mmarshall

I first learned to drive in the late 1960s, though I can still remember cars before that quite well. As young as age 9 or 10, I could tell the major differences between Ford, GM, and Chrysler products, which, at the time, dominated most of the American market.

Thought I'd post an interesting poll, though....which advancement, on modern cars, do you think is the single most important one since then? Obviously, cars today are designed FAR more differently than then, though they still have hoods, bodies, trunks, doors, and are steered with wheels.

Overall, I think that electronic engine-management (replacing the carburetor and breaker-point ignition system) was the single most important advancement of my lifetime, although in congested areas around large cities, the invention of self-shifting transmissions and/or those that do not have a separate clutch pedal may have been the biggest advance. AWD, of course, with its center-differential, was also a huge advance for bad-weather areas with slick roads.

There are other things, too, such as radial tires, seat-belts/shoulder harnesses, electronic traction-aids, unibody construction, emission controls/unleaded fuel, advanced rustproofing, etc..... but I didn't want to make the poll a mile long. These can be included under "Other/Name".

I set the poll up so that, if desired, you can vote for more than one.

S2000toIS350

Reliability

My dad had a bunch of Chryslers in the 60s and 70s.

They needed real repairs.

From our 84 CRX onward, we have never had a major failure an any of our cars (10 cars).

mmarshall

Good point ......although the 3.7L Slant-Six and 5.2L V8 Chrysler engines and Torqueflite automatic transmissions of that period were a nearly bulletproof combination. But much of the rest of Chrysler-designed vehicles of that time (the non-drivetrain/suspension parts) left a lot to be desired, quality-wise....especially the awful, Push-and-Pray drum brakes.

corradoMR2

Lots of key advancements over the years and hard to pinpoint just one so voted for these four:

auto tranny
hybrid/elec powertrain
GPS/NAV
Other: a collection of safety systems such airbags, LKA, pre-collisions, DRCC, etc.

LeX2K

Electronic engine management. Without it all the other advancements would not be worth a damn.

mmarshall

Right on. Couldn't agree more. Carburators and manifold heat-risers could drive you batty during cold or lukewarm starts and warm-up, especially in cold, wet conditions. I put up with them for years before the industry finally switched to EFI in the mid-late 1980s.. And breaker-point ignitions constantly needed tune-ups and parts-replacement....fortunately, they were replaced a little earlier, in the mid-late 1970s.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Agreed... It's electronics that made a huge leap in reliability possible.

Levi68

Not sure our cars will work in 40 years. While the old cars did brake down, they were easy to repair for those that understand something. Today it is almost impossible to do anything unless you are an expert in both mechanics and IT/Electronics.

For me the most important advancement has yet to come: cam less cylinder head.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The Driver

TerrySmith

Safety.

mmarshall

Simple things like oil/filter changes and air-cleaner changes are still manageable for the average non-tech-trained car owner, but, yes, much of the stuff nowadays has to be done by tech-level people.

Yes and no. Much of today's better safety record is due not only to safer vehicles themselves, but things such as safer roads, red-light cameras, more thorough vehicle-recalls, lower allowable BAC limits and more vigorous prosecution of DWIs, better care and treatment of paitients after accidents in hospitals, graduated licensing for new drivers, and a number of other factors.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Good point and thinking about it seat belts are probably the most important addition from a safety standpoint! Can't believe some people still refuse to use them!

cino

iTrader: (1)

Single most advancement in modern cars? Safer structural design.

Aron9000

DAMN RIGHT ABOUT COMPUTERS REGULATING SPARK AND FUEL.

Carburetors and spark control derived from the camshaft worked great when you didn't give a damn about pollution. The precise computer control of spark and fuel gave us a SIGNIFICANT rise in horsepower along with a SIGNIFICANT reduction in tail-pipe emissions.


Now that is just a simple Luddite view of modern cars. You can go to your local Advance or Autozone parts store and have them scan your trouble code for free. They can tell you the trouble code and "recommend" a solution to your problem. You can easily look up a trouble code through a website like this forum for your particular make/model car.

Now our family's old car is like a beloved pet, we like having an extra car in the family and we refuse to sell it. Its 2000 Toyota Avalon with 240k on the clock, it displayed the check engine light along with presenting a strong gas vapor smell outside the car and sometimes inside the car.

Dad took it to Advance, they ran the codes on it. It showed a problem with the fuel evaporative system, dad thought it was the charcoal canister. Guy at Advance auto said it could be the fuel filler cap. Part was $9, replaced the fuel cap, guy at Advance reset the computer, check engine light has stayed off for the past 1,000 miles, problem solved.

Granted I will give you a car like that FWD V6 Avalon is a ***** to work on if you need to change the spark plugs or change a leaky valve cover gasket on the back bank of cylinders like that car has. Shops charge you accordingly for changing that back valve cover gasket, thus its why we haven't fixed it.

Nextourer

I voted for electronic engine management, clearcoat paint, hybrid/electric powertrain and other (lightweight materials).

The first is reliable and not to mention helps with reduction in fuel consumption, reducing in emissions and better power output.

The second means you can keep your car longer without it looking like a car from the junk yard if you don't have a covered parking spot or garage. Also along the lines of paint, the switch from lead-based to water-based paint.

Hybrid/electric powertrain: The ability to make them work with little compromises (yes, the first generations were a bit jerky in transition and engine start/stop) but the fact that the compromises to own them aren't as large as one would expect given modern standards, is in itself an achievement (meeting crash standards, keeping weight down with all the safety equipment, cost of electric drivetrain etc).

Other: Cars of the 80s were reasonably light compared to the 70s because they were smaller physically and sported smaller, lighter engines. Ever continuing standards for convenience and/or luxury features, ever stringent safety regulations and emission requirements as of course as the economy grows, so does the want of a larger vehicle meant cars bloated in the 90s with horsepower and convenience features dominating. Lightweight materials advancements can help trim back the weight gain and improve handling, acceleration, braking and fuel economy.