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I have been driving since 1974. All sorts of cars up to today.
I think vehicles made today overall are VASTLY better than the cars of the past. I think the 1970s might have been the worst, especially domestics.
Newer vehicles:
- are incredibly reliable and need almost no maintenance except oil changes for 100K miles. No points, no distributor, plugs last 100K miles, they don' overheat.
- newer vehicles start immediately no matter what the temperature.
- don't rust
- stop far better
- are quieter, idle much smoother
- far more powerful, quicker, with good fuel economy; An old TransAm is just a dog compared to a V6 Accord.
- handle much better. You can go 50 MPH on a cloverleaf instead of squealing your tires at 25 MPH.
- better steering. No more of that sloppy on center behavior of old recirculating ball steering
- more comfortable (for me). I don't want a sofa in my car. I like bucket seats.
- climate control is better - even cheap cars have good A/C these days. They never lose freon anymore.
That doesn't mean I like everything about new cars. Some older cars have character and charm missing from lots of cars today. To me that means cars like a 1964 Lincoln Continental or 1967 Corvette. 1st gen Firebirds. Thunderbirds.
I also think new cars have too many nanny features. Lane change detectors. Radar cruise control. I also think touch screen controls are generally awful, and I don't like integration between audio and climate control.
What I really miss about the old cars was that they changed every year. Even if it was just tail lights or something, you could usually visually tell the difference between a 1974 and 1975 car. Now, due to manufacturing process, and required crash testing and such, there are less visual changes between model years.
This was incredibly wasteful of production resources. Also likely to raise long term costs substantially because parts would have to be maintained for a long time. It also decreases resale value rapidly.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Our current vehicles are 2007 & 2014, and while we like them both the electronics controlling everything, while improving safety and convenience, are just more problems waiting to happen. It almost forces people to pay for an extended (factory) warranty. I was forced to sell my 1972 El Camino during the recession, but currently I'm looking at 1968-72 Novas (already have a truck now). What I really miss about the 60s-early 70s cars is the smells of unburned fuel out the exhaust and even minor oil drips spilled onto the headers. Also the raw power of a big block V8, the sounds of sucking air through a big 4 barrel carburetor, and 2.5" dual exhaust with Flowmasters. Yes, those bench seats were uncomfortable, and you may have to convert to disc brakes for stopping power on some of them, there were no airbags and the seat belts were not as effective, but the fun is worth it.
Our current vehicles are 2007 & 2014, and while we like them both the electronics controlling everything, while improving safety and convenience, are just more problems waiting to happen. It almost forces people to pay for an extended (factory) warranty. I was forced to sell my 1972 El Camino during the recession, but currently I'm looking at 1968-72 Novas (already have a truck now). What I really miss about the 60s-early 70s cars is the smells of unburned fuel out the exhaust and even minor oil drips spilled onto the headers. Also the raw power of a big block V8, the sounds of sucking air through a big 4 barrel carburetor, and 2.5" dual exhaust with Flowmasters. Yes, those bench seats were uncomfortable, and you may have to convert to disc brakes for stopping power on some of them, there were no airbags and the seat belts were not as effective, but the fun is worth it.
I think that's an old school thought. New cars are technically easier to diagnose because everything is computer controlled once it is connected to the system any car tech can determine what is wrong. It is like fixing a computer today.
The problem is that every car mfg have different systems and they are becoming more standardized today so repairing cars are now much easier. The use of interchangeable parts also makes it easier to find OEM replacement today than you 70-90s cars that had hard to find parts.
I say that you're 100% on target concerning the ease of repairs/maintenance on the older vehicles. I used to do the tune-ups myself on my vehicles every fall as the weather cooled down. Nowadays, I just don't have a garage with $100,000 worth of diagnostics/code readers/etc to do the job. But the new vehicles don't need that annual tune-up, either. Spark plugs last about 50,000 miles nowadays.
Overall though, I have to admit that today's vehicles are better. Except for the styling. Most are really bland and uninteresting.
I have been driving since 1974. All sorts of cars up to today.
I think vehicles made today overall are VASTLY better than the cars of the past. I think the 1970s might have been the worst, especially domestics.
Newer vehicles:
- are incredibly reliable and need almost no maintenance except oil changes for 100K miles. No points, no distributor, plugs last 100K miles, they don' overheat.
- newer vehicles start immediately no matter what the temperature.
- don't rust
- stop far better
- are quieter, idle much smoother
- far more powerful, quicker, with good fuel economy; An old TransAm is just a dog compared to a V6 Accord.
- handle much better. You can go 50 MPH on a cloverleaf instead of squealing your tires at 25 MPH.
- better steering. No more of that sloppy on center behavior of old recirculating ball steering
- more comfortable (for me). I don't want a sofa in my car. I like bucket seats.
- climate control is better - even cheap cars have good A/C these days. They never lose freon anymore.
That doesn't mean I like everything about new cars. Some older cars have character and charm missing from lots of cars today. To me that means cars like a 1964 Lincoln Continental or 1967 Corvette. 1st gen Firebirds. Thunderbirds.
I also think new cars have too many nanny features. Lane change detectors. Radar cruise control. I also think touch screen controls are generally awful, and I don't like integration between audio and climate control.
I think the key points are that today's cars have much higher standard equipment than the past. You used to have to buy a luxury car to get climate controls and traction control.
The difference is that a lot of car makers do cut corners in economy cars so many buyers don't feel the quality is there.
Most cars today from luxury down to economy share a lot of equipment like the platform, chasis, the differences are the performance related parts and interior amenities.
Most japanese car makers share platforms extensively, but American ones are now doing it very much so and the Europeans as slowly doing it too.
I say that you're 100% on target concerning the ease of repairs/maintenance on the older vehicles. I used to do the tune-ups myself on my vehicles every fall as the weather cooled down. Nowadays, I just don't have a garage with $100,000 worth of diagnostics/code readers/etc to do the job. But the new vehicles don't need that annual tune-up, either. Spark plugs last about 50,000 miles nowadays.
Overall though, I have to admit that today's vehicles are better. Except for the styling. Most are really bland and uninteresting.
A modern car, as you said, doesn't need much service. But even when it does - I think it is a gross exaggeration to say you needs lots of diagnostic equipment. Fixing brakes is still straightforward. Any disc brake is easier to maintain than drum brakes. Suspension, shocks, etc. are not difficult. Changing fluids is straightforward.
Lots of mechanical issues in today's engines are straightforward - valve adjustments, plugs, etc. It only gets difficult with engine electronics. But a $50 scanner can read the OBDII codes which speeds diagnosis.
I love some of the VWs of the past -- the Kharman Ghia is a personal fave of mine. But it would never be the main car.... with all the crazy people out there doing crazy things on the roads, I want all the safety stuff I can get my hands on, and I am willing to pay extra for it.
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