Cars Lasting Longer

[Subtle]

Subaru drivers know this, but the overall statistics were reported in today's Wall Street Journal.

In 1977, half the cars on the road survived until they were 10.5 years old, and you could put about 107,000 miles on.

In 1990, the numbers were 12.5 years and 127,00 miles.

The latest survey is for 2001(NHTSA report) showed 13 years and 152,000 miles.

The article offered one explantion and that was demographics: The number of people reaching driving age is the largest since the peak of the post World War Two "baby boom".

One could also add that cars last longer than they ever have

[206er]

I know of a few cars probably driving right now that have 350-500k on the original engine. 2 of them are volvos of course

[magicmike]

its all due to superfinishing. Thats what my company does. Not "my" company but the company I work for. www.supfina.com

American auto makers were not superfinishing engine parts until the late 80's where as foreign auto makers have been doing so much earlier than that. I can get into it if anyones really interested.

[206er]

sure, lets have it

[entirelyturbo]

Yeah, our cars are the ones in the spotlight now that they're old.

I firmly believe that as far as durability/reliability goes, the 80's and early 90's was it. That time has passed.

I've got a feeling those numbers will go back down soon. I just don't believe that cars are made as well now as they were 15-20 years ago.

[wiscon_mark]

That's because our society has become even more of a "disposable consumeristic society" and cars don't need to last long, they just need to look good

I'll take a car that can go 200k please (only 24k to go until I hit that)

[free5ty1e]

Exactly - every single product is being pushed more and more towards a disposable incarnation, where it's just easier and cheaper to replace than to repair. Cars aren't made like they were when the Legacy was designed!

I also am kind of offended that they group the Subarus with the Fords in this longevity study average; it's like putting gifted kids in the same class with full-on retards, although slightly different.

[evolutionmovement]

The other thing is that Subarus can take a beating for their high miles, not babied Camry or Volvo miles (boring cars discourage hard driving).

Planned obsolescence goes back to the '50's. Saying that, I agree with Mike that the late '80's to early '90's were when the last of the tank-like cars were built. Even Mercedes-Benz makes crap now.

[206er]

I wouldnt exactly call volvos boring. though MANY of them led boring lives.

[evolutionmovement]

I'm a Volvo fan, but those old cars were very slow, tank-like as they were. They just don't encourage hard driving since they don't deliver, but that doesn't mean they're not cool. The boring label was an expedient for my example.

I came close to buying a P1800ES except it was too slow and not that cheap to improve (or buy) due to a poor performance engine design (and size). I also checked out a PV544, but it was too rotted. Came within a few hours of getting an absolutely mint ~'69 144 but was beat by some other bastard. I would love an Amazon if I could fit a V8 in it. The DLs are nice with the V8s. If only the new Volvos were rwd like the old ones. I also generally prefer Volvo-Penta to Mercruiser .

I may get the new Volvo hatch coming out soon. Reminds me of the 1800ES, but well-integrated with the modern Volvo look.

[206er]

I'm a Volvo fan, but those old cars were very slow, tank-like as they were. They just don't encourage hard driving since they don't deliver, but that doesn't mean they're not cool. The boring label was an expedient for my example.

I came close to buying a P1800ES except it was too slow and not that cheap to improve (or buy) due to a poor performance engine design (and size). I also checked out a PV544, but it was too rotted. Came within a few hours of getting an absolutely mint ~'69 144 but was beat by some other bastard. I would love an Amazon if I could fit a V8 in it. The DLs are nice with the V8s. If only the new Volvos were rwd like the old ones. I also generally prefer Volvo-Penta to Mercruiser .

I may get the new Volvo hatch coming out soon. Reminds me of the 1800ES, but well-integrated with the modern Volvo look.

somewhere I saw a pic of a v8 swapped 240 that had volvo valve covers, presumably from a marine engine. what do you think it was steve?
I dont really like the PV's, I just find them kinda ugly. amazons are great, that was my family's ride when I was a child.
I really like the 1800's though, especially the ES. gotta love that tailgate.
I have had a 1973 145. got it for $50, painted it two tone rat rod style, red oxide and flat black. If slammed, it would have been a total rat rod. I drove the piss out of it for a couple months, and sold it for $150. it would really get sideways and was surprisingly easy to control despite the truck like steering.
the 140 series cars HANDLE with a few tweaks due to the double wishbone suspension and very stiff chassis. HUGE brakes too, over 11" rotors front and rear. oddly enough the rears are bigger than the fronts. they are a little on the heavy side for a sports coupe of the vintage at 2600 lbs or so.
you can totally put a v8 in an amazon. cutting required though which if you think about it, isnt really that bad when done right. Ive seen a buick 215(the aluminum one) powered 122 in person, wish I would have gotten a ride in it. oh yeah, amazons are a lot lighter than they look.

[evolutionmovement]

I want to do up a white 240 series in a nautical hotrod theme using Volvo-Penta stuff. Volvo-Penta (and Mercruiser for that matter) are GM blocks. I'm sure you saw a SBC, probably a 350. That's what I'd like to do with 'Powered by Volvo-Penta' on it somewhere (with the engine in V-P colors and covers), dark blue undercarriage emulating bottom paint, some kind of brass look for the wheels, and 'Swedish Fish' and 'Beverly, MA' in gold leaf on the back. Since I'm not a marine mechanic anymore, I doubt I'll do it. The idea was to use it for a marine surveying business once I got to that point.

[Manarius]

I've seen a lot of cars in my day, and no car can stand up to the test of time like the older Subies. Honestly, this isn't a Subaru commercial, it's just what I've seen. My 93 lumina had hellish problems @ 120k, my vette only has 90 and isn't that great either. The Subaru's though; every one I see has high mileage and doesn't seem like it's had any major work to it. I know I've put mine through hell and back. I know my dad put our GL through some nasty storms, and it still perservered (hell, drive shaft went bad and he got that fixed).

I haven't seen a car post-95 yet that hasn't had some sort of mechanical issue (even in low miles!).

My friend has a Volvo with 20k more than me, and that thing is beat to hell. My friend's 84 Benz has had more work done to it than I can imagine and it's got like 180k.

[evolutionmovement]

My old GLs only went to the JY for rust/tree damage. Both ran when towed. The wagon had 120k, but had taken more of a beating with little to no problems than I've ever seen.