And the winner of the Car Talk Ugliest car contest is: The Nissan Juke. Rhymes with . . . ?
What were they thinking? Can they really sell these? It would be nice if one of the major companies decided to manufacture something similar to my old International, or my Willys MB, or even our 72 Mercedes 220d (no computers anywhere, all mechanical), all of which had not much more than the basics, making them easy to repair and keep on the road. Many of the classics had closely interchangeable parts with other cars and trucks. The IH having been built by the factory as somewhat of a Frankenstein from parts sourced everywhere, was even more so. Looking at the "Juke", I doubt there is a part on it that isn't proprietary. My guess is that not even the Chinese would feel comfortable making knock-off parts for it. If it were given to me, I'd start by knocking off most of the body.
Wish I owned an old International...I miss 'em.
ReplyDeleteI picked up a newer pickup (1999) to tow the camper. The IH has a dump bed, & the hitch is on the bed so it won't tow much weight safely. I'm keeping it for use here on the place for firewood hauling, manure for the garden etc.
DeleteNo company wants to make a car thats easy to fix. It's bad for business
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you are right. Plus everybody seems to want all the newest electric and electronic gadgets. Just more stuff to go wrong.
DeleteNot us. My wifes car is very free of mod cons although with a one year old the next car might have to have central locking as it can be a pain. My van on the other hand has all the latest stuff. Mind you it has broken down three times in the last three weeks...
DeleteI liked all vehicles better when they were built to last. Now they are built to wear out so we will have to buy another new one in a few years. Well some of us maybe.
ReplyDelete“…which had not much more than the basics, making them easy to repair and keep on the road.” – I hope they will. Well, who wouldn’t love to have these kinds of car? The maintenance is easy, and in case it gets damage, there are lots of repair centers to count on. But the modern cars we have now are not so bad either as they truly make life easier and safer for the owners/drivers. And with the new technology, it gets easier to pinpoint the technical problems. What would be nice is the integration of vintage cars with modern technology. Now, how's about that, eh? -- Joellen Cirilo @ YoungsCollision.com
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