Posted on 09/17/2010 8:12:44 PM PDT by One Name
I’ve been mulling this one around in my head for quite awhile; with Detroit’s recent near collapse I’ve been trying to draw some parallels with the general state of affairs in this country. Many of you on Free Republic are quite in tune with self-sufficiency- perhaps this may ring a bell with you.
Detroit started losing me about the time I came of age to drive, 1975. I grew up helping my dad do maintenance and minor repairs on 60’s cars. Later I owned some 50’s vintage stuff. Unfortunately, I have owned many more recently made vehicles ( none newer than 1994) . I purchased one new vehicle in 1978. These are the issues I see:
* Needless complexity. Superfluous gee gaws that add nothing to functionality, and only complicate diagnosis. I was raised to believe you need 3 gauges- oil pressure, water temperature and a voltmeter. I’ll add a vacuum gauge for you mileage people. If I know the status of those 3 readings, I can shut her down before anything bad happens.
* Assembly line mindset. Cars built to go together on the line and not repaired or dismantled in any other sequence. Many foul words would never have been invented had the end user and mechanic been consulted. The “factory special tool” industry would not have gotten off the ground.
* Lack of Retro/cross-compatibility. In the frenzy to replace models and offer new looks and features, far too many parts become obsolete and un-updateable or interchangeable. In my opinion, Chevrolet/GM in the old days had a much better handle on this than Ford or Mopar. Nobody gets a medal now.
* Mickey Mouse Plastic Bullshit. How many little plastic things, connectors, etc. have you broken trying to figure out how to take the damn thing apart? How about power windows that quit because of a 2 cent plastic piece? I’d pay a dollar or two more for a real fitting.
* Diagnostics that don’t Diagnose Crap. Most of the time, the problem is a faulty sensor, rather than a true problem. Often, when you have a true problem, like a bad ignition module, it won’t send a code. What’s up with that?
* Dealer Support. They’ve driven us to the O’Reillys, Pep Boys and junk yards of the nation. The dealers do exactly zip for you if you’re not under warranty. Unless you want to pay their outrageous overhead, which I will not. Don’t source parts from them. You can buy a whole wreck cheaper.
My rant is over, for now. Detroit started to blow it with the automatic choke. It was all down hill from there for the do it yourselfer!
Speaking of Cadddylax, is there a more over-priced car on the road? You can easily get over $70K for an optioned out CTS.
That’s getting into AMG Merc territory.
Jeremy Clarkson would be a walking FCC fine here. :->
I wonder about the carbon footprint thing. If we kept our old vehicles and made the updates; EFI, etc., how much lower would the total footprint be if we weren’t constantly grinding and remanufacturing?
I think we are of the same mind. I too am glad they don’t make cars the way they used to. Back in the 60’s we’d drive to KS from CA and take an extra set of belts and hoses, a starter, generator, water pump, fule pump, etc... cuz before the trip was over, at least one of those things would fail.
I buy new and get rid of my vehicles before they start having problems, which generally means I dump them before 175K.
I had a 4cyl 25 mph...Toyota Starlet.
I agree with most of what you write. My specific complaint is with a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado P/U. No more than six months passed after I bought it (in 2007) that the entire console panel had to be replaced. All those bells and whistles, I am sure, contributed to that. Extra built-in crap that can—and does—go bad.
When I was sixteen my Brother's Best Friend, in a moment of pity I'm sure, let me drive his Red 69 Roadrunner 4 speed 383. He just threw me the keys and told me to go pickup a pack of cigarettes for him. It took me about a half hour to drive the four blocks and back.
Went to a drive through Dairy, (remember those?), and even though I was too young to buy tobacco, the guy couldn't keep his eyes off the car and tossed me a pack of Winston's.
Those were the days. I've owned a 55 Chevy, a 69 Chevelle, a Corvette Convertible, a Porsche 911, you name it. That Roadrunner still has a place in my heart. Someday before I die, I'll have to get me one of those suckers.
I remember every detail. The white interior, the beep-beep horn, the flat black painted hood and the Hurst T Handle shifter.
My Brother still has a 32 Ford 5 Window Deuce Coupe. He built it when he was 16 and he is 63 now. If I outlive him, it's mine. (If his Wife lets me take it home) LOL
Sorry for the long story. Those good old days still make me smile. The middle 70’s doomed the cars I loved.
We run diesels at work up to 800,000 or so.
Why can’t you take a trip with a 30 year old vehicle and a set of tools with an extra fuel pump, distributor, water pump, alternator, starter, etc. and get there just the same?
I’m still in KS and we still do that, and we still get there.
What American car do you have with a 265 hp 4 cylinder?
Or are you talking about eh pits of reliability VW?
My latest check engine light was a gas cap that my wife failed to tighten.
The late 60’s and the early pre-emissions 70’s was the Heyday for american muscle cars. Power disc brakes added alot to their viability.
21 cent gas.
Cars can run a long time, and keep getting rebuilt. If they did gas motors like diesels, you could resleeve them.
Nothing has to die and be crushed and ground up, unless that’s the plan ( which it is)
You can computerize anything- just make it robust and decipherable and repairable.
I wish I had an 83 starlet... RWD. 42\54 mpg, carry a crap load of stuff
Husband started work at Ford in 79. His first job was dealing with EPA paperwork. When the government gets involved things get worse and costs more.
I came of age to drive, 1975
Extra points for rhyming. :-)
1973 for me.
1955 time for me to drive
Why? There is absolutely no correlation (much less causation) between CO2 in the atmosphere and "Climate Change" for as far back as we can get reliable readings. It is not a serious issue for competent scientists without a left wing agenda.
Don't you read the threads on the "Man Caused Global Warming" hoax on the threads here?
A technician replaces parts to fix the car.
A mechanic fixes the problem the re-installs the part to fix the car. Dealerships employ technicians.
I agree with your point on Porsche vs. Corvette, but damn, I’d really love a ZR1 or a CTS-V.
My friend has had 2 911 Turbos, a Lamborghini Gallardo, and now a Nissan GTR in the last 4 years. The Porsches have been the best overall, considering fit, finish, performance, and every day livability. The Lambo was a real head turner, but man its ride was really stiff for every-day driving and the interior wasn’t as nice as I was expecting for a $230,000 car (Spyder). He got rid of it because he was sick of getting it towed 350 miles one-way every 5,000 miles for an oil change, besides the other problems he had with it.
The GTR, for 1/2 the price of his Porsches, and 1/3 the price of his Lambo, is a steal. It’s the most livable as a daily driver and its portly figure is compensated well by the engine and electronics. The interior is better than the ZR1 by a mile and almost on par with the Porsches. His only problem with it is that it says “Nissan” (and that it isn’t a manual tranny).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.