Used Cars, Ups and Downs

We all have owned many cars in our lives.  Some new and some used, some good and some bad. 

In the past our parents and grandparents owned huge steel bodied cars that were beautiful to behold but not always so fun to drive. They had their issues such as carburetor issues, lack of AC, and cooling system problems. 

For the newer generation you or your parents may have owned a fine "muscle car" from the 60s and 70s that had comfort and convenience features, never lacked in power and sucked down the 25 cent per gallon gas offered back in the day. 

Then came the era of Japanese, Foriegn or Imports.  Now these smaller, sometimes cheaply made cars, ushered in an era of vehicles designed for safety, reliability, economical driving and new technology that made the days of "working on your own car" and thing of the past. These cars were often more reliable than their US made counter parts. Cars such as Volvo came over and with items such as 3 point safety belts, laminated glass and crumple zones paved the way for many of today's safety requirements. 

Now-a-days we have Hybrids, electric and even propane powered vehicles. Almost every car today has safety features that include side curtain airbags, ABS bakes, seats ans seat belts that synch down and cradle you while your car is being mutilated on the outside during a train wreck of and accident. 

Now-a-days you have to go to the dealer to have your OBDII computer plugged in to tell what sensor has gone out and how many hundreds of dollars it is going to take to turn off those annoying lights on your dash. Remember that $500 Ford Mustang from the 60's you bought in high school?  The one you call your Flinstone car because you could see the road beneath your feet... That car is now worth $20-30,000 because some collector replaced that rusted floor pan, gave it a new paint job and tuned the engine. You Honda Accord you drive today which shuttles your kids around today to socker and other school events will never be worth the $26,000 you paid for it new. Ahhhh the good ole days...

In the near future there will plugs in parking stalls at the grocery store to recharge your electric car while you shop.  Cars will be reduced in size by a third on the outside but bubbly and cavernous on the inside. If you get into an accident it will not be because of you, the accident avoidance technology would have failed. You may or may not spend $65 a week to fill your tank with gas but perhaps just pull back the cover on your solar panels wait 5 minutes, push a button and go. 

The car industry is changing, like it or not.