Motor vehicle technology

[Golddollar]

My uncle and I were having a conversation about this yesterday. We were realizing that the things we used to do to take care of our cars and keep them running just can't be done anymore. No more being able to set the points, no need to change spark plugs before about 120,000 miles. Learning lessons from being left sitting in cars by the side of the road, I described how I got to the point that when I acquired a car the first thing I did was to go through and replace the spark plugs, points, spark plug wires, coil, distributor, distributor cap and starter solenoid. Even for someone as marginally mechanical as I am, it felt good to know something about how the car worked and being able to take care of a lot of things on it. Now about all I can do is change the air filter.

 

[rubiranch]

My 2011 pickup has an automatic transmission.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

We took a road trip this weekend in our 16 Malibu. Driving to central Illinois with the cruise on 70 and then 55 we got 41 mpg.
On the way home doing 79 it dropped to 32.
When we bought it I thought a 1.5L is going to blow. I was wrong!!! On the interstate it will be at 90 after the turbo spools up and you won't even know it. Quick and quite.

 

[luvsmiths]

Where's the shovel?

You're not blind, are you...

 

[Justin T]

I've gone backwards on this topic.

I recently bought a 1991 F150. The cherry on top is it has a manual transmission. I'm not commuting much anymore, and i wanted to teach my kids to run a stick.

Helluva deal too.

 

[Jon651]

Sorry but I'm a V-8 gas and diesel fan. There is no replacement for displacement! You can have those 3-cylinder motors. Regardless of how much tech is has on it, you still have to rev it to hell to get it to make any useful power.

I've been towing campers and trailers all my life so for me torque is where it's at - and small displacement motors just can't deliver what I need. I'll buy an electric pick-up truck when they make one that will tow as much and as far - and refuels nearly as quickly - as my 3/4-ton diesel currently does. I'm keeping an eye on the upcoming electric trucks for that but will have to wait and see how they perform.

 

[rubiranch]

The newest vehicle I drive is this 2020 Volvo and I loath the "driver assist" BS.

We put a piece of tape over the camera that will take the steering away from you if you get too close to the white line.

It beeps at you if you follow too closely.

It honks inside the cab if you turn your turn signal on to let people know you are going to be changing lanes if it thinks there's a vehicle there. And that's the vehicle I am letting know I will be changing into their lane as soon as its clear.

The adaptive cruise control sucks too.

I haven't been in an accident in over 50 years and I don't need a truck telling me how to drive.

Too bad there's not a way to turn all that junk off.

 

[rubiranch]

I've gone backwards on this topic.

I recently bought a 1991 F150. The cherry on top is it has a manual transmission. I'm not commuting much anymore, and i wanted to teach my kids to run a stick.

Helluva deal too.

I have four daughters and driving a stick came natural to all of them.

 

[Muss Muggins]

We put a piece of tape over the camera that will take the steering away from you if you get too close to the white line.

Headline: "Driver disabled lane keeping assist camera prior to crossover crash . . . "

 

[NYlakesider]

The newest vehicle I drive is this 2020 Volvo and I loath the "driver assist" BS.

We put a piece of tape over the camera that will take the steering away from you if you get too close to the white line.

It beeps at you if you follow too closely.

It honks inside the cab if you turn your turn signal on to let people know you are going to be changing lanes if it thinks there's a vehicle there. And that's the vehicle I am letting know I will be changing into their lane as soon as its clear.

The adaptive cruise control sucks too.

I haven't been in an accident in over 50 years and I don't need a truck telling me how to drive.

Too bad there's not a way to turn all that junk off.

On some vehicles there is. Its buried in the owners manual if its available on yours. On my wife's last Toyotas my truck and now her Ford SUV some those pests can be done away with by going to the touch screen, or pushing certain buttons on steering wheel

Driving in the middle of the road at night is SOP up here. We have more deer then people and very light traffic. You have more space to react if your in the middle of the road. (where safe of course.)

Getting rid of those nannies was done as soon as the car made it home.My present truck has at least 25 things that can be controlled/modified just by following the manuals directions. Many times a sales guy will do it for you if you ask before you agree to sign the contract. Same deal as them setting up your cell phone and other preferences.


Added a bit!

 

[jeffrefrig]

The last V8 I had was an Impala SS, 2008. It was 5.3L, which I believe is about a 327 CI. I know it would've outrun my '70 Firebird and maybe the '66 389 Pontiac. I do miss the horsepower & 0-60 times, but right now I had to get what I could. I can just imagine what it would be like to drive a V8 with all this new technology. I drove my friend's '19 Mustang GT w/5L, about 460HP, and it just blew me away! I ever hit the lottery I'm gonna scour the USA for a MOPAR Hellcat. Right now though I gotta stick with this little SUV for her. Plus, it's under warranty, and I'm as far away from having auto mechanical skills as one can get! I get near a car with a tool and it drives itself away from me. (I can drive a manual tranny vehicle, it just makes it so darned hard to keep from spilling my beer!)

 

[Rodan]

Technology is both a benefit and a curse. Many have mentioned all the electronic nannies the come with new cars... IMHO this has led to more distracted driving, becuase people think the car will save them. And they're quite annoying to those of us that do pay attention while driving.

On the other side, technology has brought us cars like the ZL1 Camaro we owned for a couple of years... 650hp off the showroom floor, chassis to match, 24mpg running 80mph on the highway and a warranty that even covers it if it breaks on a racetrack.

Being old enough to have fiddled with satanic devices like Holley double pumpers, I'll take the tech any day. Most of the annoying nannies can be defeated or at least minimized, and I never really liked the smell of raw gas...

 

[Puller]

I hate the newish engine stop-start system that automatically shuts down and restarts the engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling.

 

[rubiranch]

Driving in the middle of the road at night is SOP up here. We have more deer then people and very light traffic. You have more space to react if your in the middle of the road. (where safe of course.)

Getting rid of those nannies was done as soon as the car made it home. My present truck has at least 25 things that can be controlled/modified just by following the manuals directions. Many times a sales guy will do it for you if you ask before you agree to sign the contract. Same deal as them setting up your cell phone and other preferences.


Added a bit!

If certain people in the company knew that we disabled the camera they would make us take the tape off. It does turn on the check engine light. Everything needs to be done via a scanner from what I've been told.

I drive mostly at night. I leave at 3:00 PM and return at 5:00 AM. 560 miles round trip, very few cars on the road in the middle of the night. Its pretty much 2-lane canyon HWY.

Since I first started this job I've hit 28 deer. Six were bucks and 2 of them would have looked nice over someone's fireplace.

One HUGE bull elk that totaled the 2-ton truck I was driving at the time.

Two fox, one coyote and three owls.

The truck is governed for a top speed of 68 mph. That sucks too.

 

[Jon651]

Technology is both a benefit and a curse. Many have mentioned all the electronic nannies the come with new cars... IMHO this has led to more distracted driving, becuase people think the car will save them. And they're quite annoying to those of us that do pay attention while driving.

On the other side, technology has brought us cars like the ZL1 Camaro we owned for a couple of years... 650hp off the showroom floor, chassis to match, 24mpg running 80mph on the highway and a warranty that even covers it if it breaks on a racetrack.

Being old enough to have fiddled with satanic devices like Holley double pumpers, I'll take the tech any day. Most of the annoying nannies can be defeated or at least minimized, and I never really liked the smell of raw gas...

I drove my friend's Camaro that was almost identical to yours (his was white). The absolutely stiffest suspension and chassis I have ever felt, hands down. I swear, if that car ran over a dime I could tell you the date it was minted! It cornered like it was on rails with no detectable body flex whatsoever.

 

[walkin jack]

Lots of new developments and more on the way. Still, My two favorite improvements are electronic ignition and fuel injection. I know I'm not the only one that has a vivid memory of tune-ups every 9 to 12 months. And new fuel pumps on a regular basis.

 

[Rodan]

I drove my friend's Camaro that was almost identical to yours (his was white). The absolutely stiffest suspension and chassis I have ever felt, hands down. I swear, if that car ran over a dime I could tell you the date it was minted! It cornered like it was on rails with no detectable body flex whatsoever.

Ours had the mag-ride shocks (magnetorheological), which is another techno-wonder... super stiff in 'track' mode, but comfortable on the highway in 'tour' mode. All at the press of a button... You can have your cake, and eat it too...

 

[gregintenn]

I'm mostly amazed by the window stickers.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I wish I could adjust the motor stress sensor on the power windows. Ruthie picked me up curbside at the doctor's the other day. I opened the door, moved towards the seat and put my hand on top of the door to lower myself in just as Ruthie rolled the window up trapping my fingertips.

I suddenly remembered at least three of George's seven words.

 

[The Big D]

They are a bit complicated.

I consider myself fairly competent technology wise with vehicles. (Only vehicles…but that's another story. )

But my new Corvette simply befuddles me. Not lying! HAVE read the owner's manual front to back but find myself searching for You Tube tutorials to learn how to activate certain features and use others. I know 'first world' problems… but still makes me seem dumber than usual.

That said, new technologies have greatly improved automobiles as some have noted. No more points, condensers, valve adjustments, exhaust replacements, etc.

But I need a nerd to help me…preferably a cute female one.

Be safe.