Well, people don't want car prices to go up, so they have to cut corners somewhere. I think VW has been pretty bad about this lately; the new Jettas aren't any more expensive than they were 5 years ago, and it shows: the interiors are much worse than before. In the early-to-mid 2000s, I would've argued that VW had some of the best interiors. Not the case anymore.
Quality of older cars
- Thread starter Falcon_LS
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Society is getting *dumbed down*. Nanny laws left and right so the government can save us from ourselves. No one has any survival skills or *street smarts* anymore. Wonder if anyone these days actually knows how to drive and control a vehicle,instead of having it control and drive itself.
New cars all seem disposable as well. I keep seeing these $50K+ cars that are only 3 or so years old that look and drive more like 20-30 year old worn out beaters. Flimsy plastic interior hardware is falling apart/broken. Exterior Transformeresque plastic body appendages are sun faded,dry rotted,and falling apart. Plastic headlights opaque and yellowed. What ever happened to proper glass headlights?
New cars all seem disposable as well. I keep seeing these $50K+ cars that are only 3 or so years old that look and drive more like 20-30 year old worn out beaters. Flimsy plastic interior hardware is falling apart/broken. Exterior Transformeresque plastic body appendages are sun faded,dry rotted,and falling apart. Plastic headlights opaque and yellowed. What ever happened to proper glass headlights?
My 09 Grand Marquis LS "ultimate" doesn't even have a lighted ignition switch!
John
John
My general thoughts:
-I hate "plush" seats. There's nothing more uncomfortable to me that the seats in '80's American cars. Meanwhile, the seats in my Freestyle are quite firm and incredibly comfortable. The "engineered leather" looks new after 150K. I'm actually pretty impressed. Cars the ride like whales also aren't my thing.
-agree on the horrible carpet in some cars (including my FS)
-I grew up in the city and have been parallel parking my entire life, much of it without power steering. I was annoyed that my current car came with parking sensors. I mean, I'm a parallel parking ninja, I don't need this nonsense? Guess what? I'm never going without them again. They work, and they're really useful if you parallel park frequently.
Overall, the quality on my 2005 Ford has been quite good. The interior plastics look and feel cheap, and the carpet is thin. However, no interior parts have broken, I've had no electrical issues and everything works as it should after 150K miles--and the interior has taken quite a beating since I'm always hauling stuff with it.
-I hate "plush" seats. There's nothing more uncomfortable to me that the seats in '80's American cars. Meanwhile, the seats in my Freestyle are quite firm and incredibly comfortable. The "engineered leather" looks new after 150K. I'm actually pretty impressed. Cars the ride like whales also aren't my thing.
-agree on the horrible carpet in some cars (including my FS)
-I grew up in the city and have been parallel parking my entire life, much of it without power steering. I was annoyed that my current car came with parking sensors. I mean, I'm a parallel parking ninja, I don't need this nonsense? Guess what? I'm never going without them again. They work, and they're really useful if you parallel park frequently.
Overall, the quality on my 2005 Ford has been quite good. The interior plastics look and feel cheap, and the carpet is thin. However, no interior parts have broken, I've had no electrical issues and everything works as it should after 150K miles--and the interior has taken quite a beating since I'm always hauling stuff with it.
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
It's not a Panther, but a Fox...
It is a true joy to drive. The biggest downfall is the rear end, which is something obscene like a 2.83. It just kills the 5.0 engine, but it allows 20+ mpg on the highway.
Only 20+ MPG? Should get 27-28 easily, two of my friends had/have same in a T-Bird and have gotten those numbers on several occasions... I have a '88 T-Bird with a built 5.0(alum heads, rumpty cam, headers, 3.73 gears, etc) and it'll knock off 23 MPG or so at 70 and has gotten 26+ running around 60MPH...
It's not a Panther, but a Fox...
It is a true joy to drive. The biggest downfall is the rear end, which is something obscene like a 2.83. It just kills the 5.0 engine, but it allows 20+ mpg on the highway.
Only 20+ MPG? Should get 27-28 easily, two of my friends had/have same in a T-Bird and have gotten those numbers on several occasions... I have a '88 T-Bird with a built 5.0(alum heads, rumpty cam, headers, 3.73 gears, etc) and it'll knock off 23 MPG or so at 70 and has gotten 26+ running around 60MPH...
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Not enough REFINING capacity to go around thanks to "environmental issues" here in the US. We are DROWNING in crude.
If so, then why aren't we importing finished refined product?
(Not directed at you, but at the oil companies)
Not enough REFINING capacity to go around thanks to "environmental issues" here in the US. We are DROWNING in crude.
If so, then why aren't we importing finished refined product?
(Not directed at you, but at the oil companies)
Originally Posted By: Norm Olt
Where do you wear your airbag?
I put mine in the passenger seat... otherwise known as the "better half".... sorry, couldnt help myself.
Nonetheless, OP hit on a very good point. Many 20 somethings cant drive a stick. At least where i live its not uncommon too find out they cannot. And as for older vehicles... i like them. I buy them, drive them till they die or run into a repair thats going too cost me more than im willing too pay for another beater. Wife and i do have two newer vehicles with all the gizmos gadgets power this that good safety ratings, airbags tucked in the doors, etc. But, we haul our kids in them..... So im ok with the safety things, but i like a old beater thats got some "character" for lack of a better term....
Where do you wear your airbag?
I put mine in the passenger seat... otherwise known as the "better half".... sorry, couldnt help myself.
Nonetheless, OP hit on a very good point. Many 20 somethings cant drive a stick. At least where i live its not uncommon too find out they cannot. And as for older vehicles... i like them. I buy them, drive them till they die or run into a repair thats going too cost me more than im willing too pay for another beater. Wife and i do have two newer vehicles with all the gizmos gadgets power this that good safety ratings, airbags tucked in the doors, etc. But, we haul our kids in them..... So im ok with the safety things, but i like a old beater thats got some "character" for lack of a better term....
I have a 17+ year old Ford Contour Zetec 4. I ordered it with AC, PS, PB, power locks, no key fob you open a door with the key then hit the button on the door to open all the doors. It has crank windows and 5 speed manual tranny with the widest factory aluminum rims and tires. It's been supper reliable all these years. It's a "down" market GL So the carpet is thinish but I have factory mats so it doesn't matter. The standard seats are supper comfortable and supportive. We drive this car from NJ to FL all the time and it's a pleasure and comfortable. The seats also are supportive for "enthusiastic" driving which it does quite nicely. It looks great, no rust and the interior still looks new. It has almost 99.000 miles on it. It is garaged in the winter so the NJ rust disease has not rotted it. My 2002 F-150 is another story only because of rust issues. Otherwise mechanically it's been good.
Whimsey
Whimsey
In the old days "infotainment" wasn't a word, so manufacturers had to rely in part on the little details to sell their cars and make them look good. I guess people were less distracted.
Ford began massively decontenting their vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Often times the vehicle would gain one "ooohhh, how nice" option, but lose a few other features that were more useful, but not as cool to mention in a brochure or when comparing to other makes. For example, the Ranger gained leather as an option, but lost power seats (1995-1997, rare option), glove box lighting, cargo lights, interior cargo cover, carpeted lower door panels, etc. Though leather wasn't an option on the old one, a fully loaded 1996 Ranger is more luxurious than a fully loaded 2006 Ranger hands down. The velour in the old one is nicer than the heavily coated and processed leather in a newer one anyway.
IMO, 1995-1997 Fords were the best as far as content, quality, and comfort. My 1995 Explorer Sport 2-door was like a 4WD Town Car.
Ford began massively decontenting their vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Often times the vehicle would gain one "ooohhh, how nice" option, but lose a few other features that were more useful, but not as cool to mention in a brochure or when comparing to other makes. For example, the Ranger gained leather as an option, but lost power seats (1995-1997, rare option), glove box lighting, cargo lights, interior cargo cover, carpeted lower door panels, etc. Though leather wasn't an option on the old one, a fully loaded 1996 Ranger is more luxurious than a fully loaded 2006 Ranger hands down. The velour in the old one is nicer than the heavily coated and processed leather in a newer one anyway.
IMO, 1995-1997 Fords were the best as far as content, quality, and comfort. My 1995 Explorer Sport 2-door was like a 4WD Town Car.
Originally Posted By: Donald
While we might have fond memories of past cars we owned they were not as safe, polluted more and used more gas. My Dad had a 60 Chevy wagon, no seat belts nor windshield washer. He installed both.
My 1969 Mach 1 Mustang was a great car but it had a "drop in" gas tank that upon impact would throw gas all over the inside of the car and occupants.
There is not enough gas to go around and we really needed to get to better MPG. The US has 3M people out of the worlds 8B people and we use something like half the resources (its a high percentage, may not be half).
Air bags and seat belts have dramatically reduced injuries when people are wearing them.
And yet you drive a 3-ton pickup and a 15MPG (at best) suv. Might wanna move out of that glass house.
While we might have fond memories of past cars we owned they were not as safe, polluted more and used more gas. My Dad had a 60 Chevy wagon, no seat belts nor windshield washer. He installed both.
My 1969 Mach 1 Mustang was a great car but it had a "drop in" gas tank that upon impact would throw gas all over the inside of the car and occupants.
There is not enough gas to go around and we really needed to get to better MPG. The US has 3M people out of the worlds 8B people and we use something like half the resources (its a high percentage, may not be half).
Air bags and seat belts have dramatically reduced injuries when people are wearing them.
And yet you drive a 3-ton pickup and a 15MPG (at best) suv. Might wanna move out of that glass house.
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Originally Posted By: Rolla07
I agree. The other day someone backed up over a child in a parking lot with her SUV because she couldnt see the kid...of course the child shouldnt of been wandering but if you cant drive an SUV or large vehicle drive something smaller or dont drive at all. There are benefits and drawbacks of todays cars compared to the older ones. I like simple cars, heck i have no ac no power doors or power windows on my current car. I want a reliable low cost car to mainrain, could care less about a million gadgets that can break and cost a fortune to fix.
I'm glad to see some people agree with me---visibility is a huge problem with today's cars. I drive a standard cab pickup, and the visibility is not good---It used to be that good visibility on a standard cab pickup was just a given. I see lots of cars that are worse. Some of them look like they have portholes back there. Yet, if you read the automotive press, you will rarely see any real discussion about visibility. They like to chatter incessantly about whether the plastics used in this interior are "cheap" compared to the plastic used in that interior.
I agree. The other day someone backed up over a child in a parking lot with her SUV because she couldnt see the kid...of course the child shouldnt of been wandering but if you cant drive an SUV or large vehicle drive something smaller or dont drive at all. There are benefits and drawbacks of todays cars compared to the older ones. I like simple cars, heck i have no ac no power doors or power windows on my current car. I want a reliable low cost car to mainrain, could care less about a million gadgets that can break and cost a fortune to fix.
I'm glad to see some people agree with me---visibility is a huge problem with today's cars. I drive a standard cab pickup, and the visibility is not good---It used to be that good visibility on a standard cab pickup was just a given. I see lots of cars that are worse. Some of them look like they have portholes back there. Yet, if you read the automotive press, you will rarely see any real discussion about visibility. They like to chatter incessantly about whether the plastics used in this interior are "cheap" compared to the plastic used in that interior.
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
IMO, 1995-1997 Fords were the best as far as content, quality, and comfort. My 1995 Explorer Sport 2-door was like a 4WD Town Car.
I couldn't agree more. I'm not too familiar with the other models, but as far as the Panther platform goes, '95 and '96 were the best years for quality. The decontenting started in 1997, and a lot of features were lost - memory seats, courtesy lights and heated mirrors to name a few.
IMO, 1995-1997 Fords were the best as far as content, quality, and comfort. My 1995 Explorer Sport 2-door was like a 4WD Town Car.
I couldn't agree more. I'm not too familiar with the other models, but as far as the Panther platform goes, '95 and '96 were the best years for quality. The decontenting started in 1997, and a lot of features were lost - memory seats, courtesy lights and heated mirrors to name a few.
Originally Posted By: dishdude
I think everyone looks at older cars through rose colored glasses. Cars have only become safer, much more reliable, better built and lower maintenance.
+1
Also, the mix of ride quality and handling has improved greatly...
I think everyone looks at older cars through rose colored glasses. Cars have only become safer, much more reliable, better built and lower maintenance.
+1
Also, the mix of ride quality and handling has improved greatly...
Fords and Mercury's of the '90s were ALL [censored]. When you compare them against the Japanese cars of that day, they were junk in regards to dependability. You cannot look at the few exceptions that went a billion miles....look at the millions and read the reviews of the day...the truth lies there.
Originally Posted By: dishdude
I think everyone looks at older cars through rose colored glasses. Cars have only become safer, much more reliable, better built and lower maintenance.
We have seen this here, both in fleet operations and personal stable. The difference is dramatic, many folks buy a new car and hardly do anything but gas and oil for years while ignoring everything else!
I think everyone looks at older cars through rose colored glasses. Cars have only become safer, much more reliable, better built and lower maintenance.
We have seen this here, both in fleet operations and personal stable. The difference is dramatic, many folks buy a new car and hardly do anything but gas and oil for years while ignoring everything else!
Originally Posted By: lovcom
Fords and Mercury's of the '90s were ALL [censored]. When you compare them against the Japanese cars of that day, they were junk in regards to dependability. You cannot look at the few exceptions that went a billion miles....look at the millions and read the reviews of the day...the truth lies there.
Are you a person or a spambot?
Fords and Mercury's of the '90s were ALL [censored]. When you compare them against the Japanese cars of that day, they were junk in regards to dependability. You cannot look at the few exceptions that went a billion miles....look at the millions and read the reviews of the day...the truth lies there.
Are you a person or a spambot?
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