Over the last few years, cars have started to become a lot more technologically advanced. With most cars now being offered as an automatic only with stop/start, fuel-saving features, high-tech multimedia systems, new driving aids, and of course new emissions features. This is all very well as we all want cars to progress and evolve, however, when do things become too much?
With all of these features, you ask yourself how can a car with so much technology still be reliable? What are the chances of all of these functions actually functioning in 10 years’ time? What are the chances that these cars will last hundreds of thousands of miles without issue?
The truth is, car manufacturers are now making their cars less reliable than before (though some are still quite reliable) as they know people will buy a new car if their old one starts playing up. Plus governments no longer want old cars on the road so this is a perfect way to force people into buying a new car.
Let’s take a look at Tesla’s Model X for a second. Big futuristic car with mind-blowing features such as rear gullwing doors. It’s an EV so no mechanical engine or so to look after and no need to worry about oil changes or any of that malarkey. Yet somehow the Model X is one of the most unreliable SUVs out there most often owners having issues with the large screen infotainment screen which is needed to really control everything in the car. Furthermore, the Tesla warranty team hasn’t been the most helpful when it comes to fixing the car either.
Will the Tesla Model X last a decade? The average Model X will surely need a battery replacement between those 10 years as using and charging the battery regularly is 100% going to affects its future performance. This relates to all-electric or hybrid cars though. As we witch into the world of electricity, one of the main guarantees is that cars will no longer be as reliable as before when they were combustion-powered.
Why Do The Government Hate Old Cars?
It is a pretty simple answer. Because most old cars do not have modern emissions technology to pass completely absurd tests regarding Cabron Dioxide levels. Of course, some old cars are very uneconomical but some aren’t. There are plenty of old diesel cars that are actually cleaner than some new petrol or hybrid cars. Old cars are loved throughout the world because they were made in a time where most people would work on their car hence accessing the engine or fixing/replacing parts was easy. Nowadays even an oil change is sky-high expensive. It’s all a business with some car manufacturers voiding the warranty if you try to work on the car yourself.
Furthermore, congestion charge rates are woeful but there is no solution for this. The cars targeted are the cheaper cars within the market. The congestion charge not only works by how much CO2 your car emits but what year your car was made too. Some older cars are far more economical than its newer equivalent yet they’re punished a lot harsher. The congestion charge is getting higher and higher so those with an older car will end up selling for something new.
Are Older Cars Really That Reliable?
Yes. A 1975 Ford F150 is a lot more reliable and simple to repair than the 2020 F150. That is why so many people still drive them about because they are perfectly good trucks. The original VW Beetle too would last decades because it was so simple. It was usual for people back in the day to run around in a 10, 15 20-year-old car as they were perfectly fine. Parts were cheap and they lasted for a long time.
We take a look at Toyota’s Corrola in the 1980s that thing was bulletproof essentially. We take a look at the modern Corrolla, still a reliable car but it’s doubtful that it will last over 20 to 30 years. Older cars may not have the technology as newer cars do yet less technology means fewer things to go wrong. The original Corrola was a solid simple car. Whilst the new one is like driving a computer.
Most older cars also do not have an ECU or they have a basic ECU. This is essentially a car’s computer brain that controls power, gas mileage, exhaust tones, etc. The ECU essentially controls an engine massively and it also has helped car manufacturers with car variants. An example of this is BMW with their models. The 20i and 30i models have the same engine but the power differentiates mainly due to the ECU. Back in the day to make a car more powerful, manufacturers treated the engine. Now all they need to do is code the ECU.
The ECU has essentially made a car a lot less reliable. Complex engine sensors, leap modes, and of course ECU errors are something which isn’t as found as often. Some older cars (particularly British or Italian) do overheat all the time though which is not what anybody wants. Modern cars tend to overheat a lot less since they have better cooling systems. However, newer cars still do have issues. The new C8 Corvette suffered from transmission failures a few months ago. Despite it being a completely new design in 50 years, it still is nowhere near as reliable as the elder 1960s Corvettes. Will the C8 last 40 to 50 years? That’s a big no.
Should I Buy an Old Car?
Yes, there are benefits but of course, you have to be careful. Some old cars are junk but so are some new cars since they are built much cheaply (yet they’re more expensive new). Just check out what you are buying regardless of the age and always do your due diligence on reviews, common faults, etc. Don’t listen to people who tell you not to buy an old car because they are “unreliable.” Most older cars are easier and cheaper to service and cars like the Corolla or trucks like the F-Series have so many parts available you are spoilt for choice.
Many old cars are also quite economical. Don’t let TV fool you when it comes to the economy of old cars as actually, some are pretty good. Take the old Toyota Prius. An absolutely bulletproof car that hits past 30 mpg. The older trucks with their huge engines may be an issue but you can do an easy LPG if needed as that really saves on the gas mileage.
New car technology is too complex. There is so much to go wrong and when it does it usually isn’t cheap. You can’t nowadays just expect to fix a car problem by yourself anymore. You now need a computer to identify the fault before you even touch the part.