Am I too "Anti new car"?

[Shannow]

Sir Harry Ricardo, 90 years ago had engines with 4:1 compression ration, carburettors, and running on kerosene devlop better than 0.45 lb/hphr BSFC.

Not much these days will better that.

Power density is a different matter, as his 200hp engine was 6 cylinders, 186 c.i. per cylinder.

Look at the 1948 holden. Seatd 5 people. Did the speed limit comfortably, and got 30 plus miles per imperial gallon.

Modern Commondores seat 5 people, travel at the speed limit comfortably (well they can do twice the limt, but that's not possible). They get around 30 miles per imperial gallon.

Not much progress unless you count bells and whistles.

 

[Torino]

I am also "anti new car". My 40 year old Mustang (warmed over) is EXTREMLY reliable even when flogged around in the SouthWest desert heat. It has character, personality and is worth more each year. Yes Virginia, it is safe and can easily pass your plastic heap at 140+. Did I say safe? Is your vehicle certified to run at Bonneville at high speeds? Probably not. SeeeeYaaaa. jhon.

 

[Gene K]

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As far as antilock brakes go, they may be worthless in the sand, however they're great in ice and snow.

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Incorrect! They are helpful in keeping a car going straight in ice. However in Snow they increase stopping distances for the same reason they do in sand. You can not build a "braking wedge" in front of the tire to stop you. If most companies did not believe you were stupid to be trusted with a on/off switch for the ABS this would not even be a issue.

The most effective vehicle for braking in Snow is a 4WD with a locked transfer case as this effectively equalizes brake balance while at the same time allowing you to lock both ends to build a "snow wedge".

Thankfully many new 4x4 vehicles now disable the ABS when in Low Range. Many other vehicles can have the ABS disabled by the removal of a fuse. If all else fails you can install a switch in the control circuit.

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Bull. I've driven in snow and ice my entire life, and I much prefer a vehicle with ABS as opposed to one without.

Although I prefer to go slow enough so I don't need a "braking wedge". I've usually found that people that claim they don't work are those who either don't know how to correctly use them or drive to fast for conditions to begin with.

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Personally I have around 2.5 Million Miles myself. I stand by my statement on a "Snow Wedge". The problem usually occurs at speeds below 10 mph were just when you almost stopped tha ABS cuts in allows the vehicle to continue at a low roll for 50' when if the ABS had not cut in you would have been stopped in 6'. It really seems to me like an issue with the ABS control Algorithm not allowing the ABS to cut off at a high enough speed.

Repeated testing has shown significant increase in stopping distance in snow with ABS.

 

[Kestas]

It's been said that if you were to build one of the cheaper cars from the 60s using today's technology and the 60s requirements, it would cost around $10K.

 

[oilyriser]

I need to install an ABS kill switch one day, to prevent that hovercraft effect in deep snow.