[Rodamala]

I say to all the car makers out there “MAKE A VERSION OF THE 1971 DUSTER, Nova, or whatever with modern materials but the old, mechanical systems and without all the nonsense you put in the new stuff — and let us modify them according to our tastes. You'll sell them by the thousands.

I would pay $40k if VW retooled and offered the naturally aspirated 1.6L Diesel in a Mk. 2 Jetta body, 1991 vintage. Duplicate that car. Identical... no power heated seats, no power windows or airbags... just make the basic car the way it was made in 1990... and I will put 315,000 miles on that car and still be getting 38 MPG, and be able to work on it with a simple compliment of metric tools... just like the one I have.

[Cowman]

I had two Dodge vans with the real Chrysler small block in them and they both got over 300k with basic maintenance. I’d still be driving them if the springs hadn’t come through the floors.

I Don’t buy this line about the electronically regulated engines being more reliable. Perhaps they require less maintenance due to the systems but I could change a ballast resistor or set of points in a few minutes with very basic tools and less than five bucks.

It seems the mandates put on the auto makers are just to kill backyard tinkering and shade tree mechanics because their self sufficiency threatens government control of the individual — Or, even more disturbing, because they get more taxes from the sale of a $40000 vehicle than a $8000 vehicle.