When will cars be appliances?

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: supton
You missed the point. You don't pay to get rid of a car, at least not currently. Not unless if you consider the dealer undercutting you at tradein--but that's true on any vehicle.



He's using a definition of appliance that I've never heard.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appliance
Quote:
Definition of APPLIANCE
a : a piece of equipment for adapting a tool or machine to a special purpose
b : an instrument or device designed for a particular use or function ; specifically : a household or office device (as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) operated by gas or electric current


Some places will give you money for the scrap value of appliances and I have known people who had to pay to have a car disposed of.

 

[carwreck]

Built by an appliance company, sold in appliance stores, but it is still licensed as a car.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: danthaman1980
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: Scotty59
Already happened, Toyota Anything....


Fixed

Haha - Almost. I'll give the Tundras and Tacomas the benefit of the doubt, but yes anything else Toyota is pretty much already a transportation appliance.

But in the end, nothing says 'transportation appliance' like the 3 most generic looking cars ever made.
1992-1995 Ford Taurus
2003-2007 Honda Accord
2006-2013 Chevy Impala

Just my $.02


I wouldn't give those trucks the benefit of the doubt. That truck shootout that was posted here a few days ago showed the Tundra virtually tied for last place with the Titan and had the lowest rent interior of the bunch. That is a Toyota trait over the last few years, worst interior of the segment. In it's defense it is due for a makeover, but still. It is gross inside. Ram, F-series and Silverado are all way better trucks. I would not stop at Toyota dealer if looking for a truck, no way.

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: morepwr
Originally Posted By: HM12460
Originally Posted By: Scotty59
Already happened, Toyota Camry....




Yeah, that was the first thing thought of when I read the posting title.


+1
Some pretty well modified appliances on the Toyota Nation site. A 285 HP V6 (STOCK, btw) Camry blows off a lot of non-appliances.

 

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: supton
On topic: I thought it interesting. I guess though that the value of scrap iron will keep it from happening--you'll always get something for a vehicle. Pennies perhaps, but something. I'll make sure to tell my coworker that. I win this argument.

Off topic: I like driving my VW. It likes being pushed. But the older I get the more I wonder. Didn't Carlin say, everyone who drives faster than you is an idiot, and everyone who drives slower is a moron? Not a week goes by that we don't complain here about aggressive drivers. Now, I understand that an aggressive driver can be behind the wheel of any vehicle, and vice versa. But for me, I do know that I tend to drive my VW more aggressively (and it rewards me for it, in that it literally runs better after a good flogging).

Boring cars make for boring drives, which makes for other boring drivers on the road. Is that a bad thing, what with road congestion?


This is exactly the problem locally with me & other drivers. They drive either a boring non-rewarding car or do but drive in a boring manner.

This leads to 5-10 mph below the posted limit, 5 min onramp merges. Not increasing throttle while climbing a hill. Left lane hogging/blocking doing the speed limit or below.

It gets to the point where 10-20 cars are clumped behind a few inattentive drivers in their fantasy world. So then you get you and me who like driving, like driving our cars in aggressive manner but not to danger anyone around us.

I find it a daily occurrence I am avoiding those around me who just don't seem to care about the rules regarding passing & such. So when I do my best to distance myself from the pack I bet I am labeled the wacko behind the wheel. I rather not be stuck behind such mundane inattentive people who view driving as a chore.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: supton
I know, we joke about some being appliances vs others, and it's because of its usage vs driving feel.

Got into a conversation with coworkers recently, and I joked about wanting an appliance for a vehicle next time. He corrected me, stating that cars will be appliances when you have to pay to get rid of them. Just like getting rid of a washer/fridge/sofa.

Right now, there are people who will drive to your house and give you a couple hundred dollars for a beater, just for the scrap metal. Can get a few hundred for almost anything, either in scrap or from someone actually interested. Will that change in the future, when it costs more to dispose of the plastics or the fluids or whatever?

I thought it an interesting counterpoint to the insult of calling particular vehicles an "appliance".


They already are. Have you driven an Accord lately? (see signature.) I spend 2.5 hours/day in one. If Webster needs to put a photo of an appliance next to the term appliance in the dictionary, I certainly will vouch for the Accord's qualifications.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666


He's using a definition of appliance that I've never heard.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appliance
Quote:
Definition of APPLIANCE
a : a piece of equipment for adapting a tool or machine to a special purpose
b : an instrument or device designed for a particular use or function ; specifically : a household or office device (as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) operated by gas or electric current


Some places will give you money for the scrap value of appliances and I have known people who had to pay to have a car disposed of.



Interesting. By that definition, aren't sports cars appliances too?

 

[gregoron]

Cars will be appliances in my definition when they start driving themselves and there will be no more user involvement. That will be a very sad day for me.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: stephen9666


He's using a definition of appliance that I've never heard.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appliance
Quote:
Definition of APPLIANCE
a : a piece of equipment for adapting a tool or machine to a special purpose
b : an instrument or device designed for a particular use or function ; specifically : a household or office device (as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) operated by gas or electric current


Some places will give you money for the scrap value of appliances and I have known people who had to pay to have a car disposed of.



Interesting. By that definition, aren't sports cars appliances too?


I'm not arguing that cars are or aren't appliances. Personally, they probably do fit this definition of appliance. But the strange argument made by the OP's coworker (that appliances are things you have to pay to dispose of) doesn't really define an "appliance."

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: supton

I'm not arguing that cars are or aren't appliances. Personally, they probably do fit this definition of appliance. But the strange argument made by the OP's coworker (that appliances are things you have to pay to dispose of) doesn't really define an "appliance."


Agreed I wouldn't live in such a place one has to pay... Everything I've needed to get rid of disappeared from the curb, I gave it to someone that was selling scrap metal, or I hauled it to the scrap yard myself... This includes everything from my own residence that I've maintained since 1971...

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: supton

I'm not arguing that cars are or aren't appliances. Personally, they probably do fit this definition of appliance. But the strange argument made by the OP's coworker (that appliances are things you have to pay to dispose of) doesn't really define an "appliance."


Agreed I wouldn't live in such a place one has to pay... Everything I've needed to get rid of disappeared from the curb, I gave it to someone that was selling scrap metal, or I hauled it to the scrap yard myself... This includes everything from my own residence that I've maintained since 1971...


I would guess that has to do with the local economy.
Around here I'm amazed at the 'good stuff' you can't give away.
Fortunately we don't have to pay to dump most stuff.

Last week I saw three perfectly good (working) lawnmowers at the city dump.
You'd think someone could use them?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
Originally Posted By: Scotty59
Already happened, Toyota Camry....




Yeah, that was the first thing thought of when I read the posting title.


Me too.

The reality is that a refrigerator, AC, dishwasher, metallic anything IS worth money. Look even on this board - remember chevyboy? He used to garbage pick for scrap all the time.

A car is just so heavy, and mobile enough, that it will always be worth something as scrap. So paying to cart it away will never be the case. Plus, there is a solid secondary market for parts, while most other stuff is thrown away and there is very little market. Its not built to be servicable.

So other than having the feel of appliances, I dont think youll see cars costing something to be taken away.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: expat

Last week I saw three perfectly good (working) lawnmowers at the city dump.
You'd think someone could use them?


That USED to happen in the US. I remember going to the local landfill with my parents back in the early and mid 1990s and there would be tons of appliances and all kinds of metal goods thrown out. Since the mid 2000s, forget it. If it's metal, it's worth something.

If you put three working lawnmowers out on a curb here, I'd give them maybe 10 minutes before being picked up. Lawnmowers are like crackhead gold because you can mow some yards for cash before you junk it if it works at all.

 

[jrustles]

They're already starting to refer to 'dealerships' as 'stores'. Since when do you need a STORE of cars?

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: Scotty59
Already happened, Toyota Anything....


Fixed

Why only Toyota? You can pretty much say that ANY vehicle that isn't a sports car is pretty much an appliance...

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: expat


I would guess that has to do with the local economy.
Around here I'm amazed at the 'good stuff' you can't give away.
Fortunately we don't have to pay to dump most stuff.

Last week I saw three perfectly good (working) lawnmowers at the city dump.
You'd think someone could use them?


That's crazy -- Where I live, people scour our alleys for anything even remotely valuable that's left out for garbage pickup. A broken lawnmower, appliances, or anything with metal wont last more than a few hours before somebody snags it.