Gas Prices Rising

[shiny!]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

new model sports sedan thing. I do not remember now (it was 6 months ago). It just stopped functioning, in the middle of the road.

I suspect it was just a bad car out of the bunch. But, it scared the hell out of my wife. She did not want to buy a Korean car to begin with. I hate when she is right too.

That would've scared the hell out of me, too. I wish they made cars simple like they used to. All these computers are too complicated. Most people can't work on their own cars anymore.

[DSpencer]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

That would've scared the hell out of me, too. I wish they made cars simple like they used to. All these computers are too complicated. Most people can't work on their own cars anymore.

It's true that it's more difficult to work on your own car now. However, would you really trade the improvements in fuel efficiency and performance for that? I'm guessing what you really want is a car that performs like a modern car but is so easy you can fix it yourself.

[Polish_Silver]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

It's true that it's more difficult to work on your own car now. However, would you really trade the improvements in fuel efficiency and performance for that? I'm guessing what you really want is a car that performs like a modern car but is so easy you can fix it yourself.

The periodic maintenance is far lower now than 30 years ago. Spark plugs last about 10X longer, partly due to the unleaded fuel. Oil changes used to be 2500 miles. Mechanical repairs are much more complex, more specialty tools required, etc. But engines are lasting almost forever.

[shiny!]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

It's true that it's more difficult to work on your own car now. However, would you really trade the improvements in fuel efficiency and performance for that? I'm guessing what you really want is a car that performs like a modern car but is so easy you can fix it yourself.

The 1939 Morgan got 40 MPG and had no computers. I used to ride around in one when I was a kid. My Crown Vic didn't have computers and went over 200,000 miles. It wasn't the engine that failed at that point, it was my mechanic. He overlooked the cracked distributer cap that was making it stall out. I gave the car to my neighbor whose boyfriend figured out what was wrong with it and fixed it. Backyard mechanics could fix those cars cheap.

[DSpencer]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

The 1939 Morgan got 40 MPG and had no computers. I used to ride around in one when I was a kid. My Crown Vic didn't have computers and went over 200,000 miles. It wasn't the engine that failed at that point, it was my mechanic. He overlooked the cracked distributer cap that was making it stall out. I gave the car to my neighbor whose boyfriend figured out what was wrong with it and fixed it. Backyard mechanics could fix those cars cheap.

Where is a source for this 40 mpg? Is that imperial gallons or US?

Not saying it was a bad car for the time, but think about if you took your Hyundai Accent back to that time. Imagine a head to head comparison in a few areas: Speed, handling, comfort, safety, passenger/cargo capacity, performance in inclement weather. Can you think of one that would even be close? And at the end of the day I'd bet money that if you just drove both cars until they stopped running/wouldn't start for the first time you would be driving your Accent about 10 times as long. And the Accent still gets about the same gas mileage while lugging around your airbags, radio, etc etc.

Your Accent would seem like a super car from another planet. And if it did break down, the mechanic could plug in a device with a reasonable chance of the car telling him/her what is broken.

[BadJuju]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

I think people wax nostalgic about their old vehicles and forget about the many numerous improvements, much of which has occurred under the hood, over the intervening years. DSPencer is right. Automotive technology, which certainly more complex, is vastly superior to what it was back then on a number of accounts.

[globaleconomicollaps]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

I think people wax nostalgic about their old vehicles and forget about the many numerous improvements, much of which has occurred under the hood, over the intervening years. DSPencer is right. Automotive technology, which certainly more complex, is vastly superior to what it was back then on a number of accounts.

Nothing will EVER beat this:

[BadJuju]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

It sho is purty!

[shiny!]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

Bottom line: I prefer simplicity to complexity, and systems that I have some control over to systems that I have no control over.

[lektrode]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

Bottom line: I prefer simplicity to complexity, and systems that I have some control over to systems that I have no control over.

+1
that ole axiom of the apple computer crowd vs the pc: "tis better to sit back in coach and watch the movie" than to spend 1/2 yer life muckin about with the controls - comes to mind.

and sometime after the mid 90's most of the cars got waaaay too techie, even for a guy like me to be 'comfortable' with.

and the biggest problems wont be realized by the first owner (wrrt and/or only keeping em for 3-5yrs) - it'll be the 2nd and succeeding owners who will get stuck with the repair bills.

thats the thing that bothers me about 'the cars of the future' - nobody will know how to fix em, beyond a certain point....
and we are already seeing this, with the computerized diagnostics - something not 'quite right' ? (like say yer emissions are 1% off spec) = no problem, we'll just swap out this $500 'module' (that isnt possible to repair) and that should fixer right up...
oh - well, that wasnt it, but there's no returns on these babies once installed and well... we actually need to swap this one too - there - yer all set - the emissions are now 'within spec' and now you can get your inspection sticker....

gee - aint that swell - only 1000bux for a 1% 'improvement'.... boy do i feel enviromentally correct now!

[DSpencer]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

+1
that ole axiom of the apple computer crowd vs the pc: "tis better to sit back in coach and watch the movie" than to spend 1/2 yer life muckin about with the controls - comes to mind.

and sometime after the mid 90's most of the cars got waaaay too techie, even for a guy like me to be 'comfortable' with.

and the biggest problems wont be realized by the first owner (wrrt and/or only keeping em for 3-5yrs) - it'll be the 2nd and succeeding owners who will get stuck with the repair bills.

thats the thing that bothers me about 'the cars of the future' - nobody will know how to fix em, beyond a certain point....
and we are already seeing this, with the computerized diagnostics - something not 'quite right' ? (like say yer emissions are 1% off spec) = no problem, we'll just swap out this $500 'module' (that isnt possible to repair) and that should fixer right up...
oh - well, that wasnt it, but there's no returns on these babies once installed and well... we actually need to swap this one too - there - yer all set - the emissions are now 'within spec' and now you can get your inspection sticker....

gee - aint that swell - only 1000bux for a 1% 'improvement'.... boy do i feel enviromentally correct now!

Obviously the auto repair industry has had a bad rep for a while. However, don't confuse the problems of government standards with technology.

[don]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

Gas here in Florida is currently at $3.99/gal.

[jpetr48]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

Gas here in Florida is currently at $3.99/gal.

got you beat Don- we are at over $5 in LA. Where i live in OC it is $4.30. last week i was in Golden Co and it was $3.35.
In the big picture FL is winning with no state income tax- CA will soon become the France of the US.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/...-to-southland/

[BadJuju]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

"I pay 75 bucks like three times a week to come to work,” said one woman. “You have to work to eat…if you don’t work, you don’t eat."

What the heck does she drive and how far does she drive? At $5, she is consuming 45 gallons a week. If we assume that she is getting US average of 23 mpg for combined vehicle mileage (trucks and cars) in 2010, that's 1035 miles a week.

I also like how the first comment on the article is politicized as usual. People really have no clue and are completely misdirected.

[don]

Re: Gas Prices Rising

In related news I need to shop around for a commute car for the Big Boss. Any suggestions?