On 11/30/2017 7:34 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2017-11-30, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> OTOH, electronics are far superior than what was available not many
>> years ago.
>
> You must mean they are "much smaller". I tossed my cell phone acct,
> but still use my 'desktop' computer.
>
>> Cars are much better.
>
> How so?
>
> I jes found out there is such a thing as 'non-interference' engines
> and 'interference' engines and if yer timing belt breakes on an
> 'interference' engine, yer hosed. IOW, 'timing belt' (born to break),
> versus 'timing chain' (rarely gives trouble). Usta be, all engines had
> timing chains.

Always a chain - I've never seen one break.

> Also, howzabout 'event data recorders' (EDR). Yer car is crawling
> with 'em (ABS, air bags, seat belts, etc). I'm not even gonna discuss
> the whole 'IoT' nonsense.

All cop addressable if you get in an accident.

> All those 'seat warmers', electric outside mirrors, etc, jes add more
> weight, which kills fuel consumption. My '87 Civic got 38mpg (real
> commute data). Ten yrs later, Civics were bragging on gettting 28mpg.
> Why? All that copper wire weighs a lot!

Ekshually cars are starting to come down on weight (way down) and also
in engine configuration and displacement.

Volvo's current turbo and supercharged mills are an example.

Folks demand more power because it can be done easily now and ergo
mileage suffers.

The use of aluminum and composites and carbon fiber is a direct response
to unrealistic CAFE standards.

You really don't want to be in car accident if your ride meets the EPA
52 MPG rating.

> IME, the USA has not made a good car since 1974!!
>
> nb
>

1974?

That's when the EPA gear became a strangler of HP, which one do you
posit was worth even scrap metal then?