Re: Did you ever think you would see the end of american cars?
[Re: Faust]
#2906073
04/04/21 10:23 AM
04/04/21 10:23 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,918 Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,918
Calgary, Alberta Canada
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I am saddened by the loss of American cars. But I do wonder about the future for kids. Someone above mentioned that it would take three years pay for a low wage kid to buy any worthwhile car. I expect that they should diminish in value quickly. All of the computer controls will be the death of them. For instance, I have an '05 Volvo wagon, that I like a lot and have had for a long time. Recently, I lost high beams. The high beam relay is now built into the "Electronic Control Module". OK, $900 for the module, $300 for stealer to reprogram, and I didn't even ask about labor to replace it. So, something over $1200 and what have I regained? High beams, amazing. Fortunately I was a "car kid". I installed a "radio shack" switch, ran power to the high beam fuse and now I have high beams (but inconvenient). Still, it is reasonable to expect a relay to fail, so you build it into a $900 module where it is not independently serviceable. Great. No wonder the Consumer Magazines recommend that you get out of a "luxury" car when the warranty expires.
It was all made clear to me years ago. I was at an auto show and was looking over the '93 Seville with the Northstar (I shouldn't even write that word). The motor was transverse and I mentioned to the salesman that it must be quite a job to replace spark plugs. He said "they last 100,000 miles". I mentioned that sooner or later they would need replacement. He replied "We don't sell used cars". I guess Cadillac survived the Northstar with a pretty good hit to their reputation (some remember the 4-6-8). Then they gave us the 3.6. I really don't know who was running GM, but as they say "When small men cast long shadows, the sun is going down". It started long ago on Nth American vehicles . . . was going to meet up friends at car show, 2hrs from home. Got call from buddy, asking me if I had spare voltage regulator for 70's Mopar . . sure I could bring with me - told me his 93 Cummins had no charge, and full field tested his alternator, and got full charge. So the regulator - which is built into the computer, was toast . . . no need to change the computer, just wire in external regulator and all is good . . . (yup, had the connector as well as the regulator) . . . fast forward to today - and yup, it will be the electronic modules that are going to kill the vehicles . . .
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Re: Did you ever think you would see the end of american cars?
[Re: a12rag]
#2907317
04/06/21 02:02 PM
04/06/21 02:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,018 Morningside
AdventurerSport
waaaay out there in left field
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waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,018
Morningside
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Electric cars are fine for short distances, but maybe this will re-vitalize local economies? Seems that more and more and more folks drive seriously long distances to shop, go out to eat, buy groceries, get mail, and even to work. With working from home increasing every day, and our infastructure crumbling away (bad roads, bridges, etc), maybe the younger generation will drive less? Long term, could benefit the car guys, as gasoline will be around for some time for older vehicles, lawn mowers, boats, motorcycles, trucks, etc. and may make our old school vehicles simply weekend vehicles for fun. Daily driver may be electric, fun weekend vehicles can run on fuel.
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
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