I am going to have to politely disagree with the conclusion.
It may pain you to accept this, but modern cars are superior in pretty much every way - including durability. Back in ye olden days, those seventies and eighties cars, you'd be lucky to get 80,000 miles on an engine before it had to be rebuilt or scrapped. Today, you can plan on at least three times that before you need to rebuild the motor.
The bodies last longer and survive accidents better, too. You know those stupid fucking little SMART cars with seating for like two people and a midget? Yeah, put one of those up against a 1980 Ford LTD - and the damned SMART car is gonna win every time. Those 80s cars would also rust out in fairly short order.
What has happened is that we view the past with rose-colored glasses. We see the cars that survived and remember those. However, they built MILLIONS of those damned things and they were pretty shitty cars.
So, I can't agree with your conclusions with those specific regards. Modern cars are fucking awesome. I own old cars and they're loads of fun - but a modern vehicle is superior in just about every way.
Oh, before you say that you can't repair modern cars - you can. In fact, people do it all the time. Upgrade your tools and understanding, and they're very repairable, though they require fewer repairs.
I love modern cars, 'cause I 'member having to drive older cars. They kinda sucked in all sorts of ways, at least compared to today.
Well you have to take one other thing into account when talking about older cars; The plethora of young mechanically-minded people willing and able to repair damage done to those old cars. These days the shadetree mechanic is a dying breed, and asking them to work on your 2017 Prius isn't going to have a happy result, meaning that your only option in getting them repaired is an obscenely high-priced dealership-backed shop.
Have you not seen current car culture? Those same kids are doing it, they're just now doing custom tunes and making their own engine mappings and things like that.
The car culture is very much still alive - and very, very healthy.
For example, there are now more drag strips than there have ever been in the USA. Racing gets more viewers than it has historically ever had - including in-person and at the track.
Car culture today is just as vibrant as it has ever been - but cars do need fewer repairs. So, they're mostly modifying and then repairing 'em when they break.
What it is, is different. It's not the old flatheads and gassers (though those are still being made), they're ricing out Honda Civic Type Rs and things like that.
It's still there. It still exists. It's still vibrant.
Use your favorite search engine and I suspect you're gonna be shocked. Start with "cars and coffee" and find the closest to you. Even better, find your nearest track and go to the next event.
Trust me, you'll love it!
It did kinda die down, but there's been a huge resurgence in the past decade. Car culture (including shade-tree mechanics) exist still. They just use laptops and a cable to the OBD port.
I'm somewhat aware of modern car culture because their interests often coincide with my own (I build computers as often as chance allows).
It's entirely possible that I'm not aware of the depth of such culture.
Maybe it's the fact that newer cars don't have the throaty rumble and lope of the old big-block engines that puts me off. I don't get nearly as excited about ricers with aftermarket fart-cans buzzing down the interstate.
1980 Ford LTD
Also , dissing the holy panther platform is a sin
However, they built MILLIONS of those damned things and they were pretty shitty cars.
God damn you. This is blasphemous
LOL
Sad but true, modern cars are more awesome.
Well, I am not necessarily fond of the looks, but some modern cars are still sexy.
As a whole, with the rise in regulations and fuckery we have streets filled with awful numb crossovers and SUVs that dont deserve that moniker.
Toyota is the biggest offender.
Honda hasn't made a fun car with maybe a handful of exceptions since the 1990s.
I refuse to even consider german vehicles , I have had newer Mercedes and BMW leave me on a flatbed a few times.
At least the old cars can be fixed with roadside tinkering, these new ones need to be towed every time something goes wrong.
Well, that's just like your opinion man.
I'm a diesel and v8 guy, always will be.
Mazda got their shit together and did alright in IMSA this year with they're SKYACTIV diesels.
I do love me a V8 and I have some love for the V12 and the W12. I also love a flat 4 and a straight six, now that I think about it.
I probably need like an intervention or some shit.
W12 phaeton is a phenomenal car for the money. If you're brave enough for the repairs.
Flat 6, cummins is king but the pre vanos BMW are very good smooth revving engines.
The older vtechs flat 4s I used to abuse thoroughly, they can take it.
As far as diesels, I like the new 6.7 powerstroke the best. Even with a heavy ass load and the DEF and EGR it hauls ass
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