jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
After reading the series of posts about ABS, traction control, and other automotive related things, here are some of my thoughts about some of the newer features...... and what would constitute a deal breaker for me.
Leather interior. HATE them. Simply uncomfortable. Like sitting in a sauna in the summer, like sitting on a cold concrete block in the winter. Heated seats alleviate some of that, but still uncomfortable in the summer. Also, they do not hold up. Modern fabrics seem to last the life of a car. Leather seats start looking bad after just a few years with their cracking and wrinkling and the like.
Start button. As with ANY mechanical system controlled by computers, there are potentials for failures. First objection is the relative unreliability of those key fobs. Guaranteed to fail at the worst possible time. Miles from home (and the spare) and battery goes dead in the fob. Result is hundreds of dollars in expenses to resolve the issue and regain use of your expensive and shiny new car. Then there is that computer controlled starter that goes with that system. When you get that bad spot in the flywheel, a failed starter drive, or a weak battery, what does the computer do? Keep trying to start? Grind the starter until there is nothing left? Drain the battery to nothing? Or just leave you stranded.
Battery killers as I call them are another pet peeve. Some cars turn on the entire complement of exterior lights as soon as you turn the ignition on. So, when you go to start your car in subzero weather, would it make sense to turn on your headlights before attempting to start the car?? Some manufacturers seem to think that is a good idea. Or, do you need the headlights to stay on for an extended period of time AFTER you turn off the car and light switches?? All the while draining the battery that you will be depending on to start the car tomorrow morning.
CVT or "shiftless" transmissions. These transmissions are fine while they work. BUT, when the quit, they are enormously expensive to replace, and for the most part not repairable. Some parts can be replaced, but the cost is prohibitive. Some are simply not repairable. Not like the more reliable transmissions with clutches, bands, and planetary gear sets.
Now, before everybody starts flaming me, here is something to think about - these accessories are making a formerly $4,000 economy car cost $20,000 these days. Also, I do not condemn all modern technology as applied to cars. Items like electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, ABS, traction control, and the like are nothing short of WONDERFUL!!!
Leather interior. HATE them. Simply uncomfortable. Like sitting in a sauna in the summer, like sitting on a cold concrete block in the winter. Heated seats alleviate some of that, but still uncomfortable in the summer. Also, they do not hold up. Modern fabrics seem to last the life of a car. Leather seats start looking bad after just a few years with their cracking and wrinkling and the like.
Start button. As with ANY mechanical system controlled by computers, there are potentials for failures. First objection is the relative unreliability of those key fobs. Guaranteed to fail at the worst possible time. Miles from home (and the spare) and battery goes dead in the fob. Result is hundreds of dollars in expenses to resolve the issue and regain use of your expensive and shiny new car. Then there is that computer controlled starter that goes with that system. When you get that bad spot in the flywheel, a failed starter drive, or a weak battery, what does the computer do? Keep trying to start? Grind the starter until there is nothing left? Drain the battery to nothing? Or just leave you stranded.
Battery killers as I call them are another pet peeve. Some cars turn on the entire complement of exterior lights as soon as you turn the ignition on. So, when you go to start your car in subzero weather, would it make sense to turn on your headlights before attempting to start the car?? Some manufacturers seem to think that is a good idea. Or, do you need the headlights to stay on for an extended period of time AFTER you turn off the car and light switches?? All the while draining the battery that you will be depending on to start the car tomorrow morning.
CVT or "shiftless" transmissions. These transmissions are fine while they work. BUT, when the quit, they are enormously expensive to replace, and for the most part not repairable. Some parts can be replaced, but the cost is prohibitive. Some are simply not repairable. Not like the more reliable transmissions with clutches, bands, and planetary gear sets.
Now, before everybody starts flaming me, here is something to think about - these accessories are making a formerly $4,000 economy car cost $20,000 these days. Also, I do not condemn all modern technology as applied to cars. Items like electronic fuel injection, electronic ignition, ABS, traction control, and the like are nothing short of WONDERFUL!!!