Are cars better or worse for not being built to last forever anymore?

[Soup DeVille]

You still see some rust when you start cutting cars apart even today. But nothing like in the past.

oh, I've watched rusted panels go into the paint booth right on the assembly line enough to know that its still around.

[Laconian]

I don't know this "rust" that you all speak of.

[Cookie Monster]

Plastic cars FTW!

Hey guise, Teutons back!

[cawimmer430]

In 1991 I had an '84 Olds.

I love that body style. It's so sexy!

[280Z Turbo]

Plastic cars FTW!

Plastic bumper covers help, but the real advancement is unibody coatings. The entire car is dipped nowadays.

[sportyaccordy]

Hondas used to be notoriously bad with rust. They didnt get their shit together till the last 90s

Benzes had rust problems too. Some of them in the strut tower (!!!!)

I guess the difference now is cars are "engineered" vs "overengineered"

[Payman]

Hondas used to be notoriously bad with rust. They didnt get their shit together till the last 90s

Benzes had rust problems too. Some of them in the strut tower (!!!!)

I guess the difference now is cars are "engineered" vs "overengineered"

Something about Hondas and rear wheel arches. Same with Chrysler minivans and rocker panels.

[SVT666]

Hondas used to be notoriously bad with rust. They didnt get their shit together till the last 90s

Benzes had rust problems too. Some of them in the strut tower (!!!!)

I guess the difference now is cars are "engineered" vs "overengineered"

If anything cars are over engineered now vs under engineered back in the day.   You will never convince me cars don't last as long as they used to.   Cars were absolute garbage until maybe 20 years ago.

[280Z Turbo]

If anything cars are over engineered now vs under engineered back in the day.   You will never convince me cars don't last as long as they used to.   Cars were absolute garbage until maybe 20 years ago.

They were under-engineered back in the day. No question.

They were over-built in some areas, but that's not the same as over-engineered, in my mind.

Furthermore, I think they were over-built in the wrong areas. If you have something like caliper mount brackets that are built like the Brooklyn Bridge, what good is it?

The weak point for any car in this part of the country has always been (and continues to be) corrosion, not the mechanical components.

[shp4man]

I can say for sure, modern cars generally last longer than older cars. Cars and trucks don't rust here, so what kills them is miles. I will say that many, not all, modern cars are souless. Most of Ford's later models will easily run 300K miles if they're taken care of.
Which Dart would I rather have, though?


or



No contest. The old one!

[Payman]

They can't keep the new Dart in dealerships up here. Good to see a successful car from Chrysler.

[2o6]

They can't keep the new Dart in dealerships up here. Good to see a successful car from Chrysler.

Here, they're having a hard time moving them. I think it looks old.

[Payman]

Here, they're having a hard time moving them. I think it looks old.

It's the most popular segment up here. Old? I disagree. I think it's one of the freshest looking designs in its class.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I can say for sure, modern cars generally last longer than older cars. Cars and trucks don't rust here, so what kills them is miles. I will say that many, not all, modern cars are souless. Most of Ford's later models will easily run 300K miles if they're taken care of.
Which Dart would I rather have, though?


or



No contest. The old one!

New Dart, no question.

[AutobahnSHO]

New Dart, no question.

+1

Probably more fun to drive, better mpg, safer in a wreck.

[SVT666]

Me too.

[cawimmer430]

When it comes to classic Dodge cars, nothing touches this IMO.



'74 Dodge Monaco = So extremely sexy. Love it. 

[shp4man]

When it comes to classic Dodge cars, nothing touches this IMO.



'74 Dodge Monaco = So extremely sexy. Love it. 

It was only a matter of time before Wimmer weighed in on this with some mid '70's sled...

[shp4man]

Definitely better MPG and safer with the new car. Also more reliable. Ahh, but fun to drive? That's another story.

[cawimmer430]

It was only a matter of time before Wimmer weighed in on this with some mid '70's sled...

What can I say? I like older cars. 

IMO they had style, class, elegance and visual character that seems to be lacking from most of todays cars. The '74 Dodge Monaco is really cool IMO. I really want to shoot one but all the ones in Germany are in the north near Hamburg and Berlin. There are none in Bavaria! 

[SVT666]

Definitely better MPG and safer with the new car. Also more reliable. Ahh, but fun to drive? That's another story.

Depends what you consider fun to drive.   If all you want is stoplight to stoplight,  then you may be correct,  though the new Dart is probably just as fast or faster (I don't know much about the old Dart).  But if you want to go around a corner than the new one will be much more fun.

[280Z Turbo]

It's the most popular segment up here. Old? I disagree. I think it's one of the freshest looking designs in its class.

It does look a bit 1990's, especially inside.

[Payman]

It does look a bit 1990's, especially inside.

Yeah, I like the exterior, hate the interior.

[Payman]

Depends what you consider fun to drive.   If all you want is stoplight to stoplight,  then you may be correct,  though the new Dart is probably just as fast or faster (I don't know much about the old Dart).  But if you want to go around a corner than the new one will be much more fun.

If one associates terror with fun, then no. I bet the old Dart is much more entertaining on the twisties at 60 mph than the new one.

[SVT666]

I think it looks fine.

[280Z Turbo]

If one associates terror with fun, then no. I bet the old Dart is much more entertaining on the twisties at 60 mph than the new one.

The first curve wouldn't be so bad.

Each curve after that would get scarier and scarier. Eventually, the pedal goes to the floor and you die.

[280Z Turbo]

I think it looks fine.

The Focus and Cruze look better to me.

Well, maybe not the Cruze.

[SVT666]

The Focus might look better,  but I guarantee the Dart's climate controls are easier to use.

[2o6]

The Focus and Cruze look better to me.

Well, maybe not the Cruze.

Cruze has a better design, I agree. Not the Focus, though.


The Dart by no means looks bad, but it looks old, IMO. Reminds me of a car from 2008.

[SVT666]

Really?!?!  As far back as 2008?  Holy shit.