The age of disposable electronics

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The 1980s cars were certainly designed to be replaced in a few years. I bought my 86 El Camino in 1991 and the original owner drove it for 5 years and 39,000 miles. It is at 364,000 miles or so now. I have had to replace the front A-arm bushings twice, and I even wore out the yoke on the driveshaft. It only goes 350,000 miles before a new $40 yoke is needed because a grove wears into the yoke from the seal. Brake pads were $12 for GM Goodwrench pads. Every part on the car works as designed or better. Maintenance is the key.

Most people are tired of a car after a few years, and they get it paid off and just want a new one. I tend to bond with my cars.

There are different levels of TV sets. Buy from the big box store or discount sellers and you get the cheapest price. Buy from a shop that specializes in home appliances and the same TV on the outside is a higher quality. At least it was that way 10 years ago. Our TV is a 60 inch Sony and it has been flawless. We bought it at a local mom and pop appliance store.

I believe this is still correct. If the model number is the same, then it's probably the same item, but big box stores will often have different part numbers than the specialists.

This has been going on for at least 20-30 years. I remember years ago when shoe shopping that shoes that looked identical (Rebook, Nike, whatever) were clearly very different if you were at a Sears or Dillards vs one of the cheap, mall based sneaker/shoe stores.

Many years ago, my dad had a small JD tractor (looked like a riding mower) and then my grandfather had a much larger tractor that my dad eventually got. Then a Home Depot opened close to my parents' place. Dad went to check it out (previously, they'd had an old Scotty's.) Dad came back and said "if you ever buy a JD, don't buy it from someplace like HD because they aren't built the same quality as the stuff that you get from a specialist dealer."

This is an interesting article about Snapper and Walmart.
https://www.fastcompany.com/54763/man-who-said-no-wal-mart

Sadly, it looks like Walmart eventually won ^that^ battle.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

This, and generally avoiding cheap parts-store parts. Once you start putting imitation (aftermarket) replacement parts on your car, it's over. GM OEM isn't really all that bad, but it costs- it's the cheap knockoff aftermarket trash and outright negligence is what kills cars.

It just happens a bit sooner with American cars.

rjp

right, the OEM parts are often quite a bit better than aftermarket. There are, of course, exceptions.

I'd also say that an OEM crate motor is probably a much better investment than your avg rebuilt motor from one of the big rebuilders.

[GH85Carrera]

Yep, any suspension part for my Elky is a MOOG, guarantee for life part. Only the good stuff for my cars.

We went to the local mom and pop store to buy our TV, they delivered it for free, set it up, and hauled off the old set. When we go in, it is the same faces as before.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Most people are tired of a car after a few years, and they get it paid off and just want a new one. I tend to bond with my cars.

You are less likely to bond with a car when it has 22 buss systems to trouble-shoot, an unreliable 'anti-theft/alarm system, or a timing chain on the back of the engine.

Your current ride is no longer available or germane. For better or worse.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

You are less likely to bond with a car when it has 22 buss systems to trouble-shoot, an unreliable 'anti-theft/alarm system, or a timing chain on the back of the engine.

Your current ride is no longer available or germane. For better or worse.

No doubt when a computer is required to work on a car, it becomes disposable. No one will be fixing and working on 2021 cars in 30 years. No way to even change the stereo when it is all integrated to the climate control and GPS display. Try to find a replacement in 30 years for the computer that operated the windows or the traction control.

My 911 has the upgraded chip in the fuel injection, it is the mega memory 8K chip not the wimpy stock 4K CPU.

Never once have I had to touch the ABS or the power steering pump on the 911.

The future of hot rod modified modern cars is mostly done with a checkbook and a credit card by pros. Not one thing is wrong with that, just not my style.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

No doubt when a computer is required to work on a car, it becomes disposable. No one will be fixing and working on 2021 cars in 30 years. No way to even change the stereo when it is all integrated to the climate control and GPS display. Try to find a replacement in 30 years for the computer that operated the windows or the traction control.

My 911 has the upgraded chip in the fuel injection, it is the mega memory 8K chip not the wimpy stock 4K CPU.

Never once have I had to touch the ABS or the power steering pump on the 911.

The future of hot rod modified modern cars is mostly done with a checkbook and a credit card by pros. Not one thing is wrong with that, just not my style.

This is a problem with '90's F1 and WEC cars. It takes an old laptop to keep them running.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by masraum

right, the OEM parts are often quite a bit better than aftermarket. There are, of course, exceptions.

I'd also say that an OEM crate motor is probably a much better investment than your avg rebuilt motor from one of the big rebuilders.

I completely disagree.

Why are you replacing the OEM part? Are you replacing it because it was still like new and functioning perfectly or because it was broken?

I often replace with a different / better / sometimes cheaper aftermarket component because the OEM part didn’t last.

Some examples are:

1. The clock spring in my Tundra lasted 60,000 miles and Toyota wouldn’t warrantee it. I had several Chinese ones in there that outlasted the original. The current one has been the best at roughly 100,000 miles.

2. The backup sensors in my bumper are another exact the Chinese ones being as good when invariably a rock flies up and breaks them anyway.

3. Aftermarket extreme duty brake pads are almost always better than stock ones.

At the end of the day, auto manufacturers make very few parts in house and nearly everything is made by a 3rd party and merely assembled at the auto plant. The bigger auto component companies all bid on the opportunity to provide those OEM parts and it comes down to price who gets selected. The aftermarket parts are no worse or better than what came on your car from the manufacturer, sometimes it is the exact same part made on the same line.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by masraum

right, the OEM parts are often quite a bit better than aftermarket. There are, of course, exceptions.

I'd also say that an OEM crate motor is probably a much better investment than your avg rebuilt motor from one of the big rebuilders.

Original motor in my 89 Silverado went 270K before blowing a gasket. I replaced it with GM crate for $1.7K plus some labor from me. Truck is also on it's 3rd tranny and 2nd rear end.

When I go to the wrecking yards I buy all the OE sensors I can get my hands on (Dizzy igniton modules, MAP sensors)- if it's a GM sensor I rob it.

Truck has 320K on it, and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across country, right now. Over the years it's worked out to be almost as cheap as riding the bus.

rjp

[GH85Carrera]

When the 305 in my Elky was just worn out after just 300,000 miles I looked into rebuilding it. The machine work needed was going to cost more than just an entire GM brand new 350 delivered to my door. $1,700 and the long Thanksgiving holiday and it was installed. Everything just unbolted, the old 305 came out, and the 350 went in, and everything bolted up. It came with a 2 year 24,000 mile warranty.

Shopping for crate engines is a slippery slope if you are not careful. For just a few hundred more, a bit more power, for several hundred more, even more power, and for some major increase in budget, 500 HP is easy. Then of course I need an upgraded transmission, and rear end and brakes, and suspension, and the project is 20 grand or more. Nope, not gonna do it.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by masraum

exactly.

Although from a certain point of view, I suspect stuff is probably, on the whole, far more reliable today, than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago.

My last PC was over 8 years old when I replaced it. And it was still working. I wiped it and reinstalled windows and gave it to my son. As far as I know, it's still working. My TV is a 46" Samsung that's 13-14 years old. It works as well today as it did when new.

Cars are far more reliable now than they were in the 80s and 90s, I think.

So yes, lots of stuff is now disposable because it's not made in a way that some parts are easily fixed/replaced, but most of the stuff also lasts pretty well. The bigger problem these days is obsolescence due to the march of technology.

Appliances do not last like they used to.

[island911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Never once have I had to touch the ABS or the power steering pump on the 911.

So true.

Although, I will point out that the first thing I had to replace on my 911SC was a water pump.


Electric water pump.


Windscreen squirters.

Of course there is no electronic "chip" to fail on the 911SC.

Which is why the 911SC will take over the world.