Sometimes It’s Good That Cars Aren’t Built Like They Used To Be: COTD

Spend enough time in a car community, and you’re bound to see someone say that cars aren’t built like they used to be. Indeed, the cars of the past were hulking lumps of steel that didn’t have screens, app connectivity, AI, subscriptions, or any modern car features. But in some cases, this might be a good thing.

The Bishop asked you about the misconceptions your non-car-person friends have about cars. Tbird has a great one:

“They don’t build ’em like they used to.”

No, they don’t and we are all better off for it. We don’t change out sludgy oil every 3k. No regular spark plug, wire, cap and rotor replacement: plugs and coils are good for 100k or so. No recalcitrant carburators, chokes and leaking vacuum lines: EFI works every time, all the time. No coolant flushes every year or two: the chemistries are so much better and most on sale now is EZ pre-mix – just pick the right color. Fluids nowdays tend not to leak and engine accessories last 150k plus. I haven’t replaced an alternator or starter ever on any car in my fleet and all have 150+k. The ’07 Corolla goes in the shop tomorrow to fix a power steering leak (rusted hose fitting), but the other vehicles don’t even have hydraulic power steering.

Add in safety advances like crumple zones, safety cells, airbags, ABS….

I’m reminded of this infamous crash test:

RidesBicyclesButLovesCars:

My grandfather used to talk about how in the 50’s and 60’s you couldn’t complete a road trip even 1/3 of the way across the country without some type of mechanical issue. And here I was in the late 90’s doing that distance four times a year driving between home and college without any issues.

TheDrunkenWrench:

The advancements in fluids alone, is responsible for SO much more longevity.

It’s the definition of the saying “a rising tide raises all ships”. Regardless of when your car was made, modern fluids will increase reliability/longevity.

Squirrelmaster:

Probably the silliest thing I ever heard was a kid in college tell me I should have bought a Ford instead of my Chevy, because my 2500HD was only heavy-duty, while the Fords are super-duty. He was dead serious.

StillNotATony:

I remember when The Fast and the Furious first came out. One of my son’s friends said quite confidently that his first car was going ro be a Honda Civic, and he was going to put a Viper V10 in it.

I let that one go, as he was only 10 or so.

V10omous:

Now there’s a kid who’s going places!

StillNotATony:

At speed, straight into a wall.

ChefCJ:

He’s going place!

I wrote about the many Prop 65 warnings that you can find in California, especially on cars. The Stig’s Misanthropic Cousin:

It’s so people don’t eat their cars. Duh.

I got several bites into my sofa before coming across the Prop 65 warning. Now that I am aware it contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects, I leave it alone.

Have a great evening, everyone!

Top graphic image: IIHS