Built-in obsolesence

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Oct 8, 2006
Messages
11,526
Location
OH
Vehicles today are built with obsolescence in mind. Look at all the fancy electronic doodads that come in almost all of the new vehicles that will certainly go bad over time, and will also certainly not be supported in terms of replacement parts by the automakers after a certain period of time. While these devices are cool and handy when new, they will eventually force us to replace the vehicle due to a lack of replacement parts...
 
Walking technology has remained the same for thousands of years. You can rest assured that wont change much.
 
Bla, bla, bla... i hear this repeated over the past several decades, yet today's cars manage to make it to much higher mileage than in the past.

The issue is more with customer mentality. People want the latest and greatest electronic gizmos in their cars, so they find excuses in order to trade up sooner. Just MO.
 
To some extent - however look at the touch screen panel ? That is one item popped in on on the assembly line that does so many, many, things - and a technology that crosses into other industries ... Never got that much information from a knob ...

Now pull that big plastic cover off today's engine ? That's when I start scratching my head more and more
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: 4WD
To some extent - however look at the touch screen panel ? That is one item popped in on on the assembly line that does so many, many, things - and a technology that crosses into other industries ... Never got that much information from a knob ...

Now pull that big plastic cover off today's engine ? That's when I start scratching my head more and more
wink.gif



No touch panel or plastic engine cover in my 2015 Civic. Although it does use some LCD displays that concern me a bit.
 
My experience with owning Toyota trucks is quite the opposite. They get better and more reliable each year.
That's because Toyota only adopts new technology once it's proven reliable. You won't see fancy new tech in the Toyota lineup, just boring models.
For Toyota reliability is paramount.

Some other makers differentiate themselves with stuffing the latest and greatest gadgets. Often time these gadgets are not ready for prime time and don't work reliably, causing reliability issues.
For this group of makers, flashiness is everything.

Some other makers differentiate themselves on price. They will cut corners and put out models that lose parts or catch fire down the road. These makes are ruled by bean counters. There's a good movie where the main character is one of these bean counters called "Fight Club".
For this group of makers, price is everything. This is the group that builds-in obsolescence.

I understand this is a broad generalization yet it's a fairly accurate depiction of the auto industry.
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Vehicles today are built with obsolescence in mind. Look at all the fancy electronic doodads that come in almost all of the new vehicles that will certainly go bad over time, and will also certainly not be supported in terms of replacement parts by the automakers after a certain period of time. While these devices are cool and handy when new, they will eventually force us to replace the vehicle due to a lack of replacement parts...


Depends on the manufacturer. Mercedes, for example supports EVERY car they've ever made with parts.

Every car.

Ever.
 
I think the driver plays a big role in all makes - boring is good for reliability ...
Worst thing out there is an under 25 male who puts an F Can muffler on his economy car - and runs it like he just bought an AMG63 ...
 
Touch screen radio and HVAC controls don't make any sense except from the accountants point of view.

Back when you had knobs and buttons, you could adjust them while driving without taking your eyes off the road.
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Vehicles today are built with obsolescence in mind.


What vehicle has been built that hasn't or won't become obsolete at some point? Model T? 57 Chevrolet? 1991 Escort? They all become obsolete-time and advancement always move forward. Your premise is rather ridiculous.

Originally Posted By: grampi
fancy electronic doodads that come in almost all of the new vehicles that will certainly go bad over time


Show me the data that backs up your assertion. Many of those "fancy electronic doodads" have been around for quite a while now, and your idea of failure in toto is rather absurd.

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Bla, bla, bla... i hear this repeated over the past several decades, yet today's cars manage to make it to much higher mileage than in the past.

The issue is more with customer mentality. People want the latest and greatest electronic gizmos in their cars, so they find excuses in order to trade up sooner. Just MO.


Agreed. I well remember people whining about the same thing when all the fancy doodads came out like electric starters, 12 volt electrical systems, horns that don't require a bulb to be squeezed, radial tires, shock absorbers, adjustable seats, air conditioners, heaters, power steering, power brakes, disc brakes, steering wheel rather than tiller, roll up windows, key switch starter rather than floor starter button, seat belts, shoulder and lap belts, 4 speed manual transmissions, 5 speed manual transmissions, electric lights, turn signals, brake lights, third brake lights, and a whole host of other features.
 
Originally Posted By: 4WD
I think the driver plays a big role in all makes - boring is good for reliability ...
Worst thing out there is an under 25 male who puts an F Can muffler on his economy car - and runs it like he just bought an AMG63 ...
Is the "F can muffler" the same thing as a [removed] pipe? We have plenty of f pipes around here. Look like a jet engine sticking out, make lots of noise(look at me ese)and vehicle hasn't had any maintenance since day one.Driver doesn't have a driver's license, vehicle isn't registered and has no insurance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Not much... The gizmo's yes, they're new. The support stream, it's getting shorter and shorter.

I used to buy John Deere as they had parts going back at least 25 years. Now, they're 10 same as all the biggies. So I don't buy there anymore. If they act like commodity makers, I treat them as such ...
frown.gif
 
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
So the sky is blue, what's new?

Just Winter Blues....
Gobble Gobble

P.S. I'm glad my FIL give up his 38 years old Renault-like for an '08 VW Golf base, stick-shift(Europe)
i'm not sure he ever changed the windshield wipers on that stuff... but it smelled like an engine
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
I buy the base model so really nothing high tech to break and repair.
And you are probably the happiest with your car. This is the cheapest way to go as the car will drive just as far. I did this with our last car, and it worked well. I chose the "all" package to get used to allowing the car to help me drive this time. I figure the next one will be driving me around. Things are changing at an ever increasing rate. I think we all are going to have to accept that.
 
My 11 Sonata has a special cable to hook your "ipod" to it.

It is the wide cable ipod, mine as well be a dinosaur.

I'm greatful it has Bluetooth and XM which I still use.
 
I don't see the "fancy electronic doodads" as being as much an issue as the rapid re-tooling of each make/model of vehicle. Market demands it to keep sales up.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
I buy the base model so really nothing high tech to break and repair.


Yep....haven't had to replace too much on the three base models that we own...

That, and I am simply not big on the touch screen for everything type of cars anyways.

On my tablet, not a big deal. Driving? now that can be an issue....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top