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Topic: They dont make them like this any more (Read 534 times) previous topic - next topic

They dont make them like this any more

Reply #1 –
Gotta disagree with a few things in that article. The statement that cars are lucky to last 5-10 years and attain 100k miles is ludicrous. Modern cars are built to last far longer than they ever were. Modern coatings help prevent rust, modern machining & fabrication makes engines last practically forever (probably 90% of the cars in junkyards had perfectly good engines when dumped there), and modern fuel and spark control make vehicles essentially maintenance free. Hell, manufacturers are even offering warranties in the 100k mile range (GM power train is 5/100, Hyundai/Kia is 10/100). A car that didn't last 100,000k and still be in nearly perfect running order would be an embarrassment to any manufacturer.

Hell, two of my own vehicles have over 100k (the 300 is right around 100k, the Dakota is at about 120) and both are getting up there age-wise as well (7 years for the 300, 9 for the Dakota) and neither has any rust at all (though admittedly the Dakota is rare in that respect). And these are CHRYSLER products, for Christ's sake...

That being said, new vehicles do have a few things against them for longevity. When they do break they're more expensive to fix, and when they get wrecked they're pretty much throwaway cars. And since most modern cars have no potential for future desirability there will be few that are taken care of and held onto. But as for how long they last or how well they're built? Gimme a modern vehicle any day. That's why my future plans are to get a classic car and stuff it with modern drivetrain and electronics...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

They dont make them like this any more

Reply #2 –
I remember watching the video about her last year. Is it a stick? No mention of suspension bushings/trunions/kingpins/balljoints anything like that, same with the rear end, transmission, actually I don't know if they said anything about the motor either! Some people rack up huge miles on old pushrod engines. Obviously factoring in a mild wimpy cam profile to be fair, can a non-roller cam really go a couple hundred thou? I can't help but have a knee-jerk reaction to driving a muscle car or say my '38 Buick real far because I feel like the cam would wear while everything else still has plenty of life in it.
 
Also Carm, something my diesel-mechanic friend mentioned to me, the government, so he says (I don't remember reading this anywhere but I'd assume down the hierarchy of his employer he heard this) now mandates emission control systems must be warrantied for 100k. And thus, things like dumping fuel/burning excess oil will destroy or render the cat useless, so they have had to step up engine durability and thus offer these "100k Powertrain Warranty" campaigns. Never woulda thought of that.
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

They dont make them like this any more

Reply #3 –
"major" emissions equipment (PCM and converters) are 8 year, 80,000 miles. Every other piece of emissions equipment falls under the comprehensive warranty.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

They dont make them like this any more

Reply #4 –
Ohhh no kiddin. Still it probably pushes for a program like that.
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane
 

They dont make them like this any more

Reply #5 –
a lot of cars in the 90's were produced as 'throw away cars'.. i.e. - hondas, hyundais, some of the cheaper big 3 cars.. low dollar meant you got what you paid for.. my mom bought a brand new hyundai accent in late 96 (97 model) and it pushed it's way to 125k before things started jumping head first into the toilet.. it was properly maintained by me (funny thought, a 12 year old handling oil changes, tune ups and things of the sort LOL) and still started failing relatively 'early..' but what do you expect from a car that only cost $10k after tags, tax and title fees lol

funny side note.. i traded that POS with a blown head gasket for my 79 Z28 :mullet:
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver