Take it back 40 years

[DervVW]

So if a car from today went back 40 years, which features would stand out the most?

[ClaphamGT3]

The fuel economy, the reliability and the rust proofing

[mike9009]

Satnav?

[skeeterm5]

Being the owner of a 1968 cortina and an M5 in my view the biggest single difference is modern brakes.

Also in the very hot weather air con is also big thing.

Finally, cabin noise isolation.

S

[iva cosworth]

People would point at Minis and wonder how they got so big...

[Lowtimer]

The fuel consumption for a car of similar size / weight / performance.

The combination of today's two-litre turbodiesels and eight-speed auto boxes provide similar straight-line go than the 5 to 6-litre V-8s and V-12s and three-speed slushboxes of the early 1970s, and do more than three times as many miles per gallon.

Example: 1972 Jaguar XJ12, 5.3l, 145 mph top speed, 0-100 in 19 secs, 12-14 mpg
New F30 BMW 320D auto with factory performance pack- same internal accommodation or better, 2.0l, 145 mph, 0-100 in 19 secs, 45-50 mpg.

Edited by Lowtimer on Sunday 4th August 19:44

[fatboy b]

Surely it'd be the stability control?

[Contigo]

The size of the engine and just how powerful and fast cars are. There really hasn't been any other improvements worthy of noting!

Lol @ SatNav

[LuS1fer]

How bloody enormous they have become.
The fact a production Ford Mustang GT500 produced nearly twice the power of a Lamborghini Countach.

[GetCarter]

Reliability. Most cars 40 years ago regularly broke down. Oh and yes, the brakes were crap.

[ewenm]

mike9009 said:

Satnav?

You're taking the satellites back too then

[V88Dicky]

The speed and power, surely?

1973 2.0 Cortina, 85 hp ish

2013 2.0 Mondeo, 140+

And double MPG?

Mind you, cars are twice as heavy now

[sunbeam alpine]

ewenm said:

mike9009 said:

Satnav?

You're taking the satellites back too then

The road network may have changed a bit as well!

Air bags?

[Morningside]

The road fund licence

Going by cars of old. The damn thing starting on a cold wet morning so I would class ECU and fuel injection.

[Perd Hapley]

Hey, 1973 man, Behold THE CAR OF TOMORROW!

Wow, what does it run on? Nuclear?

No, it's DIESEL.

[wanders off]

[Perd Hapley]

sunbeam alpine said:

Air bags?

First car with airbags (Oldsmobile Toronado) went on sale 40 years ago.

[davepoth]

V88Dicky said:

The speed and power, surely?

1973 2.0 Cortina, 85 hp ish

2013 2.0 Mondeo, 140+

And double MPG?

Mind you, cars are twice as heavy now

Nah. The 0-60 would be about the same, the real world MPG too. As above, the obvious thing is the ridiculous size.

[skeeterm5]

davepoth said:

Nah. The 0-60 would be about the same, the real world MPG too. As above, the obvious thing is the ridiculous size.

Size? Really?

Here is my car in a modern car park, I don't see a "ridiculous size" difference generally



S

[anonymous-user]

Crash safety Drive any 1970 car into a wall at 30 mph and you'd be in hospital with fairly major trauma. Drive a 2010 car into a wall at 30mph and there is a very very good chance you'd have absolutely no injuries what so ever!

[Thankyou4calling]

skeeterm5 said:

Size? Really?

Here is my car in a modern car park, I don't see a "ridiculous size" difference generally



S

Real world MPG will be close to twice as much as a comparable car 40 years ago and 0 - 60 around 2 thirds ( 10 secs v 15 ) I reckon.