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Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

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Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#171
post #165
post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Cars that live 20+ years are probably a minority. That seems vastly unlikely? But I don't have stats one way or the other. My newest car is 19 years old and it's like new for all purposes. My other cars currently are 30 and 35 years old and aside from paint faiding they are as good as new. With reasonable maintenance, cars will last for many many decades.

You are by far the exception, especially since being on HN, you're most likely to be middle class or higher. Poor people have cars that old, usually, there's a reason they're called "beaters". People in general try not to have cars older than around 7 years if they can, that's the "public wisdom" regarding when cars start having bigger maintenance problems. Edit: There you go, data: https://hedgescompany.com/blog/202…

> Poor people have cars that old, usually, there's a reason they're called "beaters".

And GM (and ...) probably see that as a "revenue opportunity".

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#172
post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cost of a cars has risen lower than the rate of inflation for nearly the past 90 years, and for much of the time period when cars were getting computerized (since the late 90s) average new car prices dropped rather than went up. All the while cars were getting safer (seat belts, airbags, crumple zones) and far more reliable. https://www.in2013dollars.com/New-cars/price-inflation The most recent price spike is a d…

The cost of a basic economy car, from the start of the emissions & safety era to today, is about double in constant dollars.

What date are you using as the start of the emissions safety era?

A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car.

A 2023 Nissan Versa is $15730 [2]

Even the cheapest cars from 1975 cost the equivalent of $17000 in today's dollars [3]

1. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15143064/1995-10best-...

2. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/ch....

3. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/vintage-rt-c...

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#173
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cost of a basic economy car, from the start of the emissions & safety era to today, is about double in constant dollars.

What date are you using as the start of the emissions safety era? A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car. A 2023 Nissan Versa is $15730 [2] Even the cheapest cars from 1975 cost the equivalent of $17000 in today's dollars [3] 1. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15143064/1995-10best-... 2. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/ch... . 3. ht…

I was thinking of a 1970 Dodge Dart, which last I checked was $21,000 in 2021 dollars; compared to the price of an average new car today ~42K.

That today's average car might have more features is true; but for many of these features, you're not allowed to forego them in favor of a new, decontented, cheaper car.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#174
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What date are you using as the start of the emissions safety era? A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car. A 2023 Nissan Versa is $15730 [2] Even the cheapest cars from 1975 cost the equivalent of $17000 in today's dollars [3] 1. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15143064/1995-10best-... 2. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/ch... . 3. ht…

I was thinking of a 1970 Dodge Dart, which last I checked was $21,000 in 2021 dollars; compared to the price of an average new car today ~42K. That today's average car might have more features is true; but for many of these features, you're not allowed to forego them in favor of a new, decontented, cheaper car.

> I was thinking of a 1970 Dodge Dart, which last I checked was $21,000 in 2021 dollars; compared to the price of an average new car today ~42K.

A more relevant comparison would be the $3452 average new car price in 1970 against today, which is $27,704 in today's dollars.

> That today's average car might have more features is true; but for many of these features, you're not allowed to forego them in favor of a new, decontented, cheaper car.

But you can get a car cheaper than the average new cars. In fact, “cars” proper are often less than the inflation adjusted amount from 1970; much of the reason the average new “car” price is higher is because it is more likely now to be an medium to large SUV than a car (sedan/coupe).

Plenty of gas-powered sedans/coupes and small SUVs are less than $27.7K.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking of a 1970 Dodge Dart, which last I checked was $21,000 in 2021 dollars; compared to the price of an average new car today ~42K. That today's average car might have more features is true; but for many of these features, you're not allowed to forego them in favor of a new, decontented, cheaper car.

> I was thinking of a 1970 Dodge Dart, which last I checked was $21,000 in 2021 dollars; compared to the price of an average new car today ~42K. A more relevant comparison would be the $3452 average new car price in 1970 against today, which is $27,704 in today's dollars. > That today's average car might have more features is true; but for many of these features, you're not allowed to forego them in favor of a new, d…

I could also admit that in 1970, there were even cheaper cars than a Dodge Dart, but I'm excluding them b/c at the time, they were still a sort of novelty...the Dart, being "compact" only with respect to American cars of the period, is sufficiently large such that it doesn't register as a different category.

As for modern small SUVs...you're still not going to get much change back from your $27K for a VW Taos, or Mazda CX-30, or Hyundai Santa Fe...how small are you willing to go for cheap?

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#176
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cost of a basic economy car, from the start of the emissions & safety era to today, is about double in constant dollars.

What date are you using as the start of the emissions safety era? A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car. A 2023 Nissan Versa is $15730 [2] Even the cheapest cars from 1975 cost the equivalent of $17000 in today's dollars [3] 1. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15143064/1995-10best-... 2. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/ch... . 3. ht…

>A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car.

True; and interesting that the Contour struggled in the market due to it being noticeably more expensive than the model it replaced! The thought was that being a much better car (to the tune of $6 billion in development costs), Ford could sell it on its merits, but as it turns out, buyers of small cars in the US are really, really price-sensitive.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#177
post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What date are you using as the start of the emissions safety era? A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car. A 2023 Nissan Versa is $15730 [2] Even the cheapest cars from 1975 cost the equivalent of $17000 in today's dollars [3] 1. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15143064/1995-10best-... 2. https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/ch... . 3. ht…

>A base price 1995 Ford Contour was $13805–$16190 [1]. ABS was an upgrade option on that car. True; and interesting that the Contour struggled in the market due to it being noticeably more expensive than the model it replaced! The thought was that being a much better car (to the tune of $6 billion in development costs), Ford could sell it on its merits, but as it turns out, buyers of small cars in the US are really,…

> as it turns out, buyers of small cars in the US are really, really price-sensitive.

Unless it has a particular popular feature people (at least some segment of the population) are willing to buy for (hybrids, when they were newer, for instance), yes, because Americans mostly don’t want small cars, they settle for small cars if the price is compelling.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Except Chrysler, it's best to avoid all era of Chrysler and I say this as former K-Car and Ram owner. Jeeps are hilariously bad. Like "far and away statistically the worst" reliability wise.

It used to be that things not made out of steel on a Jeep would fail, but that was a minimum of parts, back in the '60s. Nowadays, though...

My 89 Cherokee was like this but since 2010 they're just all complete junk.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It used to be that things not made out of steel on a Jeep would fail, but that was a minimum of parts, back in the '60s. Nowadays, though...

My 89 Cherokee was like this but since 2010 they're just all complete junk.

Those late 80s and 90s Cherokees lasted a long time, I still see them around town. Most of the survivors have that great inline 6 that was a carryover from the AMC days.

Re: Ex-Apple VP Mike Abbott Joins General Motors as Exec Vice President, Software

#180

The 2022 Chevy Silverado I rented died at 488 miles on the odometer. The roadside assistance mechanic said the transmission "lost data connection to the engine". Later, a tow truck had to drag it onto it's flatbed as the rear wheels were locked up. Also, apparently the tailgate is electric now. And for some reason it stopped working when the transmission died. Also also, there is no way to turn the truck off? When it…

This is why I keep a motorcycle for most of my daily usage. I like how dumb it is.
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