the next step in the governments attempt to bleed us all dry is apparently to drive the price of cars up. Just read this article on new regs they're putting in place. More stuff means more weight which means less economy. Guess the govt thinks they can have it both ways. Do any of you want this in your car? The back-up cam might be cool, put if it takes up half the dash or console, I wouldn't want it. Just don't like being told what equipment I HAVE to have in my car.

 

And the more junk they put on the more things to go wrong.

I look at it from this point; the flat rate pay has dropped so low that the dealers are having a hard time getting quality techs; so who is going to diagonse and service all this electronic equipment.

You can't hire electronics engineers for minimum wage.

 

More & More and Then SomeMore...

Thats all we need is More!

 

Yeah, when I get snow tires for my wifes new car, I gotta get TPMS sensors. That's an extra $300 just because of that requirement. In Europe there's a "winter" setting that disables the TPMS but dealers aren't allowed to enable that.

Leave the tires half-inflated on your SUV so they blow out? It's not your fault, it's the carmaker's fault. Class-action suit. So now TPMS is required. EVERYBODY pays $1000.

Back up without looking & run over a kid? It's not your fault, it's the carmaker's fault. Class-action suit. Backup cameras required. EVERYBODY pays.

Go around a snowy corner too hot, run off & hit a tree? It's not your fault, it's the carmaker's fault. Class-action suit. Stability control required ($$$$).

But this has been going on for a LONG time.

Leave the car idling & get out for a moment? It drops into gear & drives itself into a lake with kids in the backseat. Not your fault; class action suit; brake/shift interlocks are required.

Go around a corner too fast & lose it? Not your fault, it's the Corvair's fault. Every car since then has to be tuned for strong understeer. Because if you go through the guardrail forwards it's your own fault.

 

Good thread.

Don't forget the expensive rfid keys with no option to bypass. I bought an SUV last year with only 1 key, if I lose it it will cost a minimum of $300.

 

Don't laugh about that one... Saabs are worse.

If you lose your last key, you CANNOT just get a key. You have to replace the entire security system - WAY more than $300.

 

Or how about this one folks:
Obama gets Nobel Peace Prize
I wonder What Prize He Gets!

 

Article titiled; “Auto Safety Systems and the Law - What’s required and what soon will be” Authored by Mac Demere from AutoMedia dot com, who is a writer, vehicle tester and race car driver, who competed in the NASCAR Southwest Tour and Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. He addresses; side air bags, rear view cameras or rear sensing devices, active head restraints, Tire Pressure Monitoring systems (TPMS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti Lock Brakes (ABS) all of which are available as standard or options on Honda Accords.

All of these attempt to give driver and passenger by providing more individual safety and protection. Dale Earnhardt’s number 3 NASCAR crash into a retaining wall on turn 4 on final lap of 2001’s Daytona 500, which provided enough information to warrant design of safer barriers, rigorous new rules for seat-belt and seat inspection, roof hatch escape system (later eliminated). Earnhardt died of Basilar skull fracture from his crash.

Safety should be number one in automotive circles and for consumers who purchase cars. There have been too many terrible car accidents which have left people handicapped, or worse dead. Simple remedy is to have better vision, information, restraint systems, and air bags.

Watching car safety tests which are provided by Insurance Institute clearly demonstrate a vehicle’s vulnerability to front, side and rear impacts. I have attached three photos, one honoring Dale Earnhardt and two showing results of 5 teens who crashed a BMW M5 on a vacant private airport runway in Ocala Florida in January 2008. Regards

Richard