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Full set of accurate gauges is missing from a lot of modern cars...
With actual numbers on them, no less. I want to see the actual engine RPMs, actual temperature of the coolant, the actual pressure of the engine oil, and the actual voltage of the battery.
I particularly dislike it when manufacturers fail to install a pyrometer, a boost gauge, and a fuel pressure gauge on diesel powered vehicles.
My dad's 1957 Chrysler New Yorker wagon had an underdash record player. No, I don't miss that, but I do miss the real 392 hemi under the hood on that beast.
I was thinking of this option as a friends dad had this too...
He was describing it to someone at a party and the guy said I have a friend with one and it turned out to be the same car bought new by my friends dad all those years ago...
Split bench seats. Button and tufted velour seats (think mid 1980s Chrysler New Yorker).
They were comfy for an hour or two, but after that the lack of lumbar or lateral (thigh) support became painfully obvious. Velour.....I don't miss....cloth, maybe, but not velour.
All three of our cars have the "cornering" light feature. The headlights don't actually turn (I don't know any model of car where that happens, except for the original Tucker) but when you turn the steering wheel, another bulb lights up to illuminate the corner.
One thing I miss... an actual powered antenna. All my cars now have integrated antennas, either in the windshield, or rear glass, or rear spoiler, and it seems to me I got much better reception back when cars used to have an actual antenna that went up.
Other than that, I think modern cars have generally improved upon older cars in every way.
One of the most common names for headlights that turn based on steering input is "Adaptive Lighting System" or something similar. I know it's optional on numerous Mazda models.
As for power antennas, I hated them because they always broke (wouldn't go up/down or got stuck in between) after a year or two. On two of my mom's mid-80s Oldsmobiles and my '85 Nissan 300ZX, they were all locked at half mast (and the motor was shot).
A lot of newer cars have a small 'shark fin' antenna on the roof and it seems to work very well. I agree that the ones integrated into the rear window are horrible.
EXACTLY! A can of 'Fix-a-flat' and a cheap air compressor doesn't cut it!
The 'run-flat' tires on some cars (most/all BMWs, for example) are not a good solution either. They ride rough (due to the sidewall being so rigid that it can support the car without any air in the tire) and once you drive on a flat, it's shot. You're stuck buying a new $300+ tire...
Give me a freakin' spare tire (a donut is fine), a jack and a lug wrench and I'm a happy camper!
You mean that soft spongy steering common on older US cars where you could turn the wheel with your pinky? That is one thing I do not miss....
I don't miss the old spongy steering that gave no feedback and had at least 1/8th of a turn of play when you were driving in a straight line.
But I do kinda miss Honda's early speed-sensitive power steering (from the 80s). I had an '88 Accord that you could turn with one finger at parking lot speeds, but no power assist above 35-40mph. It was nice.
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