Mileage Matters no More - Now it's Age
Discussion
I recently sold my BMW (back to the dealer I bought it from 7 years ago). Unrelated things began to crap out as if an alarm clock went off. The dealer, a lontime friend, confided that it is not mileage but age that is the culprit nowadays. He stated that even the cheaper cars have engine longevity figured out, newer oils playing a part as well perhaps. The cheaper materials, however, are dying of a young "old" age before the power plant even reaches their new middle age. He showed me his 2010 Bimmer and the rubber, etc. around the glass was flaking off like toast. I just detailed my '95 XJS and noted that the rubber bits sem as subtle as the day they were made. Has anyone else noticed powertrains lasting longer while the newer, cheaper materials dissolve around it?
Try http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluid... for the rubber seals?
Who cares I wouldn't be seen dead in a car over 3 years old. Do people really do that?!
Only joking. Cars have got more complicated with more stuff and more safety. 10 years ago a screen was rare on a car but now even a 107 has one, as has raw costs. That rubber seal isn't as cheap as it used to be But prices haven't increased majorly. No doubt manufacturers have got to claw back somewhere. What do they care once the car is out the warantee period?
Only joking. Cars have got more complicated with more stuff and more safety. 10 years ago a screen was rare on a car but now even a 107 has one, as has raw costs. That rubber seal isn't as cheap as it used to be But prices haven't increased majorly. No doubt manufacturers have got to claw back somewhere. What do they care once the car is out the warantee period?
okie592 said:
Who cares I wouldn't be seen dead in a car over 3 years old. Do people really do that?!
Only joking. Cars have got more complicated with more stuff and more safety. 10 years ago a screen was rare on a car but now even a 107 has one, as has raw costs. That rubber seal isn't as cheap as it used to be But prices haven't increased majorly. No doubt manufacturers have got to claw back somewhere. What do they care once the car is out the warantee period?
I suppose that is my larger point; the days of keeping a car until it is a classic, or buying one that is and restoring it, are mostly over.Only joking. Cars have got more complicated with more stuff and more safety. 10 years ago a screen was rare on a car but now even a 107 has one, as has raw costs. That rubber seal isn't as cheap as it used to be But prices haven't increased majorly. No doubt manufacturers have got to claw back somewhere. What do they care once the car is out the warantee period?
My Jag is made of "real" material that may last if cared for. Newr cars have many advantages but seem to be largely "disposable".
Qussz said:
Try http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluid... for the rubber seals?
Thanks for the link. 
Didn't cars of old die of rust?
I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
I think the whole age issue hsa been heavily influenced by socialites (i.e. famous for not having any talent) - without any knowledge of mechanics or vehicles in general, they go by the age and just buy the newest version of whatever surplus cars Audi or BMW have. This trickles down through the less intellectually capable to infect the rest of society. I could almost guarantee that the great unwashed would rather prefer a 2015 Audi A5 1.9TDi convertible like that Kim Kardashian and that TOWIE lot, instead of a 1998 RS4.
Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
sebhaque said:
I think the whole age issue hsa been heavily influenced by socialites (i.e. famous for not having any talent) - without any knowledge of mechanics or vehicles in general, they go by the age and just buy the newest version of whatever surplus cars Audi or BMW have. This trickles down through the less intellectually capable to infect the rest of society. I could almost guarantee that the great unwashed would rather prefer a 2015 Audi A5 1.9TDi convertible like that Kim Kardashian and that TOWIE lot, instead of a 1998 RS4.
Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
I would argue kim kardasian has a better garage than any person on pistonheads, it includes a aventador, 458, g63 g wagen, bentleys ,pagani huayra, 2 rolls royces, numerous range rovers. Helicopters and private jets to name but a few.Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
The only celeb I've seen lately in a Audi A5 diesel was pippa Middleton. And I'm sure people on here like her bum
Edited by okie592 on Tuesday 6th January 00:17
CarAbuser said:
Didn't cars of old die of rust?
I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
I loved my Bimmer and the engines, straight 6s at least, are fantastic; the rest of the car, however, seems more and more plasticky and very fragile. They seem designed to start self destructing at the warranty's end. Stupid things like 15,000 mile oil changes and "lifetime" tranny fluid is another suicidal trait, especially for the sheep who believe that crap.I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
Edited by Jimbeaux on Tuesday 6th January 04:32
okie592 said:
sebhaque said:
I think the whole age issue hsa been heavily influenced by socialites (i.e. famous for not having any talent) - without any knowledge of mechanics or vehicles in general, they go by the age and just buy the newest version of whatever surplus cars Audi or BMW have. This trickles down through the less intellectually capable to infect the rest of society. I could almost guarantee that the great unwashed would rather prefer a 2015 Audi A5 1.9TDi convertible like that Kim Kardashian and that TOWIE lot, instead of a 1998 RS4.
Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
I would argue kim kardasian has a better garage than any person on pistonheads, it includes a aventador, 458, g63 g wagen, bentleys ,pagani huayra, 2 rolls royces, numerous range rovers. Helicopters and private jets to name but a few.Having spent some time with old classmates, most of which are non-petrolheads, it was a sad indication of the times that when I mentioned changing my car, the majority of them said I should buy something new and German as it was "what I wanted", and my suggestion of blowing my budget and getting a 2007 Maserati was met with horror; they couldn't fathom why I wanted to buy a car that was older than the one it would be replacing.
The only celeb I've seen lately in a Audi A5 diesel was pippa Middleton. And I'm sure people on here like her bum
Edited by okie592 on Tuesday 6th January 00:17
Jimbeaux said:
I loved my Bimmer and the engines, straight 6s at least, are fantastic; the rest of the car, however, seems more and more plasticky and very fragile. They seem designed to start self destructing at the warranty's end. Stupid things like 15,000 mile oil changes and "lifetime" tranny fluid is another suicidal trait, especially for the sheep who believe that crap.
Gearbox fluid I'll agree with.Edited by Jimbeaux on Tuesday 6th January 04:32
Not 15k oil changes though. It's only you yank sheep that change every 4k with modern oils
CarAbuser said:
Didn't cars of old die of rust?
I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
Yes rust !!! Depends on the country here in the UK its still a issue due to liberal use of road salt and it raining most of the time, maybe not for the bodyshell these days but it affects brake pipes , electrical parts conectors etc and makes repairs harder due to bolts seizing ,hot countrys have problems with rubber and plastic parts so window ,door seals, paint and electrical parts fail , so yes agree its age and cars being complicated not mileage that makes them uneconomical to repair more than actual mileage.I don't really have any first hand experience of cars from the 80s or 90s due to my lack of age but I hear a lot of people complaining about cars of that era succumbing to rust. Modern cars don't seem to fail, they just become uneconomical to maintain relative to their value.
If you had lots of odd seemingly unrelated issues on your 7yr old BMW then I'm going to take a guess at the battery failing. BMWs do some very strange things when the battery reaches its final years and throw all sorts of unrelated error codes.
amusingduck said:
Jimbeaux said:
I loved my Bimmer and the engines, straight 6s at least, are fantastic; the rest of the car, however, seems more and more plasticky and very fragile. They seem designed to start self destructing at the warranty's end. Stupid things like 15,000 mile oil changes and "lifetime" tranny fluid is another suicidal trait, especially for the sheep who believe that crap.
Gearbox fluid I'll agree with.Edited by Jimbeaux on Tuesday 6th January 04:32
Not 15k oil changes though. It's only you yank sheep that change every 4k with modern oils
We in the UK have taken the main dealer service history bulls
t hook line and sinker!! so we think a very expensive service at some stupid milage is better than regular informal services ,mind we still think 100k is high mileage our american cousins think 100k is just run in!!!
Older cars fell apart! Remember all those electrical issues when the side lights dimmed when the Indictator came in? Then the rust? Then the need to service annually or 6, maybe 12k miles? Both mileage and age killed them, certainly during the 80s and 90s. I remember pushing a friends focus to help jump start it in about 1990 and it was tricky finding a bit of bodywork that didn't go through. About the same time I rember trying to fix rear window electric heaters, most of which were stuck on.
Today cars last longer and go further if looked after.
Today cars last longer and go further if looked after.
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