Rants about newer vehicles

[thoseTruckingElectronics!]

As an electronics person, all I can say is...

Don't buy the newer stuff (unless it's zero-emission), because it is HORRIBLE (and honestly, don't even get me started on the ECU code)!

In fact, it's gotten so bad that I'm thinking of doing what I call an "elec-to-mechanical" (a pun on electromechanical) conversion, in which I will basically rip out all the electronics in the powertrain and replace them with their mechanical equivalents. Frankly, I just can't see any other way to do it.

Then I get to use all those salvaged electronics for my own projects (*insert victory dance here*) and I don't have to deal with any more electronic-related breakdowns!

OK, OK, it might sound crazy, but I would much rather own a vehicle I can repair than one that I can't even begin to understand, even having been in electronics for many years now.

 

[Electric Chicken]

As an electronics person, all I can say is...

Don't buy the newer stuff (unless it's zero-emission), because it is HORRIBLE (and honestly, don't even get me started on the ECU code)!

In fact, it's gotten so bad that I'm thinking of doing what I call an "elec-to-mechanical" (a pun on electromechanical) conversion, in which I will basically rip out all the electronics in the powertrain and replace them with their mechanical equivalents. Frankly, I just can't see any other way to do it.

Then I get to use all those salvaged electronics for my own projects (*insert victory dance here*) and I don't have to deal with any more electronic-related breakdowns!

OK, OK, it might sound crazy, but I would much rather own a vehicle I can repair than one that I can't even begin to understand, even having been in electronics for many years now.

Just get an old car and restore it instead. It'd be a lot easier.

 

[thoseTruckingElectronics!]

Just get an old car and restore it instead. It'd be a lot easier.

Easier, yes. But more fun? Well...

Personally, I'd like to experience the challenge of an "elec-to-mechanical" conversion, as I call it. I'd be able to greatly expand my mechanical skills while I'm at it (and save a fortune on electronics parts)!

 

[THBatMan8]

Cars look too generic these days. Can't just look at one and tell the difference anymore.


It was almost unheard of to get 150K out of older vehicles.

Just sayin'.

Thread bump, but there's a reason why most cars look generic, and that's due to safety and EPA standards. The newer bodies are designed to take the blunt force of impacts, which is why they're made of fiberglass and plastics. There's numerous videos out on YouTube of the NTSB testing the survivability of crashes between older and newer cars. One of my favorites they did was a 30 mph head on offset collision between a 2012 Malibu and a 1957 BelAir. You would have to use the Jaws of life to extract the person out of the Malibu, but they'd walk away with minor cuts and bruises. The injuries from the BelAir would be fatal.

 

[r3gulator3]

Thread bump, but there's a reason why most cars look generic, and that's due to safety and EPA standards. The newer bodies are designed to take the blunt force of impacts, which is why they're made of fiberglass and plastics. There's numerous videos out on YouTube of the NTSB testing the survivability of crashes between older and newer cars. One of my favorites they did was a 30 mph head on offset collision between a 2012 Malibu and a 1957 BelAir. You would have to use the Jaws of life to extract the person out of the Malibu, but they'd walk away with minor cuts and bruises. The injuries from the BelAir would be fatal.

Which is the problem I have with the required saftey features on cars. It has eliminated a large portion of natural selection that we had for years. Now we have to hope that people will start eating their young again.

 

[seenzoned]

Only have 2 cars, a 1988 S 4WD wrangler and a 2008 commander. I agree that parts now are really pricey. Purchased this spring https://www.jeepsareus.com/sku/p5153728.html for $400 that I am still paying this for 3 months. I guess manufacturers intend to do that so consumers would feel that "oh this product is quality because of its value" and it is really frustrating. My 1988 wrangler up to this day is still working, only have few minor problems with the engine but the exterior parts of it are still working or in good shape.