Am i the only one really disliking SUVs?

[dishdude]

Well fortunately mine has a chain lol.

What's this 1994 Ford that you feel is the pinnacle of automotive engineering?

 

[AutoMechanic]

What's this 1994 Ford that you feel is the pinnacle of automotive engineering?

1994 Ford Econoline E-150

 

[Cujet]

It's simple... consumers largely stopped buying sedans and wagons. If there was a demand for them, they would still be on show room floors.

Yes, however there is a distinct reason for that.

CAFE standards signaled the end of the traditional large car and wagon, but the idea of marketing the minivan as a station wagon alternative, while certifying it in the separate truck category to allow compliance with less-strict CAFE standards. Eventually, this same idea led to the promotion of the SUV.

The definitions for cars and trucks are not the same for fuel economy and emission standards. For example, a Chrysler PT Cruiser is defined as a car for emissions purposes and a truck for fuel economy purposes.

 

[supton]

I dunno, my 90's ride feels just fine to me. Timing belt but non-interference. Highly optioned--it even has a power seat! Pretty fancy for a guy like me.

 

[dishdude]

1994 Ford Econoline E-150

You could buy the same thing new in 2014

Those vans were amazingly durable but most of the Ford cars from that era were turds even when they were new.

 

[AutoMechanic]

You could buy the same thing new in 2014

Those vans were amazingly durable but most of the Ford cars from that era were turds even when they were new.

You couldn’t get the 7 passenger conversion van in 2014 lol

 

[dishdude]

You couldn’t get the 7 passenger conversion van in 2014 lol

I'm sure there are still some van conversion companies out there, but I doubt they offer the VCR and CRT TV anymore

Please tell me this van is teal.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I'm sure there are still some van conversion companies out there, but I doubt they offer the VCR and CRT TV anymore

Please tell me this van is teal.

Nah it’s midnight blue with the Ideal USA pink and blue pinstripe package from Ford.

 

[PimTac]

1994 Ford Econoline E-150

I would have guessed a Chevrolet Carryall Suburban or a International TravelAll.

 

[OVERKILL]

I would have guessed a Chevrolet Carryall Suburban or a International TravelAll.

GMC Bun Wagon

 

[Ws6]

Oh yeah, those 90's cars were great until the timing belt sheared a few teeth off and destroyed the engine.

Huh? LSX is life, man. Timing belts have always been a fail in my book.

 

[Ws6]

You could buy the same thing new in 2014

Those vans were amazingly durable but most of the Ford cars from that era were turds even when they were new.

My Dad always had Ford vans. First, a good time van back when t hose were a "thing". Then work vans. None held up as well as his GMC2500 work vans, which, the last of, he got 438K miles out of it before the body rotted out (due to him hauling a carpet cleaning machine in it that sloshed water all over, and chemicals...not failure intrinsic to the vehicle. Trans and engine were fine, minus a few water pumps and alternator or two).

 

[redhat]

Well that’s good. The only thing me and my mechanic friends have found better for modern cars, suvs, trucks etc is the safety is the only thing better. I know guys who have done this for 30 years and tell me cars are disposable these days which I feel is true and I know guys who have done this for 3-4 years which have told me the same things some of which own modern cars. I’m sure that some are better than others on all aspects. But based on my moms car and the cars I have worked on ehh I wanna say the same thing my friends said and that is to stay as far away as possible. We have had nothing but issues with my moms car really between radiators and serpentine belts. I haven’t had to do anything like that to the old stuff until it really gets some age on it. A radiator should not have failed as soon as it did in less than 3 years neither should a serpentine belt which was fraying when we bought it but they wanted to argue about it because the mechanic who I worked along side who was the one to look at it said he wouldn’t do it because of low warranty pay. So I guess it could go either way really. And I totally respect everything you have told me and your experience and I’m not doubting it one bit at all.

What are these modern vehicles that formulates your "new vehicles are trash" opinion?

 

[redhat]

Lets take one example here, a K 1500 with a 350 versus a >1999 (and to keep fair is fair) up until 2013 Silverado 1500 with a 5.3.
- No cap and rotor to replace every time it rains
- No intake manifold that shares coolant passages and'll inevitably need IM gaskets
- (Dex-Cool doesn't eat the plastic carrier of my IM gaskets anymore thank you revised gaskets)
- Port-fuel injection (phenomenal) vs TBI and or Spider Injection
- Amazing-ly flowing stock heads (this is why LSx is a great platform)

All of those above, while mainly engine related, directly relate to the OE parts staying on the vehicle longer with less maintenance or interruption.

Especially in the segment of 1/2 ton trucks, they are now doing more than ever. 3.5 Ecoboost can tow more now than a mid-2000s 2500HD 6.0 was ever rated for.

I think you're mixing up the CUV into the SUV bucket and making a scrambled egg opinion statement. Sure, CUVs are out that are high ground clearance, traction-aided sedans. But real trucks and SUVs are still out there and doing more, capable of more, than ever in history.

 

[AutoMechanic]

What are these modern vehicles that formulates your "new vehicles are trash" opinion?

All of them. All are disposable nowadays, the only thing better in them is safety and that’s kinda questionable because cars are practically plastic these days. Chevrolet is the worst nothing like having one catch on fire to ruin your day. And the reliability on those is slim to none.

 

[RooflessVW]

Anything older than about 2005 or so.

Suit yourself. You're missing out on some great cars

All of them. All are disposable nowadays, the only thing better in them is safety and that’s kinda questionable because cars are practically plastic these days. Chevrolet is the worst nothing like having one catch on fire to ruin your day. And the reliability on those is slim to none.

Both of my cars '12 and '19 have been awesome. The Touareg is a tank. The Atlas has some iffy plastics but not like the lower trim levels.

Cars "being disposable" is more about the owners than the cars themselves. Old cars are junk. Only rose tinted glasses and decades of knowledge on how to fix trouble spots and common problems make it any other way.

 

[PimTac]

All of them. All are disposable nowadays, the only thing better in them is safety and that’s kinda questionable because cars are practically plastic these days. Chevrolet is the worst nothing like having one catch on fire to ruin your day. And the reliability on those is slim to none.

Nothing questionable about it. Cars are definitely safer way beyond what older cars were. A simple collision in the old days would cause you to hit your head on the hard steering wheel and fracture your skull.

This is sounding more like fishing than anything else.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Suit yourself. You're missing out on some great cars

Both of my cars '12 and '19 have been awesome. The Touareg is a tank. The Atlas has some iffy plastics but not like the lower trim levels.

Cars "being disposable" is more about the owners than the cars themselves. Old cars are junk. Only rose tinted glasses and decades of knowledge on how to fix trouble spots and common problems make it any other way.

I’m not too fond of modern Volkswagen lol. My moms Camry has given issues so that has made me not like modern cars and based on the issues I seen while working at the dealership and for my friend yeah I’m not buying anything made in the last 10-15 years. That’s fine if you and others do but I know my cars and won’t be spending thousands on repairs.

 

[redhat]

I think the ironic part is that 2005 is about 5 years off from when many manufacturers radically ventured away from similar if not the same mechanical designs.

 

[Jetronic]

I don't like CUV blocking my line of sight, but not enough to get one myself. Their money, their choice. Although I did have customer at the dealership complaining she can't get in or out of her Santa Fe (DM) if there's a comparable vehicle parked next to her. Yeah, they're on the big side for the infrastructure here... You know what she bought after that? A 2020 Santa Fe. Probably wasn't as big of an issue then...