Do We expect Too much from new cars - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

sycraft · 06-29-2013, 08:13 AM

This is about new cars in general, Do we expect too much for them. In the past brakes wore out at 15k miles and were noisey, convertable tops were wrinkled and leaked all the time, squeaks rattles and noises were common. i know we have made technological advancements that take care of many of these issues, but performance brakes make noise, tops are folded and atriculating, they have to fold somewhere, engines are still mechanical and stumble at times. I feel these things we have demanded to have in our cars are all acceptable and why get your blood pressure up over such trivial things. The cost of cars has gone up yes, but that cost has also been driven by the consumer and the expectation that it must be perfect. Buy backs and repairs of trivial items that in reality may be a normal characteristic and just a bandaid on the issue drive costs skyward. I say enjoy our cars and lets repair the owners. Gm and other manufacturers have made these cars so that you are now not spending 300-500 dollars every 15k miles for service, so in my book they are giving you a pretty good value. Enjoy your rides, they all drive different and have their own personality. Flame me if you wish, I will be enjoying my ride, not wasting time at a dealership for trivial issues.

upflying · 06-29-2013, 08:26 AM

In regards to maintenance, modern car owners have it easy. Imagine if your Camaro required the same maintenance schedule as a '49 Chevrolet.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-29-2013, 08:33 AM

At the same time, back then because you HAD to keep up with vehicle and preventative maintenance regularly, people actually knew a thing or two about cars.

benji1997 · 06-29-2013, 08:34 AM

Trivial, schmivial....if something is not right with my expensive purchase, I demand that it be fixed!!!!!

benji1997 · 06-29-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

At the same time, back then because you HAD to keep up with vehicle and preventative maintenance regularly, people actually knew a thing or two about cars.

I'm from back then and all I know is how to drive them, not tear them apart and put them back together again.

Russo · 06-29-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

At the same time, back then because you HAD to keep up with vehicle and preventative maintenance regularly, people actually knew a thing or two about cars.

and people thought driving was a privilage not a right.. which is why people cared about their cars..

today Americans have a debt based consumption problem where they finance everything to get everything.. it's about collecting stuff and not working hard, saving up, and buying things based off need or personal interest... why should anyone save money when they can go to the bank, take out a loan, or go down to Wal Mart and get anything they want on a credit card, then six months later when the item breaks, they throw it away while they're still paying on it..

Elementkng20 · 06-29-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russo

and people thought driving was a privilage not a right.. which is why people cared about their cars..

today Americans have a debt based consumption problem where they finance everything to get everything.. it's about collecting stuff and not working hard, saving up, and buying things based off need or personal interest... why should anyone save money when they can go to the bank, take out a loan, or go down to Wal Mart and get anything they want on a credit card, then six months later when the item breaks, they throw it away while they're still paying on it..

Fiftydriver · 06-29-2013, 08:49 AM

Well, back in the day you could buy a new muscle car for $3500 brand new. My dad bought a 69 SS Chevelle right off the lot new for this price. Now, we pay 10 times that for cars that are technologically amazing but made from ALOT of pastic!!!

For what we pay for these cars, they better stand up to our high expectations.

I have always wondered what a new car or truck would cost that JUST GOT YOU FROM A TO B.

Frank in MD · 06-29-2013, 08:50 AM

I think the issue is two fold. On one hand cars are more expensive than ever before. I believe I read somewhere that new cars have an average price these days at right around 30K. Add that to the majority of vehicle owners either not knowing how to fix their own vehicle or being unable to do so b/c new cars are far more sophisticated than ever before.

When all most people are doing is shelling out money, they get frustrated when something goes wrong.

upflying · 06-29-2013, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftydriver

Well, back in the day you could buy a new muscle car for $3500 brand new. My dad bought a 69 SS Chevelle right off the lot new for this price. Now, we pay 10 times that for cars that are technologically amazing but made from ALOT of pastic!!!

For what we pay for these cars, they better stand up to our high expectations.

I have always wondered what a new car or truck would cost that JUST GOT YOU FROM A TO B.

Don't forget to figure inflation into the cost of that '69 Chevelle.
What cost $3500 in 1969 would cost $21617.38 in 2012.

oldfriend · 06-29-2013, 08:56 AM

I just no longer want to spend , my weekends fixing my 3cars , truck ,boat,3 motorcycles,jet ski ,snowmobile ,quad , bicycle , and my tractor

I'm I asking too much ?

oldfriend · 06-29-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiftydriver

Well, back in the day you could buy a new muscle car for $3500 brand new. My dad bought a 69 SS Chevelle right off the lot new for this price. Now, we pay 10 times that for cars that are technologically amazing but made from ALOT of pastic!!!

For what we pay for these cars, they better stand up to our high expectations.

I have always wondered what a new car or truck would cost that JUST GOT YOU FROM A TO B.

And a hourly wage worker was making what , $2.45 ?

upflying · 06-29-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfriend

And a hourly wage worker was making what , $2.45 ?

I was making $1.65 an hour in 1969.

fbodfather · 06-29-2013, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upflying

Don't forget to figure inflation into the cost of that '69 Chevelle.
What cost $3500 in 1969 would cost $21617.38 in 2012.

That's just inflation.

Let's look at the Chevelle back then.

Power Steering - Optional

Power Brakes - Optional

Air conditioning - Optional

Power Windows - Optional

power Door locks - Optional

Tilt Wheel, Stereo, posi-traction, cruise control, and 300 hp -- optional --

that list goes on forever.......

Stabilitrak and anti-lock brakes -- airbags - radial tires - fuel economy in the 20s and countless other features: weren't even available or even thought of back then.

Today's automobiles and trucks are so far superior to anything in the past - not to mention quality, safety, economy, corrosion protection, warranty......

It's apples to oranges.

06-29-2013, 08:13 AM	#1
sycraft COTW 5/06/2013 Drives: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport-Ho-Vette Join Date: May 2012 Location: Milford, Michigan Posts: 3,201 View My Garage	Do We expect Too much from new cars This is about new cars in general, Do we expect too much for them. In the past brakes wore out at 15k miles and were noisey, convertable tops were wrinkled and leaked all the time, squeaks rattles and noises were common. i know we have made technological advancements that take care of many of these issues, but performance brakes make noise, tops are folded and atriculating, they have to fold somewhere, engines are still mechanical and stumble at times. I feel these things we have demanded to have in our cars are all acceptable and why get your blood pressure up over such trivial things. The cost of cars has gone up yes, but that cost has also been driven by the consumer and the expectation that it must be perfect. Buy backs and repairs of trivial items that in reality may be a normal characteristic and just a bandaid on the issue drive costs skyward. I say enjoy our cars and lets repair the owners. Gm and other manufacturers have made these cars so that you are now not spending 300-500 dollars every 15k miles for service, so in my book they are giving you a pretty good value. Enjoy your rides, they all drive different and have their own personality. Flame me if you wish, I will be enjoying my ride, not wasting time at a dealership for trivial issues. __________________ 2017 Grand Sport, Borla X Pipe.....Enough Said

06-29-2013, 08:33 AM	#3
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2020 Colorado Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,371 View My Garage	At the same time, back then because you HAD to keep up with vehicle and preventative maintenance regularly, people actually knew a thing or two about cars. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2020 Chevrolet Colorado W/T Extended Cab (State-issued)

06-29-2013, 08:34 AM	#4
benji1997 Drives: 2013 IOM 2LT/RS M6 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dartmouth, Ma. Posts: 443	Trivial, schmivial....if something is not right with my expensive purchase, I demand that it be fixed!!!!! __________________ 2013 2LT/RS IOM M6 w/DUAL-MODE EXHAUST, BLADE WING SPOILER AND ZL/1 PERFORMANCE PEDALS

06-29-2013, 08:49 AM	#8
Fiftydriver Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS RJT L99 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fort Shaw, Montana Posts: 1,242	Well, back in the day you could buy a new muscle car for $3500 brand new. My dad bought a 69 SS Chevelle right off the lot new for this price. Now, we pay 10 times that for cars that are technologically amazing but made from ALOT of pastic!!! For what we pay for these cars, they better stand up to our high expectations. I have always wondered what a new car or truck would cost that JUST GOT YOU FROM A TO B. __________________ Fiftydriver 2010 SSRS, RJTC, L99, Maggie 2300 SC, 3.4" pulley, Roto-Fab CAI, Dynatech Supermaxx LT headers, Dynatech High Flow cats, Corsa Cat back exhaust, Dual Elite Engineering catch can, MSD wires and Jannetty custom tune, JRE custom diff w/ posi mod, 3.91 LPE gears, Pfaht trailing arms, Pfaht trailing arm and Diff bushings, drop springs and sport sway bars front and back, Fesler dual guage pillar pod w/ AM Cobalt Boost and A/F guages. More to come!!

06-29-2013, 08:50 AM	#9
Frank in MD Raining Blood Drives: 2014 SS Performance Sedan Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: facebook Posts: 2,683	I think the issue is two fold. On one hand cars are more expensive than ever before. I believe I read somewhere that new cars have an average price these days at right around 30K. Add that to the majority of vehicle owners either not knowing how to fix their own vehicle or being unable to do so b/c new cars are far more sophisticated than ever before. When all most people are doing is shelling out money, they get frustrated when something goes wrong. __________________ Ordered 1/9/12 - Born 2/3/12 - Delivered 2/21/12 - '12 1SS/RS Summit White - TRADED. 2014 SS Performance Sedan #2974 - Red Hot 2 - S/R. & Spare. Built 01/09/14 #238 of 291 as configured

06-29-2013, 08:26 AM	#2
upflying Drives: '86 Monte Carlo SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,119	In regards to maintenance, modern car owners have it easy. Imagine if your Camaro required the same maintenance schedule as a '49 Chevrolet.

06-29-2013, 08:56 AM	#11
oldfriend Drives: Fiat 500 E Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 32.7607/N. 16.95947/W Posts: 7,816 View My Garage	I just no longer want to spend , my weekends fixing my 3cars , truck ,boat,3 motorcycles,jet ski ,snowmobile ,quad , bicycle , and my tractor I'm I asking too much ?