Are Cars REALLY Better Than They USED To Be OR Is It JUST A Matter Of Perception? BIG Recalls Have 00R Doubtful.

Two of today's biggest news items were the recalls from Ford and Honda.

While Ford's recall over the 2013 isn't a massive recall from a volume perspective, it definitely is dangerous. So much so that it is telling owners who recently took delivery to let the car sit and the dealer will drop off a loaner and pick up the Escape for you. Clearly, the very real possibility of a fuel leak is a serious matter.

In addition to Ford's woes today was a large volume recall by Honda. It recalled over 170,000 vehicles over the possibility of their doors opening unexpectedly. Just to remind you, the door is that metal thing that keeps you from falling out of a moving vehicle.

In recent years we've heard about cars getting much better but when I hear about cars bursting into flames, doors opening unexpectedly and God knows what else, I become a bit shaken by that thought process.

Have cars REALLY improved from where they were OR has PERCEIVED quality improved significantly?

wins555 - 7/20/2012 12:22:59 AM

+1 Boost

Perceived Quality. Modern cars have become very complicated to use and service. Parts become cheap and flimsy probably due to value engineering and costs. Too many wires and computer chips. Just compare any modern car to a 30 year old mainstream brand like Toyota, Mercedes or Chevrolet. Cars back then were a lot simpler to use and fix. Today, every little thing needs a diagnostic machine to tell you whats wrong with your car.

supermoto - 7/20/2012 1:54:08 PM

+1 Boost

Cars are better in terms of performance, safety, and efficiency. But they are so much more complicated and expensive to maintain. They are computers on wheels that end up becoming obsolete in a very short period of time. Look at a Nav system on a 5-10 year old car. It is laughable.