Posted on 05/29/2017 3:47:21 PM PDT by Lorianne
Edited on 05/29/2017 5:07:43 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Really? NO computers? Cars from before about 1980? Since those cars from the late ‘70s were pretty crappy, you’re really recommending cars with ‘60s tech, with carburetors. Good luck with that!
Wow, strange to think of a BMW 5-series without an inline six.
I wonder if this will affect BMW styling. That tall and long six cylinder engine block running front to back has always dictated a higher and flatter hood line. This may free the designers to do something different with the front end.
My parents ( depression era babies ), never ever bought a new car. When I bought a basic basic econobox ( no a/c, no radio ) brand new for my young wife. Dad stage whispered ‘more money than sense’
I have an 06 Mercury Grand Marquis I bought used with 34k miles on it in 08. It just now turned over 89k miles. My 15 yr old son is begging me to give it to him when he turns 16. Right now the answer would be no way! Love that big v8 rear wheel drive.
I was not aware of the mandates promoting small cars. Never heard of the feet well thing either. I defintely haven’t seen any bench seats, at least in the front seat.
I love the bigger vehicles. I have two trucks and a three seater SUV, but I would buy a small no nonsense car, not a SMART car though. SMART cars aren’t very smart.
I’d like to have a 1966 VW Beetle, but they are the price of a new car.
“Apparently you didn’t read the part of the article that says the feral government will not allow that.”
I know, I know....
The best car I ever owned was a 65 Olds Delta 88 with a 360 HP 425 rocket V8. It handled really well for a large car and had more than ample power.
It was my Father’s then my older Brother’s then mine. I got it with 140,000 miles on it and sold it at just over 200,000. It was still running well at that time.
Extremely comfortable and very little maintenance. I think I replaced the water pump 3 times, each time less than $20 for parts. I had to have the AC compressor seal replaced which was less than $20 for parts and labor.
I changed oil and other regular maintenance at early intervals but that was about it. The positraction made a noise for the last 50,000 miles but never tore up.
I would love to have it back again as a new car. It also got excellent gas mileage tho it did require premium.
Interesting kit car thoughts...
The wife and I always like old cars, 1950’s. I guess you could also get one and restore and have all of the old gadgets. I’m not much of a motor head though. I’d just pay the mechanic and let him fix it.
This story is precisely on point. Obama, the EPA, and the eco Nazis in their zeal to control us have forced auto manufacturers to adopt technologies that provide upfront mileage enhancements at the expense of durability. This is the very definition of “penny wise, pound foolish”. If we care about such things as life cycle environmental costs these policies are a disaster. But people with no understanding of engineering or reality feel better about themselves.
There are a number of vehicles with bench seats - pickups and big SUVs. Engineering solves the supposed problems with bench seats.
Bench seats went away in sedans because people quit buying them. They were available a few years ago, but not any more.
Smaller vehicles never had room for three across, so buckets or split seats with console and floor shifter is probably a better use of space. And people love that sportier image.
“I think used is almost always the way to go but I did do well on one new pickup.”
For my entire adult life I have always bought late model, low mileage used cars and have really never regretted it (except for a minivan that evidently had had a corpse rot in it).
Until my second childhood kicked in and I got all hot and bothered for a hot hatch. I bought a new VW GTI (stage one tune!) and I am having the time of my life!
One simply does not buy a used hot hatch.
I had several 60’s and 70’s land yachts that could each seat four across the front and back seats.
Actually it is not the “build up” from the turbos. It is the build up of carbon in the intake tract by being directly fuel injected instead of indirectly or “port” have high pressure injected. Direct injected engines fuel injected directly into a primary or secondary combustion chamber.
Where as previous induction systems fuel was introduced in the intake tract by either a carburetor, throttle body injection system, or port injection system. Fuel introduced in the intake tract had the ability to be utilized as a solvent to wash away residue introduced by the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system. Crankcase vapors now have no scouring action from the fuel and build up as carbon deposits in the intake tract.
Remedies for this type of carbon build up are extreme and require at least a partial teardown of the engine top end and manual de-carboning of the intake tract up to and including media blasting.
I will have to admit there was something neat about flooring the accelerator on that high compression 7 liter V-8.
I believe the 360 HP rating was conservative. It was also fun to hear that Holley 4 barrel sucking air. Interestingly that carburetor never gave any problem in 200,000 miles. I did put in a carb cleaner fairly often but don’t recall even having to adjust that carburetor.
Change that to a Carter carb,
I’ve had great luck with my 2001 Toyota Highlander. Still looks almost new, is quick, and very comfortable!
A musical tribute to bench seats:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=tLISgps9qiA
I think they’re cool although I guess I can see why they’ve fallen out of favor over the years.
I like to say that “carburetor” is a French swear word. Fuel injection only for me, s’il vous plait.
“Buy a car that has NO COMPUTERS ! Trust me, your maintenance cost will be a lot cheaper.”
All my cars have had little to no maintenance with computers.
There’s a lot to be said for cars of the 50s.
I think it’s funny that they were talking about “planned obsolescence” back then. Compared to now, they were built like tanks.
The problem with 50s cars, unless you can find a pristine example, is they’re covered in chrome and the EPA regulations have driven the cost of replating into the stratusphere.
One interesting option today...
For a few key cars (32 Ford, 57 Chevy, 69 Camaro) the aftermarket is producing just about every conceivable part, including body panels. You can pretty much build one from scratch brand new.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.