trucks do last a little longer than cars, but the trend for both is up, up, and mostly up. Find a chart that separates them out, you’ll find the same thing.
PS: This chart ends at 2020. The latest numbers, calculated from registered vehicles, shows it at 12.8 years for 2025.
I well remember the fight the car companies put up about seat belts and other safety devices. How many lives have been saved? How many serious injuries lessened?
Speaking of ABS breaks. This safety feature saved me and my family from what would likely have been a very serious accident. I was amazed at how well the braking system allowed me to control the vehicle and avoid any kind of skid and vehicle rollover, while also allowing me to come to a stop inches from the idiot who had turned in front of me.
Both can be true. Average vs Individual Picks.
Millions of Panther & H platform vehicles were produced that gave 200,000 to 400,000 miles of service. IF properly maintained. If you bought one of them the owner was sitting pretty.
The same is true for the stock market & real estate. Average vs Individual Picks.
S&P 500 vs Tesla stock. Average US House Price vs Austin or Miami-both cities are in states with fastest population growths.
If I’m picking a used vehicle, stock or a place to live; likely I am not basing that on an average.
ABS brakes intermittently apply the brakes to prevent lock up and a resulting skid.
Individuals can accomplish the same by pumping the brakes-push, release, push, release repeat until the vehicle is brought under control.
Well, not really. ABS brakes pump up to 15 times per second, to just short of “skidding” to maintain the maximum control while providing the maximum braking. An individual will likely go into skid, let off, pump again, and perhaps be able to pump 3 or 4 times in the same time that an ABS system would do it 50 or 60 times. The “individual” is likely to be far less efficient in applying maximum braking without skidding, and less efficient in applying maximum skidding protection while giving maximum braking.
Yes, I’ve done it ‘manually’ and actually had training in pursuit driving and controlling skids (law enforcement job) before ABS. ABS is vastly superior.
Congrats, I applaud your efforts! Unfortunately, safety policies, rules, laws, etc. are not directed at you. They’re directed at the lowest common denominator…some irresponsible yahoo who doesn’t consider their safety, nor the safety of others.
To say nothing if the fact that ABS can control each wheel individually, while a human driver has only a single pedal to modulate the braking at all 4 wheels together.
I trained with non-ABS brakes, as anyone my age (or older) did. ABS didn’t exist. It was something of a transition to ABS because I unconsciously pumped my brakes all the time. It was ingrained. But pumping ABS brakes is bad. Took me a while to get out of that habit with my first ABS-equipped vehicle.
ABS does seem to stop faster on ice than manual pumping (I learned to drive in Denver, so I had a lot of experience pumping the brakes), and controls better. I have to agree. On dry asphalt I don’t notice a difference.
Though this has strayed a bit too far, I think. The safety features are not only for the driver of the vehicle that has them, but also for all the other drivers and cyclists and pedestrians they may encounter. Just as you aren’t allowed to drive drunk, not to protect you but to protect other people, so those mandated (and even non-mandated that makers install anyway) are -at the minimum- to protect others. Someone mentioned a drastic reduction in pedestrians ending up under a car that was backing up, for example. That alone makes it worth it.
